Priscilla (Cantlon) West was born on July 16, 1944, to Raymond and Helen Cantlon in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She grew up in Tulsa, graduating from Central High School in 1962, and later moved to Edmond to attend what was then known as Central State University. During her time as a Broncho, Pris was an active member of the Epsilon Upsilon Chapter of Delta Zeta where she made countless lifelong friends and served as president. She was also a talented baton twirler with a group ranked number one in the nation and walked behind Miss America in the Orange Bowl Parade. She majored in education and home economics and graduated in 1967.
She would later go on to earn her Master’s Degree in education in 1993. Priscilla had a long and successful career as a teacher. She began teaching at St. Mary’s after staying home to raise her children. Most of her career, however, was spent in Guthrie teaching first grade at Cotteral Elementary. She loved her students and worked tirelessly to make sure they knew it. From creating personalized holiday gifts for each one to customizing her teaching to help each of them achieve and learn she was extremely dedicated to her students and her school. She spent many, many nights, weekends, and summers making sure she was prepared to help them all become the best version of themselves. She brought a special blend of fun, excitement, and love into her classroom each day and her students latched on to that very quickly. Eventually, her enthusiasm and dedication earned her the distinction of being named Teacher of the Year for her school. She was never one to brag or boast, but this honor was truly special to her and she earned it. Though she enjoyed teaching and was good at it, her greatest accomplishment and source of pride was her family. She met Bill West, her husband of fifty-five years, during her college days at Central State University. They married and settled in Edmond where they raised a son, Phillip, and a daughter, Michelle. Her children always knew they had a fan with her in the stands, on the sidelines, or in the audience. She loved to do things to show that pride in them and to support their activities and passions. She was that mom that made the cute ornaments for the entire team or the special pre-game favors everyone loved. She was always willing to help out in the concession stand, selling t-shirts, or whatever else needed to be done. She understood the importance of being involved in her kids’ lives and showing up for them both literally and figuratively. Naturally, this only intensified when it came to her grandchildren. They were the proverbial apples of her eye.
Saturdays were favorite days for kids and grandma alike, as they would spend the entire day making crafts, reading, going on adventures, and most of all swimming in her pool outback. She loved being outdoors and she passed that on to them. Priscilla was a devoted follower of Christ and had a personal relationship with him. She was an active member of City Church for many years and loved sharing the Lord’s love and grace with others, especially the little ones in her Sunday school classes. She truly practiced the things she preached and tried to live every day as she believed the Lord would want her to. We take comfort in the knowledge that she is in His arms now and we will see her again one day.
She is survived by her husband, Bill West, of the home and her children: Phillip West and his wife, Stephanie, of Edmond and Michelle (West) Price and husband, Tim, of Melbourne, Kentucky; grandson Ryley West and his wife, Chyanne, of Edmond; granddaughter, Marleigh West, currently of Weatherford, Oklahoma; grandson Tim Price, Jr. and wife, Mikki, of Melbourne, Kentucky, along with their children, Josiah and Micah. Survivors also include her sister, Debby (Cantlon) Line and her husband, Charlie, of Pryor, Oklahoma; sister-in-law Sue Enterline, brother-in-law Bob West, and wife Angie, all of Edmond; numerous nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews from all across the state. Pris touched the lives of so many and we were all blessed to have known her. She will be missed.