Joyce Marie West

Joyce Marie Brackin West, age 96, of Ragley, Louisiana passed away on August 10, 2026 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Joyce was born on October 3, 1929 in Thicket, Texas to Layton and Pauline Brackin. She graduated in 1947 from Saratoga High School in Saratoga, Texas as Salutatorian. After high school, she moved to Liberty, Texas and worked as an operator for Bell Telephone Company. There she met Arvel West, her loving husband of almost 70 years. They were married in Colorado Springs in 1951 while Arvel was serving in the Army.

Work moved them to Lake Charles soon afterwards and there they raised their family. Joyce was a devoted housewife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and was a faithful member of First Baptist Church of Gillis. It was important for Joyce to bring her children to church to develop their own relationship with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Joyce loved spending time with her family, sewing, quilting, baking desserts, attending any kind of party, and in her later years, coloring books.

Besides her husband and parents, Joyce was preceded in death by her brother, Joseph “J.L.” Brackin; her son, Ronny West; her son-in-law, Spencer Fontenot; and her grandson, Derrick Fontenot.

Left to cherish her memory are, her five children, Karen Holland (Brad) of Baton Rouge, Linda Fontenot of Moss Bluff, Nancy Fontenot (Brian) of Longville, Lori Perry (Robert) of Moss Bluff, and Keith West (Andrea) of Moss Bluff; Nine grandchildren, Bradley Holland (Julie) of Volant, Pennsylvania, Tracy Matherne (Philip) of Denham Springs, Kimberly Guillory (Chris) of Moss Bluff, Brent Fontenot of Moss Bluff, Benjamin Perry of Moss Bluff, Rebekah Potts (Jake) of Ragley, Kaci Lindsay (Nick) of Whitehouse, Texas, Kileigh Ryan (Jordon) of Beaumont, Texas, and Korinne West of Denton, Texas; eleven great-grandchildren; her sister, Susie Davis of Mont Belvieu, Texas; her sister-in-law, Elaine Humber of Liberty, Texas; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Friday, August 14, 2026 at First Baptist Church of Gillis, 678 Topsy Rd., with Rev. Glenn George officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Baptist Church Cemetery in Longville, LA under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will be at the funeral home, 2171 US-171, on Thursday, August 13 from 5:30 until 7:00 PM, and will resume at the church on Friday from 9:00 until the start of the service at 10:00 AM.

After Arvel's passing, Joyce was lovingly cared for by her children in their homes a week at a time, and she truly loved that. The family would like to thank Calcasieu Community Care Center and Brighton Bridge Hospice for their care for Joyce in her last days.

The Funeral Service will be live streamed on the First Baptist Church of Gillis Facebook page, FBCGillis.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Joyce's honor to First Baptist Church of Gillis, 678 Topsy Road. Lake Charles, Louisiana 70611.