Katherine E. West, age 90, went to be with the Lord on September 30, 2013.  Kitty was a lifelong resident and retired merchant of West's Store for over 50 years in Amelia County.  She was predeceased by her mother Louvenia Pike Smith and father Eldridge L. Smith; brothers Walter, Claude, Raymond, Buster and Herbert Smith.  Also she was predeceased by her husbands Frank Midkiff (1943) and Leemon West (1988) and daughter Joan West Leonard (2007).  She is survived by son James Midkiff and wife Paula of Powhatan; granddaughter Wendy Leonard Bower and husband Steve of Powhatan and granddaughter L. Kelley Midkiff of Charlottesville; great grandchildren Mia Isabel Larson and Benjamin Midkiff Larson of Charlottesville.

Kitty worked hard in establishing Mattoax Fire Department.  She was the first woman to be elected to the Amelia Board of Supervisors and held the position for eight years.  Visitation will be Tuesday 6-8 pm at the Hillsman-Hix Funeral Home in Amelia with services at Hillsman-Hix Wednesday at 2 pm with committal service at Mattoax Cemetery following.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Little Flock Primitive Baptist Church or Mattoax Fire Department.