Mary Louise West

Mary West was born in Newton, Massachusetts, and was the oldest of twelve children.

After making some terrible life choices, battered, bruised, and broken, The Salvation Army, believing in the gospel of the “second chance,” gave her an opportunity to serve and be served.

Graduating from The School for Officers’ Training in New York and receiving her Commission and Ordination, the Army assigned her to various commands in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and prior to coming to Wooster, she served in Harlem in New York City.

Mary didn’t really know what to expect when she was assigned to Wooster, Ohio. During her thirteen years she oversaw the creation of The Family Life Center in the south-end. Mary’s sense of responsibility, loyalty and charity, her ability to empower others, her determined bold-hearted leadership and disarming candor helped the Army become what it is today; a place where people get the chance to change their lives.

Mary received the Wooster Chamber of Commerce “Wall of Fame Award” in 2009. Mary was a Board Member of the Humane Society and 2010 United Way Honorary Chair and member of the Chamber of Commerce.

Mary had received the distinguished Paul Harris Fellowship award from Rotary and the Wooster Chamber’s Hall of Fame award.

Congressional Recognition Certificate from Congressman John Boccieri in 2010. Senator Bill Harris and Senator Bob Gibbs recognized Mary’s work in this community as did the House of Representatives.

After retiring from her post at The Salvation Army, Major Mary continued to serve people through her business, the Major Mary Concierge Company, LTD.

Mary’s motto has always been the following: Live each day to the fullest, get the most from each hour, each day and each age of your life. Then you can look forward with confidence and back without regrets. Dare to be different!! Disregard what the world owes you and concentrate on what you owe the world.

Her strength was not in the academic arena, but rather through her life’s journey. People were her passion! Giving people a second chance to turn their lives around, the past always allowed Mary to bring strength to those she tried to help in the present.

Mary is survived by her son, Robert, and his fiancée, Heather. Mary is also survived by her siblings: Walter, John, Norman, Blanche, Barbara, Nancy, and Jodi, as well as her lifelong friend, Kathy, beloved dog Rusty, and many nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her mother, Rachel, and her father, Walter, and by her sisters, Marian, Margaret, and Alta.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Wayne County Humane Society, 1161 Mechanicsburg Rd., Wooster, Ohio 44691 (www.wchs.org , 330-262-0152), in honor of Mary and her first dog, Hunter. A celebration of life will be held at Wooster United Methodist Church on Friday September 19th, 2025, at 12 p.m. followed by a reception for friends and family until 3 p.m. Roberts Funeral Home - Sherwood Chapel is serving the family.