Montie Royce West

Durham – Montie Royce West, 97, died on Monday, February 23, 2026. She was born in Pampa, TX on January 10, 1929, to the late Grady Alonzo Cotten and Mabel Cotten.

Montie grew up in Tulsa Oklahoma with her seven siblings. She met and married James Robert West after college. They had their first son Robert Timothy West, just before Bob was to be stationed in France as an officer in the Navy. Upon leaving the Navy, they moved back to New England and Bob joined IBM. For several years they relocated to multiple places in New England and New York. They welcomed their second son, Mark Andrew West while living in Maryland. Montie enjoyed homemaking and raising their children.

Montie loved good books, interior design and décor, French cuisine wine and chocolate. She loved to travel and loved her extended family and friends.

Montie is survived by her sons, Mark Andrew West and wife, Lisa, and Robert Timothy West and partner, Lois Erisman; her brother, Richard Cotten; sisters, Carolyn Miller and Susie Rathbun; grandchildren, Brian James West, Michael Allen West, and Audrey Elisabeth West; and four cherished great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Montie is preceded in death by her devoted husband, James Robert West; brother, Frank Cotten; and sisters, Ellen Crippin, Barbara Arnhols, and Nancy Shader.

A memorial gathering of family and friends will take place at 1:00 PM on Saturday, March 14th, 2026 at Hall-Wynne Funeral Service, 1113 W. Main St., Durham, NC 27701.

In lieu of flowers, in honor of Montie, please consider donating to the Dementia Alliance of North Carolina. 

The West family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. Online condolences: www.hallwynne.com – select obituaries.