WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- “Mother of the Year” has turned into a cliché term for great moms, but for Ima West, it’s a reality. In 1994, West was elected Missouri’s Mother of the Year, sponsored by the American Mothers organization. She is a Kansas City native and resides in Warrensburg.

West is the mother of six children, has 12 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

“It is amazing when we get together, but in this day and age, it can be hard for everyone to find the time to get together all in one place.”

West describes herself as a “people person.” She was a stay-at-home mother so that she could be involved in her children’s lives and in the community. She is in several organizations including PEO, ABC and the PTA, in which she was a member more than 30 years.

She met her husband when she was a teenager. When he left to fight in World War II, they continued to keep in touch through letters.

“That [letters] was the biggest part of our courtship. We probably had less than 12 actual dates before we got married,” West recalled with a laugh. “Things were a lot different than they are now.”

She got engaged when she was 16, and was married 55 years.

The title of "Mother of the Year" is often said in cards or on sweaters, but usually cannot be officially claimed. Ima West does have that distinction, however, as she was indeed named Missouri's "Mother of the Year" in 1994. (Photo by Wayne Dean)

“Our 40th and 50th anniversaries were some of the most special days of my life," West said. "My advice to newlywed couples is to never go to bed early. You will never see eye to eye, but you aren’t supposed to. God made everyone different.”

She graduated from Northeast High School in Kansas City and attended one year of business school when she decided to get married.

“We moved to Holden because my husband was a banker," West said. "He worked with Bank of Holden, so that is why we moved there, and eventually to Warrensburg.”

She went from Kansas City to Holden, then Warrensburg, then a move to Clinton, and made her residence in Warrensburg.

West describes a much different childhood than that of most children today. She was able to rollerskate anywhere without any concern.

“Danger just wasn’t a thought to me. I don’t think it was to my mother either," West said. "I rode anywhere I wanted and didn’t worry about what could happen to me because I was positive nothing would happen.”

Part of this she equates to her neighborhood and the other to the time period.
She describes a neighborhood in which people “looked out for one another.” She was very familiar with all of her neighbors and had confidence that they would keep an eye out for one another’s children. She carried this confidence into motherhood.

“I have always lived in neighborhoods that I consider safe," West said. "I never worried about my children; they ran worry-free, like I did.”

However, she shares a little more concern for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

“It is a different time now; there are a lot more dangers for children to endure. I worry more about them than I did for my children,” West said.

West prides herself the most on being a mother and a wife.

“It was so different for me to become a mother and a housewife at a young age, but you learn," West said. "I learned how to do everything that it takes to be a mother and a homemaker. I love it.”

She considers herself very close to her family, even though her children are scattered across the country. She has one child in Washington, two in Kansas, and three in Missouri.