Lorretta Hyatt West of Centennial, CO died June 10, 2011 in Austin, TX. She is survived by a daughter: Dawn Charisse Hyatt Darling of Centennial, CO; four grandchildren: James Woodrow Hyatt of Portland, OR, Katherine Marie Hyatt LeClere of Pearland, TX, Matthew Wells Darling and George Hyatt Darling of Centennial, CO; four great-grandsons: Thomas Webb LeClere IV, Austin James LeClere and Cash Hyatt LeClere of Pearland, TX, and Julian Jake Woodrow Hyatt of Portland, OR. She is also survived by a brother, Norman Cardwell Crisp, of Amarillo, TX. She was preceded in death by her son, Larry Richard Hyatt of Pearland, TX and her husband, William Ward West of Midland, TX. Nine brothers and sisters preceded her in death, including her identical twin sister, Lorrenne Crisp Rigsby of San Antonio, TX. Lorrenne died June 7, 2011.

Born to parents Ira Nain and Minnie Alice Crisp of Thomas, NM, Sylvia Lorretta Crisp arrived 3-5 minutes before Sybil Lorrenne Crisp. The twins were delivered at home by their father. They grew up on the family farm and ranch outside Clayton, NM. They were never called by their first names, always by Lorretta and Lorrenne. They graduated from Clayton High School in 1942. After graduation they worked side by side as secretaries to the managers of Cactus Ordnance Plant in Dumas, TX during World War II.

In 1944 Lorretta married Charles Cylvester Hyatt of Midland, TX. They moved briefly to California and then to Los Alamos, NM where she worked as a secretary in the National Laboratories. After the war they moved to Midland and Lorretta began her career as a secretary in the Oil and Gas Industry. Their son, Larry was born in Midland in 1949. The family moved to Shreveport, LA and Ft. Worth, TX and in each city Lorretta continued her career. Daughter Dawn was born in Ft. Worth in 1961 and the family returned to Midland in 1963 where the children were brought up and attended school.

Lorretta and Charles were divorced in 1969 but remained friends until his death in 1991. Lorretta worked in Midland for several oil and gas companies including Texas-American Oil, BTA Oil Producers, and Union Oil. She also worked as an Avon Lady and as a hostess at La Bodega Restaurant to supplement her income and support her family.

In 1980 Lorretta married William Ward West, a widower, of Midland, TX. She continued to work for another year until she earned her full retirement from Union Oil and paid off her home. She was very proud to have accomplished these goals. Retirement enabled her to travel with her husband and grandchildren James and Katie Hyatt. She was widowed in 1983. She suffered a terrible loss in 1986 when her son Larry died.

Lorretta moved from Midland to Centennial, CO in 1993 to be near her daughter and grandsons Matt and George Darling. She owned a home there until 2005 when she moved to Holly Creek Christian Living Community, also in Centennial. She enjoyed attending her grandsons' school, scouting, and musical events. She also enjoyed Colorado's mountains.

On June 9, 2011 Lorretta traveled to Austin, TX with her daughter to attend Lorrenne's funeral service. She became ill and died at St. David's hospital in Austin on June 10. A double funeral service was held on June 11 at Cook-Walden Funeral Home in Austin for the twins. A memorial service is being planned at Holly Creek for late June. Inurnment will be in Midland, TX at a later date.

Remembrances may be made to www.cookwaldenfuneralhome

Lorretta Crisp West is a Mayflower Descendant through her father. She is descended from Mayflower passengers James his wife and daughter Mary Chilton, Thomas Rogers and Richard Warren.