Ann Quigley West Was Former Antique Dealer

Ann West, an Edgartown resident for more than 75 of her 98 years, died on April 14 at the Southwest Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers, Fla.

She was born Anne Bridget Quigley in Fall River on May 2, 1904, the daughter of Andrew E. and Ada Quigley of Fayville. The youngest daughter in a family of five, three girls and two boys, she was raised by relatives in the Boston area and in Chicago, which was the normal way in those days, as her mother died before she was three.

Reunited with her sisters Caroline and Ada in the Boston area in the early 1920s, she attended a small college before being employed by the telephone company.

In 1923 she met her future husband, Richard West, a native of Edgartown who was employed in Boston at the time.

Married in Fayville on May 27, 1925, they honeymooned in Stamford, Vt., prior to setting up housekeeping in Edgartown. Richard made his living as a fisherman and boat captain until his death at 61 years of age in 1964.

Ann loved poetry and was well-known as an antique dealer. She opened her first shop in 1950 with her friend, Marion Roberts, on Dock street. It operated there until it moved to an addition on her home, then located where the post office is now. She was an avid collector and the story has been told that her husband once remarked, "You've got enough junk to open a store." So she did. It was an avocation that continued into her 80s.

The antique business was never run for profit, but it did provide this lady of endless energy and love for antiques with the opportunity to display the things she loved. She never bought anything that she didn't like for herself, and in fact many of the items bought for the shop spent a few years in her home before being replaced by some new treasure.

Ann read every book and magazine she could find and would research most items she found for her shop. She was known to retire items from the store if someone looked like they were going to buy it.

She is survived by her three children, Richard E. West, formerly of West Tisbury and currently residing in Virginia, Joyce West Erdman of Edgartown and Carmichel, Calif., and Peter West of Edgartown and Fort Myers, Fla.; 14 grandchildren, and 15 grandchildren, with two more due this summer.

A graveside service will be held Saturday, July 13, at 11 a.m. at the Westside Cemetery in Edgartown, followed by an open house and celebration of her life at the home of her son, Peter, at 3 Hillman Drive, Katama. All are welcome.