Services for Joe Dean West, 81, of Francis, are 1:00 p.m. Friday, December 27, 2013, at the Southwest Church of Christ, Rev. Richard Bailey will officiate. Burial will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Francis. The Chickasaw Honor Guard will conduct military honors at the cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Criswell Funeral Home.
Mr. West died Saturday, December 21, 2013. He was born July 18, 1932 at Washington, Oklahoma to Robert Leo West and Era Lavada Fountain West. He graduated from Francis School, and also attended Tulsa University where he received his Bachelor’s in Business Administration.
He married Mildred Marie Hughes West on December 18, 1954 in Ada. Mr. West retired from Western Electric after twenty-nine years of service. He later owned and operated Joe West Real Estate, and Gregory Pest Control, and had for many years been a Farmer and Rancher in the Francis area.
He was a past President of Kiwanis Club of Ada, and Ada Board of Realtors. He was a State and National delegate and a member of the County Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. He was also a member of the Pontotoc County Cattleman’s Association. Mr. West was also a member of the Western Electric Retiree’s Association and served as a Union Steward for CWA. He was a Committee Chair for the Western Heritage Association. He was also a past County Chair and State Delegate for the Pontotoc County Democratic Party.
He was a member of the Southwest Church of Christ. He was a Sergeant in the U.S. Army Motor Pool Division during the Korean Conflict.
Joe proudly lived on a part of his Great Grandmother’s Original Indian Allotment. He was extremely active in the community and dedicated his later life to community service and political activism. He always had a smile or joke for friends, associates, or even strangers.
Survivors include his wife, Mildred Marie West, of the home, two daughters, Sue West, Carla West, both of Ada; three sons, Mike West and wife Christine of Durant, Jared West and wife Jackie of Ada, and Adam West of Los Angeles, CA; one brother, Robert Leo West (R.L.) and wife Jackie, of Ada; four sisters, Lois Baker of Ada, Joy Gino of Oklahoma City, Virgie Davis and husband Frank of Ada, and Shirley Hill of Piedmont, Oklahoma; twelve grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; two great great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Pall Bearers will be Mike West, Jared West, Adam West, Stephen West, John West, and Jay Haney. Honorary Bearers will be Ralph Wilke and Bob Fennell.
Obituaries may be viewed and online condolences sent to criswellfh.com
Criswell Funeral Home, Ada
