Funeral services for Homer Gibbs West, age 88, of May, will be at 10:30 AM, Saturday, November 30, 2013 in the May United Methodist Church. Burial with military honors provided by the United States Marine Corps will follow in the Amity Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6:00 until 7:00.
Heartland Funeral Home of Early is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. West passed away on Wednesday, November 27, 2013 in the Rising Star Nursing Center.
Homer was born on April 29, 1925 in Comanche County to Ernest Ray and Eva Gibbs West, the youngest of six children. He was a graduate of May High School. Homer served his country in the United States Marine Corps in World War II as a high speed radio operator in the South Pacific at Okinawa and other engagements, rising to the rank of Corporal. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science from Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State University.) He married Guy Nell Westerman on June 4, 1949 in Rising Star. Upon graduation from college, Homer worked for Lucerne Dairies in Oklahoma City and the Dallas area. In 1960, Homer returned to his roots in Comanche County first operating a dairy and continuing as a farmer and rancher until retirement. He was a member of the Sipe Springs Masonic Lodge #537, the Rising Star Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Rising Star First United Methodist Church. Homer is survived by his wife of sixty-four years, Guy Nell of May, a daughter, Susan West of Mineral Wells, three sons, Robert A “Bob” West of Austin, E. Ray West, III of Brownwood, and Thomas A. “Al” West of Dallas, eight of grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren; a brother, Horace West of Houston.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, Gladys Pugh, Avyce Fitzgerald, and Lillian “Bobby” Bell, and a brother, Ernest Roy West.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Amity Cemetery Association, First United Methodist Church of Rising Star, or to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Condolences can be offered to the family at www.heartlandfuneralhome.net