John William West

September 4, 1947 - September 5, 2018

John William West, age 71, of Forrest City, died Wednesday, September 5, 2018, at the Veterans Hospital in Memphis following a prolonged and courageous battle with cancer. Mr. West was born September 4, 1947, in Forrest City, and was the son of John Branch 'J.B.' West and Clara Edith Gray West. He lived in St. Francis County most of his life, retired from insurance sales and construction. Mr. West was a 1st Lt. in the U.S. Army while stationed in Frankfort, Germany during the Vietnam War. He is a graduate of Arkansas State University majoring in Agronomy and was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. Mr. West was a member of the Madison United Methodist Church. Mr. West is survived by two daughters; Jennifer Laymon and Katie West, both of Forrest City, one son, Ben West of Guy, Arkansas, his mother, Edith West of Forrest City, one sister, Debra West of West Memphis, and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, J. B. West, two brothers; Gary Michael West and Joel 'Randy' West. Visitation will take place Saturday, September 8, 1:00 to 2:00 P.M. at Stevens Funeral Home, Forrest City. A memorial service will follow immediately at 2:00 P.M. Stevens Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements. Mr. West was a proud U.S. Veteran and supporter of cancer research. The family requests that in lieu flowers, memorials may be sent to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-8517 or St. Judes Children's Research Hospital, Memorial Donations, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, Tennessee 38148-0142. Expressions of sympathy and remembrance may be entered at www.stevensfuneralhome.net