Gary Keith West, 74, of Jefferson City, entered into his heavenly home on Sunday, January 16, 2022, at St. Mary’s Hospital, surrounded by his family. He was the BEST husband, dad, and papa and had the greatest sense of humor.
He was born July 22, 1947, in Mayfield, Kentucky, the son of Edward and Joyce Mae (Hill) West.
Gary was a 1965 graduate of Hazelwood High School and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Southwest Baptist College in 1970. He decided to further his education and earned his Master’s degree in Education from Lincoln University.
He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force for four years and continued serving with the Air National Guard for 16 years until his retirement.
On July 11, 1970, Gary married the love of his life, Cheryl June Farris, at Fee Fee Baptist Church in St. Louis Missouri. He loved Cheryl very, very much, making sure that after God, she was his next priority. They celebrated 51 years of marriage in 2021.
Gary spent his career as an art teacher for Hillsboro School District, Eldon School District, and eventually retired after teaching middle school and high school art in the Russellville School District. Many students loved Mr. West and enjoyed seeing him ride his bicycle from the high school to the middle school every day.
After his retirement from teaching, he got a little restless so he decided to work for the Missouri Board of Probation and Parole for 5 years before finally, truly, retiring.
Gary and Cheryl have been members of Russellville Baptist Church for 42 years. To see their children and grandchildren have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ was of utmost importance. Gary enjoyed reading, tinkering around the house, fishing, and watching Wheel of Fortune, the St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs. His favorite thing to do was to sit on the deck with a hot cup of coffee, in the sunshine, on a nice fall day. But above all, he loved spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren, and his two sweet pups Sam and Gigi.
Survivors include his wife, Cheryl West, Jefferson City; three children, Jennifer West, Scott (Shanna) West, Julie West, all of Jefferson City; five grandchildren, Sierra Call, Silas Call, Kaylee West, Matthew West, Lillian West; and two siblings, Janet (Richard) Hurtgen, Chillicothe; and Beverly Milburn, Jefferson City; brother-in-law Ron (Jeanna) Farris, Hazelwood; sister-in-law Karen (Jim) O’Farrell, Russellville; sister-in-law Judy (Joe) Lee, Melbourne, FL; as well as several much-loved nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father Ed West, mother Joyce West, mother-in-law Wanda Farris, father-in-law Virgle Farris, and niece Sandy Enke.
Visitation will be 10 a.m. to 12 Noon on Saturday, January 22, 2022, at Russellville Baptist Church in Russellville. Funeral service will follow at Noon with Pastor Rusty Kuhns officiating. We ask that attendees please wear a mask out of respect for immune-compromised family members.
Burial with military honors will be in Enloe Cemetery in Russellville.
Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to the American Cancer Society.
Scrivner-Morrow Funeral Homes in Russellville is in charge of the arrangements.
“The shell is here, but the nut has gone home.”-Gary West, our dad, husband, papa, and brother.
Gary Keith West, 74, of Jefferson City, entered into his heavenly home on Sunday, January 16, 2022, at St. Mary’s Hospital, surrounded by his family. He was the BEST husband, dad, and papa and had the greatest sense of humor.
He was born July 22, 1947, in Mayfield, Kentucky, the son of Edward and Joyce Mae (Hill) West.
Gary was a 1965 gradua