Donald Eley West

Donald Eley West born May 27, 1927 passed away on June 15, 2013 peacefully at his home in Long Beach, MS.
He was born in Moss Point, MS to William H. and Cora Agnes West. The family moved to Lyman when he was a child. This is where he spent his childhood and attended school.
Having served in WWII, Korea, and the Berlin Crisis, 1st Sgt West contributed 36 years of military service in the US Army for the county he loved. He served with the 305th Field Hospital in Gulfport. He was employed by the Veteran's Hospital in Gulfport for 32 where he worked with veterans in the recreational rehabilitation facilities.
He was loved by many, respected by most and feared by a few. He was lovingly called Donald, The Don, Eley, Tops, 1st Sarge, Daddy, Daddy Donald, Pops, Fred, Armadillo, Husband and most important to him, Friend. One thing he would not be called was ""Donny"". He would quickly say: ""Them's fighting words"". Or if you called him Mr. West he would smirk and say: ""Don't call me Mister, I ain't missed much"".
Donald was an avid reader, baseball player, fisherman, hunter, Cardinals enthusiast, great marksman and it is reluctantly reported he was a Cowboys fan. He was notorious for pulling pranks, wearing custom cowboy hats, blue jeans, boots and fancy belt buckles and giving away watermelons on the 4th of July. At 85 he bagged two deer. It was a standing thought of his that if you wasted a bullet, you didn't need to be hunting. This past season, he wasted a bullet and he said it would be his last hunting season. He said: ""The deer don't have to be scared anymore"".
Sergeant West was a Christian who walked the walk. He attended MS City United Methodist Church, was a 32nd degree Mason and a member of the Polar Lodge, Life time member of the American Legion Post 119, Disabled American Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He is preceded in death by his parents, sisters Josie Laird and Elizabeth Campbell, brothers William H. West, Jr., Robert West, Benny E. West, Oakley C. West and his beloved wife of 42 years and the mother of his children, Francis McInnis West.
He is survived by his wife, Lois West, children William Neil West of Lucedale, MS, Mary West Sanderford (Perry) of Brandon, MS, granddaughter Mary Frances Sanderford, sister Rebecca Hynum of Lyman, Lois' son, Chuck Young (Sarah), sister in laws Bonnie West of Gulfport, Peggy Lee (Robert) of Pensacola, FL, James Hill of Port Gibson, MS, and numerous nieces and nephews, great and great great nieces and nephews, each being his favorite.
We are very grateful to each of our families who came to share this time with Our Soldier and friends who have been by our side as we have walked along this path. The outpouring of kindness has been overwhelming. We extend our gratitude to Southern Care who treated Donald with dignity and care.
A celebration of Donald's life will be held Tuesday, June 18 at RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 19130 Commission Road in Long Beach, MS. Visitation will from 2 PM to 4 PM. A service officiated by Rev. Denise Donnell will follow at 4 PM.
Burial will be at Woodard Cemetery in Lucedale, MS with full military honors, 10 AM, Wednesday, June 19. Dr. Perry Sanderford, Donald's son in law, will officiate.
Should you wish to make a love offering in Donald's memory, it would honor him greatly for you to contribute to Quota International of the MS Gulf Coast, PO Box 8001, Gulfport, MS 39506 or your favorite charity.