J.R. West, 79, of Cleveland, died Tuesday morning in a local hospital.
He was preceded in death by his two daughters Darlene Little and Carolyn Rynes; parents, A E and Jannie West; brother, Ralph West; and brother-in-law, Vannie Wallace.
He was a member of Clearwater Church and attended Faith Memorial in Cleveland. He was a member of Mirridan Sun Masonic Lodge #50 in Athens, Alahambra Shrine Temple in Chattanooga, and was past President of Cleveland Shrine Club. He was an avid golfer and Nascar fan. He helped organize the Retired Truck Drivers Breakfast. He started driving for Dixie Product in 1959 and was in the shipping department 10 years before retiring from Magic Chef.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years Margaret Faye Tippens West; his son, David McKenzie and his wife Beverly of Gallatin, Tn.; sisters, Retha M. Wallace of Jefferson City, Tn., Bernice West of Morristown, Tn. and Ellie Bryant and her husband Eldridge of Morristown; grandsons, Chad McKenzie and his wife Jessica of Nashville, Shawn McKenzie of Gallatin, and Josh McKenzie and his wife Tiffine also Gallatin; great-grandsons, Campbell and Franklin Mckenzie of Nashville, and Jackson and Baxton McKenzie of Gallatin.
A Remembrance of Life Service will be conducted Thursday at 8 p.m. at the North Ocoee Chapel of Jim Rush Funeral Homes with Bob Hinkle, Ronnie Smith, Steve Hartline, David McKenzie and Craig Wallace officiating.
A Remembrance of Life Graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Sunset Memorial Gardens with Chad Mckenzie, Shawn McKenzie, Shane McKenzie, Josh Eshenbrenner, Wes Eshenbrenner and Jerry Monroe serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Brown, Bob Hinkel, John Hutchins, Sam Kelsey, Doug Richardson, Bill Perry, Bob Warren, Ed Lewis, Bill Stevens and E J Bonner.
The family will receive friends Thursday from 5 until service time at 8 p.m.