William Kenneth West

William K. West, of Russell Springs, passed away at his home on Thursday, December 28, 2023.  He was 97 years of age.

Born September 16, 1926, in Russell County, he was a son of the late Edd and Marie Stephens West.  At the age of eight, he began raising sheep.  When he sold his first ewe lamb for eight dollars, he was able to start his first bank account.  William continued with various forms of livestock – chickens, guineas, sheep, and cattle – for eighty-eight years. He cleared his land with a crosscut saw and worked his farm with a team of mules. In all his years of farming, he never owned a tractor.  William was a simple man who was no stranger to hard work.  He will be missed by those who knew and loved him.

Survivors include two special daughters, Rebecca Bounds of Russell Springs, and Ronette Wilson of Jamestown; a brother, Amon West, of Jamestown; two sisters, Lucille Semer, of Indiana, and Sheila Walters, of Russell Springs; two granddaughters, Makayla Hudson, and Makenzie Hudson; a special nephew, Mike (and Cheryl Boger), of Russell Springs; a sister-in-law, Adalene Dunbar; and a host of nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, William was preceded in death by his beloved wife of fifty-nine years, Olene Coffey West, who passed away April 28, 2005.  He is also preceded in death by four brothers and seven sisters.

Funeral services are 2:00 PM Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at Bernard Funeral Home, with Brother Scott Proctor officiating.  Burial will follow in Bernard Ridge Cemetery.

Visitation for the public will be from 5:00-8:00 PM Monday, at the funeral home, and will continue at 8:00 AM on Tuesday morning.

Terry McQueary, Mike Boger, Randy Wheat, Tanner Carnes, Nathan Ray, and Caiden McQueary will be pallbearers.  Shawn Bounds and Charlie Newland will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Funeral arrangements for Mr. William K. West are entrusted to Bernard Funeral Home.  An online guestbook is available at www.bernardfuneralhome.com.

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