Garland Oliver West, Sr

Beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather, Garland Oliver "Papa" West, Sr of Gray, Texas died Sunday, May 27, 2018 at home. He was born December 5, 1926 in Coleman, TX. After a short stint in the Navy, Garland worked in the oilfield and owned and operated Flexcel Price and West Oil Tools for 46 years in the heart of the Ark-La-Tex. He was a very gracious man who loved God, his family and his church family. Garland was a very hardworking man who believed life was a blessing and was best spent serving others and helping those in need. After selling his oil field business and retiring he spent the last 30 years of his life managing his small East Texas farm raising cattle and enjoying all 12 of his grandchildren and 9 of his great grandchildren. Garland greatly enjoyed working on his farm with his late wife, Lucy West and passing on his knowledge of East Texas agriculture to his children and grandchildren. He was a member of The Vivian Church of the Nazarene and was instrumental in the building of the new facility. He and his wife Lucy were the recipients of the Distinguished Service Award of The Church of the Nazarene and both were a benefactor for the ARMM. Garland was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Lucy Plunkett West; father, James Oliver West; mother, Ora V. Pardue West Price, stepfather, Palmore Rankin Price; sons, Garland Oliver West, Jr. and Ronald West; brothers, James West, Benjamin "Bennie" West, John West and Truman Lee Price; sisters, Lester "Sis" Duncan and Leta Mae Williams. He is survived by his sons, David O. West and wife, Donna of Jacksonville, FL; Sidney Havard and wife, Lena of Simsboro, LA, and Tommy West and wife, Pam of Gray, TX; daughter, Teri Smith and husband, Mike of Little Elm, TX. brother, Dr. Ralph E. West and wife, Juanita; sister, Winnie Miller and husband, Ben. Papa is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Honoring Papa as pallbearers will be his grandsons. Funeral services celebrating the life of Mr. West will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at The Vivian Church of the Nazarene, 1517 N. Pine Street, Vivian, LA with Rev. William Duke officiating. Interment will follow at the Gray Cemetery, Gray, TX. There will be a time of visitation on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 705 S. Spruce Street, Vivian, LA.