James Allen West

A Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate the life of James Allen West, 24, will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at St. Jude Catholic Church, 4700 Palmetto Road, Benton, Louisiana. Celebrating the mass will be Father Karl Daigle. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 10, 2023, at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier City, Louisiana. Following the visitation, Michael Chin will be leading a rosary at 6:30 p.m. Burial will be held at 3:00 p.m. following the mass at Friendship Baptist Cemetery, 1071 Friendship Loop Ville Platte, LA 70586. Officiating at the graveside service will be Pastor Kevin West.

James flew into the arms of Jesus on Saturday, April 1, 2023. He was born on June 19, 1998, in Shreveport, Louisiana, to Thomas Eric West and Patricia Anne Townley West. James was a miracle child and a ray of sunshine from the moment he was born. He was born with a neuromuscular disorder and a list of other abnormalities, but James was not defined by these things; he never let anything stand in his way. He let what he went through bring people closer to our Lord and show people how to live a life of joy! He was a true soldier for Christ; he was nothing but an angel from above. He attended Apollo Elementary, Cope Middle School, and Airline High School; he loved all his teachers and friends very deeply. After high school, James attended Holy Angels Angel Works program, where he felt so cherished and accomplished in using his talents and skills to support others. At school and Holy Angels, he made life-long memories he recounted every day. James never forgot a face or a name, he loved everyone he ever met.

James had many hobbies, one notable was art. He enjoyed making masterpiece paintings and drawings to bring happiness to others. James was a true musical artist and dancer. He would write his own songs, sing all the time, crank the radio all the way up, would dance gladly any chance he got, and he was never afraid to challenge someone to a dance competition on the Wii. James was “the man with the plan”; he was always one step ahead and always thinking of ways to help others. He lived by the motto, “Do a good deed for someone in need”; he was active in making shoeboxes for less fortunate children with Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child, donating to local food banks and charities like the Shreveport Bossier Rescue Mission, giving back to local law enforcement and his “heroes” Fire Station 9. James was selfless, he always thought of others before himself, the mark of a true superhero! It is not by coincidence that his favorite cartoon characters were Marvel Superheroes, especially Spiderman. James was in love with Disney such as Handy Mandy and Toy Story, Scooby-Doo, Barney, Looney Tunes, and most notably, Power Rangers. He called himself “Power Ranger Angel Man”, there is nothing truer than that: James was cool, funny, and strong like a Power Ranger but sweet, compassionate, and pure as an angel. This precious gift God has blessed this world with has finished his mission… this beautiful treasure is returning home.

James is preceded in death by his grandparents, Derwood James Townley, Patricia Waine Townley, Shirley Ruth West, and Allen West. Those left behind to live on James’ legacy are his parents, Patricia Anne West and Thomas Eric West of Bossier City; his brother, David Keith West of Bossier City; sister, Jessica Anne West of Bossier City; aunt, Yolonda West, whom he visited in the nursing home and loved dearly; his fur babies Cocoa, Trixie, Cranky (in doggie heaven), Angel, Ellie-Mae, T-Boy, and Moe; and a host of family and friends who loved James.

The family would like to express deep gratitude to Iyana and Tammy, direct service workers from St. Matthew’s who worked daily with James, Tyler from Easter Seals, James’ doctors, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, and church friends. As James always said, God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

 In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials may be made to the MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association), http://www.mda.org/, or Holy Angels Residential Facility, https://www.laholyangels.org/.