John Merle West, 77, of Florence, Ala., died Dec. 27, 2006, at Golden Living Center in Amory. He was born Nov. 2, 1929, in Haleyville, Ala. He played football at Haleyville High School, Itawamba Junior College and Florence State Teachers College. He was a retired coach and teacher after 40 years, and a basketball and wrestling official. He served in the National Guard, Navy Reserve and ROTC. He was a member of the AHSAA, AEA, Florence Golf and Country Club, UNA Sportsman's Club, Winston County Sports Hall of Fame, Lauderdale County Sports Hall of Fame, American Legion, Alabama Golf Association and the Baptist church.

Graveside services were Dec. 29 at Itawamba Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Fulton.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Greta Lou Hankins West; one daughter, Marla Jo LeDoux (Roger) of Leesville, La.; one son, John Stanton "Scooter" West of Jacksonville, Ill.; one grandson, Zachary West of Jacksonville, Ill.; three granddaughters, Regan West and Kaileigh West, both of Jacksonville, Ill., and Lorene Marie LeDoux of Leesville, La.; one stepgrandson, Brandon LeDoux (Jeni) of Elk Grove, Calif.; two stepgranddaughters, Leticia LeDoux of Huntsville, Ala., and Alisa LeDoux Cottle (Billy) of Albuquerque, N.M.; three stepgreat-grandchildren, Zachary, Claire and Sophia LeDoux of Elk Grove, Calif.; one sister, Sue Akers (Ronald) of Tuscumbia; two brothers, Jerry West of Muscle Shoals and Marshall West (Gayle) of West Plains, Mo.; a sister-in-law, Joyce West of Hamilton, Ala.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Denver and Lorene West; three brothers, Russell, Billy and Don West; and two sisters, Mary Lou West and Yvonne Bradford.

from genforum.com

Siblings:
1.Dorothy Yvonne West Bradford - 19653520
2. Russell Dean West - 78607672
3. Marshall West - 126515317
4. John Merle West - 83713372
5. William "Billy" Sherrell West - 19658820
6. Donald Neil West - 110298430
7. Mary Lou West - 19658795
8. Virginia Sue West Akers - 159059502
9. Rufus Jerome "Jerry" West - 185018681