Terry R. West

Terry R. West was born in Mobile, Alabama on February 8, 1954, the middle child of Julia Bell Smith and Ford Ratliff West. The family moved to Decatur, Alabama where he played on a championship football team, graduated from high school and formed lifelong friendships. He was honorably discharged from the Marines in 1977. Semper Fi.

Graduating from the University of Alabama in 1982 with a degree in accounting, Terry briefly worked for the IRS. Deciding a desk job was too boring, Terry took a job as a mail handler with the United States Postal Service. He moved truckloads of mail in the Hartford, CT postal facility. If your mail delivery seems a little slower lately, it’s because Terry retired at the end of last year. 

On December 26, 1995, his only child, CJ West, was born to Terry and April West. Terry is survived by his wife, April, his two sisters, Gloria West and Sherry Nelson, his child, cj west, his stepdaughter, Erica Graham, his brother-in-law, Darrell Nelson, his nephews, Cory and Andrew Nelson, his grandnephews, Ripp and Audie and his wee niece Dakota, and his best friend since 7th grade, Johnny Austin. 

On June 01, 2023, Terry received Deep Brain Stimulation surgery in an effort to alleviate his worsening Parkinson’s Disorder condition. On March 17, 2024, Terry R. West passed away after living with Parkinson’s for over a decade. Terry loved his friends and family, college football, biking, skiing, surf fishing, being in the sun, chocolate and eating shrimp and grits. A lifelong Alabama Crimson Tide football fan, he went to his last football game at Bryant-Denny stadium in October 2023 with his wife, April and best friend, Johnny Austin. Alabama won the game. 

Post DBS surgery, Terry experienced a major reduction in his Parkinson’s stiffness, tremors and physical distress as well as a mental, emotional, and spiritual revitalization. He left this life full of faith, love, joy, dreams, and excitement for his next journey. Terry’s spirit now exists in the downpour of an Alabama thunderstorm, the victory roar of a stadium, the home stretch of a long work shift, the rays of sunlight remembering us back to ourselves, and through the choices we make that are rooted in love. 

May we honor your unwavering strength. Hooah. The few, the proud, the Marines. 

We love you forever. Roll Tide Roll.

Calling Hours will be Friday, April 19th from 4:00-7:00 pm at Mitchell Funeral Home, 15 Park St, Easthampton, MA 01027

Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, April 20th at 10:30 am at the First Congregational Church of Southampton, UCC, 212 College Highway, Southampton, MA 01073

In lieu of flowers, Terry would be honored to have donations made to the local Fitness P.D. Fighters lead by Leah Halloran 
https://secure.qgiv.com/event/apda2024maoptimismwalk/team/945437/

OR Soldier On in Leeds, MA website www.wesoldieron.org
www.mitchellcofuneralhome.com

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