Obituary of Billy Murry West

Billy "Spike" Murry West April 17, 1933 - April 01, 2016 Memorial services for Billy Murry “Spike” West, 82, of Tatum, New Mexico will be held on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at 10:00 am at Tatum First Baptist Church with Bro. Wayne Brazil and Charles Ivie, Minister of Tatum Church of Christ officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Kirby-Smith-Rogers Funeral Home. Mr. West was born on April 17, 1933 in Snyder, TX to Marvin S. and Christine (Schultz) West and passed away on April 1, 2016 at his home in Tatum. He started life very young on a ranch and spent a lot of his youth living in several places but graduated from Pettit, TX High School where he was the valedictorian. After graduation he joined the US Army as a radar specialist and spent some time in Greenland during that tour. He was a ‘ramblin’ man, a rodeo cowboy in younger years and a cattle truck driver and an all- around well-loved man, who never met a stranger, never got mad and would cross the street to shake your hand. He liked to dance and loved western swing music, especially Bob Wills. He would walk into a dance and the band would immediately start playing “Maiden’s Prayer” for him, one of his favorite songs. In the latter years he enjoyed watching rodeos and the sporting events of the young people and was given the honor of “Fan of the Year” in Tatum and was called “The Living Legend”. He was supportive of the kids when not on the road and Murry during his team roping. Billy was a good dad with a sense of humor and loved watching the grandkids activities. He married Bette Martin in Tatum in 1992 and they have shared twenty four years of life together. Billy was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Florene Autry West; two brothers: Buddy and Jack West and one sister: Edith Nabors. He is survived by his wife, Bette of the home, two sons: Allen and wife Barbara Jones of Eunice, NM and Murry and wife Kelly West of Tatum; three daughters: Rhonda Welch of Waco, TX; Marvilene and husband Wes Holland of Troup, TX; and Tammy and husband Ross Cornett of Marquez, TX; three stepdaughters: Brenda and husband Johnny Jones of Quanah, TX; Robin Evans of Meadow, TX and Sheila and husband Kevin Morrow of Levelland, TX; One sister: Marilu Gerrick of Lubbock, TX and fourteen grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren and five step-grandchildren and seven step-great-grandchildren and a host of friends. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the “Bill West Memorial Scholarship Fund” to the Western Commerce Bank in Tatum, NM.