Kelly R. West

Kelly R. West, age 69, longtime resident of Grove, met his Savior face to face on Wednesday, February 16, 2022. On August 30, 1952, Kelly was born, one of 13 children, to Lee and Alice (Greer) West in San Jose, CA. In his youth, the family moved to Grove and he graduated from Grove High School, Class of 1970. Kelly married his best friend and the love of his life, Darlene Griffith, on June 14, 1974, at the West’s family home on Whitewater. After Kelly retired, the couple could be seen walking together on Berry Rd, every morning and evening. They enjoyed 48 wonderful years together. In 1983, Kelly and his family moved back to Grove from Tulsa and he began his career at the U.S. Post Office, where he was employed for 32 years, making many friends along the way, until his retirement. To meet Kelly was to make a friend for life. A musician at heart, Kelly loved many genres of music and played the upright bass fiddle and guitar. In his younger days, he was in a bluegrass band named the Peter’s Prairie Boys, consisting of himself, Gary Crittenden, “fiddle” Mike Fields and “guitar” Mike Fields. The band reunited (Wendell Fields, Wayne Graham and Dale Frost) recently at the all-school reunion where they provided entertainment for the alumni in attendance. He played bass fiddle at his church, Cornerstone Church of Grove for many years. Kelly was a hardworking man of excellence. In everything he did, he did it to the best of his abilities, from delivering mail to mowing his lawn, tending to his pristine garden and loving his family. He enjoyed fishing, attending Gaither concerts and most recently prospecting, but more than anything he loved Jesus and he loved his family. Kelly adored his grandchildren and spent many hours playing with them and teaching them. He enjoyed pulling them around the yard with a rope attached to their tricycles when they were too young to actually ride them. He is also the undefeated Chinese Checker champion, still playing on the antique metal game board that he did as a child. Never one to sit idle, when Kelly’s son, Jeremy, started Whitewater Hollow Farms, Kelly began helping with the strawberry harvest. He was the self proclaimed “best berry picker” in Delaware County and enjoyed the opportunity to work side by side with his son and family. Kelly was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Ruth Fields, Almeda Stewart, Pauline Davis, Rex West, Dink West, Ruby Dickerson, Joe Lane West, Cotton West and Chubb West. Left to carry on Kelly’s legacy, wife, Darlene West; sons, Josh West and wife, Elizabeth and Jeremy West and wife, Kelly Nicole; grandchildren: Ethan, Walker, Katie Aubrey, Wayland, Alice, Hope and Hettie, all of Grove; sisters, Charlotte Stogsdill, Lenora Flowers and Dixie Beehler, and a host of loving nieces and nephews. The family requests donations be made to a cause that is dear to Kelly’s heart, a local veterans non profit. Behind the Wire Foundation 441094 E. 320 Road Vinita, OK 74301 Visitation will be from 5-7pm Monday, February 21st at Nichols Stephens Funeral Services. Funeral services will be at 2pm Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at First Baptist Church. Burial to follow at Butler Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Nichols-Stephens Funeral & Cremation Services.

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Kelly R. West

August 30, 1952 - February 16, 2022