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(Sept. 29, 1924 - Jan. 28, 2011)
Longtime Worland resident Gene Earl West, 86, died at his daughter’s home in Powell on Jan. 28, 2011.
Gene was born on Sept. 29, 1924 in Mount Sylvan, Texas, a son of Willis Allison and Mattie Mae (Lane) West.
He grew up and attended schools at Daisetta and Silsbee, Texas.
He joined the U.S. Army in 1943 and served in the European theater as an ammunition handler. He was discharged in 1946, and then returned to Texas to go to work in the oilfields.
In 1947 he moved to Worland to work in the oilfields, and it was in Worland that he met his future wife. He and Geraldine Carneal were married in Worland on Sept. 14, 1949. The couple lived in Saskatchewan, Canada briefly while he worked for a seismograph company, then moved to New Mexico, and back to Worland in 1958.
He had worked on road construction for Grosch Construction and for Western Paving before going to work as a flooring installer. Gene then worked for Reed’s Carpet Service and for King’s Carpet before retiring in 1984. In retirement, he and his son David did small jobs laying carpet and vinyl.
Gene loved to fish, watch sports on TV, and socialized with friends at the Legion and at Little Chief. In his younger days he played baseball for the Worland Indians and was a member of the Coors softball team for several years.
He was a member of the American Legion Post No. 44 and the Worland Elks Lodge.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Geraldine in 2001; son David in 1986; and his siblings.
Gene is survived by daughters Gloria (Roy T.) Brazelton of Powell and Janet (Jerry) Martin of Billings; grandsons Casey (Melissa) Brazelton and Jayme (Linda) Brazelton of Powell; and great-grandchildren Aspen, Garrett, Lannon and Kash, all of Powell.
Following a family viewing, cremation will take place with the ashes to be buried in Worland later this spring. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 1 p.m. at Veile Mortuary Chapel in Worland. A reception will follow at the American Legion Hall.
Memorials may be made to the American Legion Youth Program at 117 South 8th Street, Worland, WY 82401.
