James "Killer" West
It is with a heavy heart the sudden passing of James "Killer" West is announced. Killer passed away on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at his home here in Beckley.
An only child, James Virgil West was born on Mother's Day, May 9th, 1948. On April 20th, 18 days before he was born, his father, James Darnell West was killed in a tragic accident on a strip mine site. He was raised by his mother, Maxine Burdiss West who lived to 2012 and never remarried.
"Killer," as he was affectionately known was a 1966 graduate of Stoco High School where he played football and ran track. He looked forward to Stoco High School reunions. Killer furthered his education attending Marshall University, graduating with a degree in education. He was an extremely proud to be an alumnus of Marshall, enjoyed going to Marshall home football games and tail gating events. After graduation he taught school for several years and then entered the mining industry.
As his good friend, Wayne Bennett stated in his Beckley newspaper column this week, "The wrestling community lost an icon and true hearted fan." Killer was an avid supporter of young people in the high school wrestling events and was a fixture at county and state tournaments. He just loved sports. Although a proud graduate of Marshall, he was a big fan of the West Virginia Mountaineers. Killer also loved the out of doors, he enjoyed hunting and fishing and just recently went on a fishing trip.
Left to cherish his memory are his sons, Scott and Larry West; their mother, Heidemarie Compton and her sons, Keith Deberry and Christopher Compton; a large extended family and many friends survive as well.
There are legends in every community. It's not always about buildings being named in your honor, but rather how you interacted with your fellow man. The first tribute posted on the Melton Mortuary by one of his friends, Larry Walker says it all, "Beckley will not be the same without Killer around."
There are those who heard from Killer almost every day of their lives in recent years. The phone call would always start, "What's going on now," wouldn't we all like to hear that one more time. Killer's sons would like to thank two of those people today, Jerry Johnson and Roger Summers who faithfully took Killer on all his errands, from doctor's appointments, grocery store, drug store, where ever he needed to go, even to the landfill.
This coming Friday, January 17th, there will be a service to honor Killer's life in the Melton Mortuary Chapel at 1:00 pm. The family will be receiving friends at 12 noon. Not many people may know this. Killer had a very spiritual side to him and faithfully attended Sunday services at the Sullivan Christian Church. His pastor, Bill Prunest will be officiating. Killer will be laid to rest in the Sunset Memorial Park. The pallbearers will be: Robert West, Jerry Johnson, Roger Summers, Leroy Brooks, Mark Smith, Jody Penny, Jamie Bowling and Wayne Bennett. Following the services there will be a time of fellowship at the Mad Hatters Club, 410 2nd Street, Beckley.
And so we give James V. West back to God. He left a deep impression on many people. "Unto everything there is a season." Killer has had his season. His mother and family affectionately called him Jimmie." We like to think Jimmie met his father he never knew and is now with his mother who raised him on her own.
May he forever rest in peace
If you would like to donate to Killer's GoFundMe to help his son Scott with unexpected expenses, please click on the following link:
https://gofund.me/cecccedf
Melton Mortuary and Cremation Center has the honor of serving the family during this difficult time. Expressions of sympathy and condolences may be shared with the family by visiting the tribute page at www.meltonmortuary.com