Benny Royce WEST

Funeral services for Benny Royce West, 64, of Gainesville are set for 2 p.m., Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at the First Christian Church with Rev. Mark Loewen and Paul Carpenter of First Christian Church and David Gray, Minister of Hillcrest Church of Christ officiating. Burial will follow at New Hope Cemetery in Mountain Springs, Texas. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m.
Tuesday at Clement-Keel Funeral Home in Gainesville, Texas.

Mr. West passed away on Saturday, February 12, 2011 at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Denton, Texas after a hard fought battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, which is more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Benny was born in Gainesville, Texas on June 14, 1946 to Hazel and William West; he was the third of four children. He grew up in the Mountain Springs, Burns City and Valley view area. Benny accepted Jesus as his Savior and was baptized into Christ as a teenager. He graduated from Valley View High School in 1964. Benny earned a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with a teaching emphasis in Integrated Social Studies in 1969 from North Texas State University.

In 1970, Benny began his career with the Valley View Independent School District as a teacher. Benny married Meri Phillips in 1975, with whom he had his only child. While teaching, Benny continued his education and completed a Master of Education in Administration at North Texas State University in 1979.

In 1980, Benny celebrated the birth of his daughter, Carrie Nicole. On July 8, 1988 Benny married Clarenda Upton. From 1980-1993, Benny served as principal for the elementary, middle and high school in Valley View. Benny's career as an educator transitioned into an administrative role where he served as assistant to the superintendent in charge of transportation, maintenance, operations and other administrative duties until 2005.

Benny retire from the Valley View Independent School District after 35 years of service. He considered those years to be the most wonderful experience anyone could have asked for. He appreciated the faculty and staff that worked along side him as well as each individual student. After retiring, he worked part time for the Region 10 Texas Education Service Center as a security and safety auditor. After the onset of symptoms in February of 2008, Benny was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in December 2008. In his final years he has been cared for by his wife Clarenda, daughter Carrie Cheaney, son-in-law, Tom Cheaney and step-daughter Carrie Upton.

Benny was a member of the First Christian Church where he taught Sunday School for nearly 20 years. He served as a Deacon in the church, two years as vice-chairman and one year as chairman of the board.

Mr. West was preceded in death by his parents, William and Hazel West. He is survived by his wife, Clarenda West; daughter Carrie Cheaney and her husband Tom; grandson, Bradley Royce Cheaney; step-daughter, Carri Upton; sister, Billie Annelle Pope; brothers, Delbert West and Bobby West all of Gainesville; nieces, nephews, cousins and numerous other relatives. He is also survived by his first wife, Meri West and dear friend Shirley Jean Price of Vernon Texas.

Pallbearers are Terry Barthold, John Roane, Jimmy Kupper, Nicky Newton, David Ragsdale and Sonny McMillin, Honorary pallbearers are Kip Garner, Paul Hassell, Dave Sanders, Wayne King, Anthony Bryant, Guy Bosley, Troy Moon, Marshal Hampton, Bill Hinchey, Larry Harvel, Bob Andrew, Jimmy Nickerson, Mike Wilson and all of Benny's nieces and nephews.

Graveside services for Clarenda Beth (CB) West, 73, of Gainesville, are set for 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at New Hope Cemetery in Mountain Springs with Thomas Cheaney officiating. Services are under the direction of Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home.

Mrs. West passed away on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017, at the Sanger House Assisted Living Facility in Sanger following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Clarenda was born in Denton on September 20, 1943 to Charles and Lois Barnett. She grew up in Denton and graduated from high school in 1961. Clarenda earned a Bachelor of Arts with a major in history and a minor in government-sociology & English from Texas Woman’s University in 1964.

In 1965, she married Jack Upton with whom she had her only child, Carri Lea.

Clarenda spent her working career teaching English at several schools. She started at Irving followed by stints at Vernon, Pasadena, Argyle, North Texas State University, Little Elm and Valley View where she spent most of her career and continued to teach there until retirement.

In 1979, Clarenda earned a Master of Arts in English from Texas Woman’s University. Her thesis was titled James Jones’s From Here to Eternity, The Thin Red Line and Whistle: A Trilogy.

In 1988, Clarenda married Benny West to whom she remained married until his death in 2011.

While teaching at Valley View, she taught high school English and directed the One-Act Play which she loved as it was a passion of hers that extended beyond the classroom. After retiring from Valley View, she taught English as an adjunct faculty member at North Central Texas College.

Clarenda enjoyed reading books, watching classic films & westerns, tending to flowers and caring for numerous pets over the years.

Clarenda was a Christian.

She was preceded in death by both of her parents, Charles and Lois Barnett; brother Charles Barnett; husband Benny West; and most recently her daughter Carri Lea Upton.

She is survived by stepdaughter Carrie Cheaney and her husband Thomas; step grandchildren Bradley & Emily Cheaney and eight first cousins.

Special thanks is extended to Clarenda’s first cousin, Mike Hanes, who graciously stepped in to serve as her legal guardian and faithfully represented her best interests as she endured Alzheimer’s disease.

Contributed on 9/22/19 by dshw
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