Jeffrey Duane West's Obituary
Graveside services for Jeffrey West, 49, of DeRidder, LA, will be held Saturday, June 17, 2017, at Lewis Cemetery, DeRidder, LA. A funeral processional will leave Labby Memorial Funeral Home in DeRidder, LA, for the cemetery at 11 A.M. with services immediately following at the cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday, June 16, 2017, from 5 P.M. until 9 P.M. and Saturday, June 17, 2017, from 10 A.M. until 11 A.M. at Labby Memorial Funeral Home, DeRidder, LA.
Jeff moved to DeRidder when he was just a few months old and lived there his whole life, except for four years when he was in elementary school. He couldn’t imagine living anywhere else but DeRidder and Beauregard Parish.
As a child, Jeff enjoyed the television show Emergency, and on Saturday night no one was allowed to watch anything else. Little did he know at the time that he would devote his career to saving lives. He also was a big fan of the LSU Tigers, New Orleans Saints and NASCAR, where he rooted for Dale, Jr.
When he was in elementary school, Jeff tried to play sports. In Little League, he could swing harder than anyone, but never could connect for that big home run. He played football in junior high and found out he would rather take care of players than be on the field. Jeff began to learn all he could about athletic training and that led to a career as an Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic.
He worked for Metropolitan Ambulance in DeRidder and for Acadian Ambulance for a number of years. Jeff was very proud to be a first responder as well as part of the Acadian Ambulance family. His work with Acadian took him to every corner of the state and southeast Texas. His co-workers sometimes called him Uncle Buck or Papa Bear. Beneath a sometimes gruff exterior was a heart of gold and a person dedicated to helping save others or providing comfort to families at a difficult time in their lives. On many occasions, he was the one called upon to talk with a family member who was resistant to getting the care they needed. Jeff was also there to mentor co-workers as they began their work as first responders. He provided encouragement and a kind word, but could provide a verbal “swift kick” if it provided better care for a patient.
He is preceded in death by his father Bobby Ray West, mother Betty West Harper and stepfather Billy O’Neal Harper, Sr. Jeff is survived by his wife, Lesia Irene West of DeRidder, brother, David West of Natchitoches, his stepsister, Rose Ann Ripley of the Shiloh Community, LA; stepbrothers, Billy O’Neal Harper, Jr., of the Shiloh Community, James Edward Harper of Mittie, LA, and Phillip Jefferson Harper of Bon Aire, Georgia. He felt fortunate that he was able to gain two new families through his marriage to Lesia and when his mother married Billy O’Neal Harper.
His family is grateful for the many people who have expressed their sympathy and offered support during the past several days. They take comfort in knowing that his mother and grandmothers are fussing over him by preparing him fried chicken, peas and cornbread and spaghetti and meatballs. Words of comfort may be left to Jeff’s family at www.labbymemorial.com
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