Harold Finis West

Harold Finis West, 92, of 8000 Purdom Lane of Omaha, Ill. passed away on Saturday, February 27, 2010, 9:10 a.m. at Hamilton Memorial Hospital in McLeansboro. He was a lifelong resident and farmer of Gallatin County and also a teacher for twenty-one years, beginning his career teaching in one room school houses. Harold was born on November 10, 1917 in Omaha, the son of George Elmus and Teresa (Hemphill) West. He married Imogene Hibbard Wallace West on August 30, 1997. Harold was an Elder of Oak Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church and a member of the Farm Bureau and served on the Federal Land Bank Board. He is survived by his loving wife, Imogene West of Omaha; one daughter, Deborah and Richard Selman of Three Lakes, Wis.; one son, Thomas and Zilla West of Omaha; four step-children, Sally Hale of Alanta, Ga., Susan Kaley, Metamora, Ill., Joseph Hale of Peachtree, Ga., Erin Valentine of Decatur, Ill.; one sister, Carolyn Bradley of Ridgway; eleven grandchildren, Amy Herman, Elizabeth Kirk, Philip Beeler, Laura Sullivan, Theresa Grote, Clay West, Thomas West, Emily Bencal, Rebecca West, Benjamin Wright, Sarah Wright; and ten great grandchildren. Harold was preceded in death by his parents; two wives, Mary Purdom West and Phyllis Hale West; two daughters, Rebecca Beeler , Sarah "Sally" Sullivan; four brothers, George Elmus Jr., Donnie, Max, and Ivan West. Visitation for Harold will be on Monday, March 1, 2010 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Vickery Funeral Chapel in Ridgway. Funeral service will be conducted the next day, Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at 11 a.m., at the Oak Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Cottonwood, Ill. with Reverend Harrison Peyton officiating. Burial will be at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Cottonwood. Memorials in Harold's memory may be made to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund or to Camp Sunshine, 1850 Clairmont Road, Decatur, Ga. 30033. Internet condolences may be made at the website, www.vickeryfuneralchapel.com.