Leon West

M. Leon West BOWMAN - Marion Leon West, 79, of Bowman, husband of Gayle Jackson West, died Saturday, August 6, 2011. Funeral services will be 3 p.m. Tuesday at Bowman Southern Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Bowman Memorial Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Robert West, William West, David Earl Fersner, Woodie West, Frank West, and Darrell West. Mr. West was born in the Providence Community, a son of the late Earl West and Lillian Shuler West. He was a graduate of Providence High School and Clemson College. After service in the Army, he was an associate county agent in Abbeville County for three years. Mr. West then returned to Bowman to farm with his father-in-law, Wilfred Jackson. He was an active member of the Bowman Southern Methodist Church. Mr. West enjoyed the outdoors, especially gardening and growing Snap Dragons. He was preceded in death by brothers, O'Bryan West, Gene West, and Raymond West; and brother-in-law, Lamar Fersner. Surviving are his wife of 51 years, Gayle Jackson West of the home; a daughter, Starlene Watson and her husband, Patten of Columbia; a son, Jackson West of Bowman; a sister, Helen W. Fersner of Cameron; step-sister, Ruth Ulmer of Orangeburg; brothers, Howard West (Francine), Heyward West (Annette), and Everette "Cap" West, all of Providence; grandchildren, Ashley (Travis) Durr of St. Matthews, Marion Taylor West of Bowman, Richard Patten Watson IV and Dargan Jackson Watson, both of Columbia; and great-grandchildren, Brody and Mason Durr. The family will be receiving friends at the their home. Memorials may be made to Bowman Memorial Cemetery, PO Box 373, Bowman, SC 29018 or to a charity of one's choice.