Michael David West

Mike enjoyed a long, storied career in law enforcement that began in 1973 with the Houston Police Department (“HPD”), where he was the youngest officer ever accepted to the Special Weapons and Tactics unit.

In the late 1970s Mike tried to leave law enforcement to become a carpenter and fur trapper in Kerr County, Texas. But when the sheriff learned about his HPD history, he recruited Mike and Mike acquiesced. As a Kerr County Sheriff’s Deputy, Mike was a first responder during the devastating Guadalupe River flood of July 1987.

In 1988 Mike was planning to run for election to the position of Kerr County Sheriff. But when called to join the United States Marshals Service “USMS”), Mike abandoned his aspirations for elected office and headed to the USMS academy in Glynco, Georgia. After he graduated from the academy, the USMS sent Mike to Los Angeles, California, where he spent two long years working 12-hour shifts, to support his then wife, Jacqueline, and two young

daughters, Jennifer and Tarah, who continued living in Texas.

In 1991 the USMS transferred Mike to Houston where he arrested violent felons, seized ships, oversaw seizures of counterfeit goods, extradited criminals from foreign lands, and protected federal judges at work, at home, and at conferences. He served on special assignments that allowed him to collaborate with officers from other jurisdictions and federal agencies. His special assignments included the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force and the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force. While on special assignment to secure participants in a high profile murder trial, Mike met the love of his life, Jane, who worked for the trial judge. Several years before Mike retired, the USMS promoted him to the position of Supervisory Deputy United States Marshal. In that position Mike oversaw prisoner movements throughout the 43-county Southern District of Texas.

In retirement Mike became a Certified Organic Gardner. He grew vegetables and fruit trees in raised beds that he built himself and watered with rain collected in large barrels. He revived his carpentry skills to maintain his historic home and

three others on the block. Mike could fix almost anything! Retirement gave Mike time to build strong relationships with his grandchildren by attending plays, cheer competitions, football and

rugby games, and exchanging humorous text messages at odd hours.

In 2018 Mike and Jane bought a house in the country on a small lake in East Texas. Mike enjoyed the comfortably modern house, reveled in outwitting racoons trying to raid his fish feeder, and delighted in becoming a “bird nerd” who was particularly fond of watching eagles dive for fish, listening for owls, and mixing syrup for hummingbirds. But Mike’s favorite feature of the lake was the community of welcoming neighbors who made every moment he spent there a pure joy!

Mike’s quick smile, sharp wit, calm nonjudgmental demeanor, and propensity to take long breaks — often accompanied by a Marlboro cigarette, a mug of coffee, and a bottle of Kamora — helped him to become a trusted family member, loyal friend, mentor, and confidante. His cream biscuits, smoked brisket, and love of giving food away — especially on the Fourth of July — are legendary. But Mike’s super power was his ability to make everyone around him feel safe, secure, and — no matter what chaos was afoot — confident that all would be fine.

Mike is preceded in death by his parents, James Robert West, Lt. Col., and Charlotte Ice West; his sister, Virginia Pardue, and his brother, James West II. Mike is survived by a loving family that includes his wife and partner of 30 years, Jane West; two

daughters, Jennifer Snyder and husband Brett, and Tarah Glaze and husband Jon; seven grandchildren, Ashton Ball and wife Olivia,

Brittany McCray and companion Rob, Andrew Lewis and companion Lina, Madison Harger and husband Randy, Chelsea Glaze and companion

Manny, Luke Snyder, and Charlotte Snyder; two great grandchildren, Stella Ball and Willow Ball; two brothers, Patrick West and wife Kathy, and Kevin West; one sister, Deborah Derong and husband

Melvin; many nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Mike’s nephew, Wynn Derong, will officiate at a funeral service and interment of ashes to be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, December 20, 2025, in the Chapel at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home, 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77077. Mike’s niece, Diana Levy, will sing “Time to Say Goodbye” at the service. Interment of ashes will be followed by an on-site reception with refreshments.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to a charity of your choice or to one of Mike's favorites.