Allen Perry West

1953 – 2023

Allen was born on the 8th of June, 1953 in Thatcher, Arizona to Melburn Edmond West and

Marilyn Rose Porter. Allen was one of 4 children.

He passed away the 14th of September, 2023 at the Tucson VA Medical Center in Tucson,

Arizona. His middle son, Allen Arizona West, was by his side.

Allen married Mary Joyce Stalder on the 19th of February, 1972. He spent the rest of his life

enamored with his bride. They celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 2022.

Allen grew up in Graham County Arizona and spent his life following the examples set by his

father and grandfather. He was a cowboy at heart. He loved horses and made a reputation for

himself as an all-around cowboy in the town he retired to, Lawson, Missouri. He was fond of

saying he was “a 19th Century Cowboy living in a 20th Century world.”

Allen spent a career in service to the United States of America in both the Air Force and the

Army. He traveled the world as he personally served two Presidents, Ford & Carter. Having been

stationed in Korea twice, Vietnam, Ft. Bragg NC, Heilbronn Germany and Ft. Lewis WA, Allen

was proud to “play soldier” with the 82nd Airborne (Jumpmaster), and the 1st Special Forces

Group (ABN). He retired from the military in 1991 as a Special Forces Warrant Officer (CW3).

After leaving the military, Allen continued to exercise the work ethic engrained by his father and

grandfather at local feed and tact stores as well as the Ray County, Missouri Sherriff’s office.

Allen will be remembered for his work ethic, his poetry, his sense of humor and wit, his broad

knowledge of everything, his penmanship, his leather craft and tooling skills and his dedication

to serving things bigger than himself.

Allen leaves behind his three sons, Melburn Rudd West, his wife Jennifer and their daughter

Brooke; Allen Arizona West, his wife Cameron and their daughter Trinity; Robert E Lee West,

his wife Kimberly and their children Cheyanne, Draven and Anna; his siblings Amy Lynn Schaff

and Michelle Rose Trijillio. Allen was preceded in death by his wife, his parents and his older

brother Melburn Scott West.

Allen was a loved, admired and respected son, brother, husband, father, uncle, grandfather, greatgrandfather

and friend.

My hero was always that cowboy. He still is, it seems.

Sadly, in search of, and one step in back of

Himself and his slow-movin’ dreams.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.HeatherMortuary.com for the West family.