Jeffery Eugene West

Jeffery Eugene West of Kansas City, Kansas passed away on 7 November 2023 at the age of 72. Jeff was born 11 February 1951 in Kenton, Ohio. He grew up in Florida and his family later moved to southern California where he lived until he entered the military. Jeff joined the U.S. Army in March of 1968 at the age of 17. He served honorably both domestically and overseas until his discharge in 1971.

Jeff met the love of his life, Kathryn Harless, in 1973 in La Crescenta, California. They moved to Kansas in 1975, married in March 1976 in Prairie Village, and had two children, Sarah and Jacob. Jeff joined the Kansas City Kansas Fire Department in 1977 and served for 31 years, retiring as a Captain in 2008. Jeff had a deep passion for the fire service and loved being a firefighter helping and serving his community. He made many lifelong friends with his co-workers.

Jeff was very involved in his kids’ lives leading family road trips and vacations all over the US, traveling for summer tournament softball, and rooting his daughter on during varsity softball games during her years in high school. He was also very involved with the Boy Scouts of America serving as an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 34, attending many weekend and summer camps, and twice completing treks at the Philmont Scout Ranch with the Troop in Cimmaron, New Mexico in 1996 and 1999. He adored scouting and was a tremendous mentor and role model not only for his son, but many other boys and young men in the Troop.

Jeff loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter, fisherman, and conservationist his entire adult life. He was able to continue camping and hunting trips with his longtime friends until the end. His sanctuary was the woods; and he relished every moment in nature as well as building a homestead with his wife in their retirement. He was an avid reader, a Chiefs, Royals, and Jayhawks fan, and loved spending time with his granddaughters.

Jeff is survived by his wife of 47 years, Kathryn of Kansas City, Kansas; his daughter Sarah and daughter-in-law Kari of San Diego, California; his son Jacob, daughter-in-law Lauren, and two granddaughters of Denison, Texas; his sister Jean Ann West of Shawnee, Kansas; brother Michael Marshall and wife Shelia of Shawnee, Kansas; sister Pamala Taylor of Wimauma, Florida; and many other cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Details on the private memorial service are forthcoming. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Foundation or the Kansas Wildlife Federation.