We are diminished, even by the loss of one. Ralph West was God's man and a man's man. He was all about "right things and right reasons". He "inherited" five children when he married our mother Rosemary in 1968 and raised them up to be all they could be regardless of the fact they didn't carry his blood.

Ralph is preceded by his parents, Sam and Hazel West, two sisters, Rosemary West, and two sons, Tim and Paul Martin.

He is survived by his sister Elizabeth, two sons, Steve and David, a daughter, Dixie, a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ralph served in the Army as a radio technician during the Korean era and dedicated 37 years to the Memphis Fire Department. He loved taking our family on camping trips all over the country. Many years ago he, our mother, and Aunt Dixie Nelle went on three tours of the United States. They did the East, West, and central U.S. The stories they told were priceless.

He and our mother Rosemary were deeply respected and celebrated in the Cooper-Young community. We are constantly reminder of he and our mother's plants and trees they provided for the area.

He will be deeply missed by all.