Thomas "Tommy" Floyd West

Tommy West, Five-Year-Old Son of County Agent and Mrs. S. E. West Passes Away; Last Rites Are Monday

Death claimed Tommy West, youngest son of County Agent and Mrs. S. E. West, at 12:30 o'clock Friday afternoon, September 28th, following a valiant fight for life. The youngster had suffered a gunshot wound when a 22-caliber rifle was accidentally discharged about 6 o'clock Thursday evening, September 27th.

Last rites were held for Tommy at two o'clock Monday afternoon, with Rev. Jacob Nein, pastor of the First Congregational Church of Lusk, officiating. The chapel of the Peet Funeral Home was filled with friends of this vicinity and distant points. Myriads of floral tributes bore mute testimony of the esteem held for the small lad and his family.

During the rites two selections, "Jesus Loves Me" and "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam" were sung by the Misses JoAnn Templeton, Susan Bardo, Louise McKnight, Gwen Schaefer, and Laraine Gautschi with Mrs. Gerald Bardo presiding at the organ.

Burial was made in the Lusk Cemetery with Tommy's five uncles, Carroll Logsdon, Chester Logsdon, of Laramie, Wyo.; Glen West, Bryce West of Billings, Mont. and Emmett Schieck of Casper, Wyo., serving as pallbearers.

Thomas Floyd West, son of Sylvester (better known as Si) and Rosamond West, was born February 18, 1951 at Lusk, Wyo. and passed quietly away Friday afternoon, September 28th, 1956 at the Spencer Hospital, at the age of five years, seven months and ten days.

Though his span of life was brief, it was filled with happy eventful days that will always be remembered by those who knew and loved him.

Besides his parents, he leaves to mourn his passing, two brothers, Garry David and Brett Richard, his paternal grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Floyd F. West of Billings, Mont. and his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Marie Logsdon of Laramie, Wyo., and a number of aunts, uncles and cousins.

Relatives attending the services included Mr. and Mrs. Floyd West, Mr. and Mrs. Glen West, and "Butch", Mr. and Mrs. Bryce West, Eddie, Dannie, and Vonnie Lee of Billings, Mont.; Mrs. Vonnie West of Kalispel, Mont.; Mrs. Marie Logsdon, Mrs. Josephine Abeln, Mr. and Mrs. Carroll Logsdon, Marie and Jim, and Mr. and Mrs. Chester Logsdon of Laramie, Wyo.; Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Schieck, Bill, Tim, Penny and Lonnie Lee of Casper, Wyo.; Mrs. Al Briggs and family, Lawrence Abeln and Vic Abeln of Rapid City, So. Dak.

The Lusk Herald
October 4, 1956
Tommy West Dies; Services Held Monday

Funeral services were held Monday at 2:00 p.m. from the Peet Chapel in Lusk for Tommy West, five-year-old and youngest son of County Agent and Mrs. S.E. West, who died Friday noon from an accidental .22 gun shot wound which occurred about 6:00 p.m. Thursday. Tommy was born in Lusk February 18, 1951.

Friends of the family from this area and from wide points over the state, crowded the chapel beyond capacity to pay tribute to the family.

Services were conducted by the Rev. Jacob Nein, pastor of First Congregational Church. A quintet composed of Louise McKnight, Jo Ann Templeton, Susan Bardo, Laraine Gautschi and Gwen Schaefer sang "Jesus Loves Me" and "I'll Be a Sunbeam". Mrs. Gerald Bardo was organist.

Casket bearers were Chester Logsdon, Carroll Logsdon, Bryce West, Glenn West and Emmett Schieck, all uncles of the boy. Interment was made in the Lusk Cemetery.

The accidental shooting occurred while Mrs. West was visiting briefly at the home of Miss Joyce Croft, home demonstration agent. The two younger boys of the family remained in the car. The rifle was at the rear of the back seat. The bullet passed through Tommy's right hand and his abdomen. His mother rushed him to the Spencer Hospital and Miss Croft summoned the father from his office where he was preparing to attend Lions Club with the State Champion Livestock Judging Team, of which he is coach.

Among other out-of-town people here for the services besides those mentioned were: Mrs. Chester Logsdon, Mrs. Ruby Logsdon and Marie, Miss Josephine Abelen, G. H. Starr, Burton W. Marston, Miss Jane C. Wrenn, Miss Martha J. Wrick, Mr. and Mrs. Louie Schult, and Willett Keyser all of Laramie; Jim Logsdon, Denver; Mrs. Emmett Scheick, Casper; Mr. and Mrs. Floyd West, Mrs. Glenn West and Butch, Mrs. Bryce West and children of Billings; Mrs. Lavonne West, Kalispell, Mont.; Mr. and Mrs. Orville Nicholls, Douglas; Mr. and Mrs. Del Landen, Wheatland and Max Wall, Torrington.

Suvivors, besides his parents, are two brothers, Garry, 10, and Brett, 6; paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Glloyd S. West of Billings and maternal grandmother, Mrs. Marie Logsdon of Laramie.

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