Kenneth Dewey West

Kenneth (Ken) Dewey West, 88, of North Richland Hills TX passed away on Friday, June 17, 2022. He was born August 11, 1933 on the family farm near Ryan, Oklahoma to Ruby Jewell Clark West and Horace Dewey West.

He graduated from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1956 with a goal to be a teacher and basketball coach. His coaching career was put on hold as he was drafted two weeks later to serve in the United Sates Army for two years, stationed in Korea on the 38th Parallel.

His career started as a teacher and basketball coach at Paducah, Texas. There he married Carol Ann Stanley, on August 1, 1962 in Paducah Texas. Together they raised three children, Denise, Karen and Teddy.

Ken had a long successful career as a basketball coach for 36 years and reached a rare milestone of over 600 wins. Ken lived and coached in four communities and left a mark and impact on each of these places and many young lives. In 1963, he moved to Childress, Texas and lived 11 years where he made lifetime friendships and embedded his name in Texas sports history. In 1974, Ken moved to Wichita Falls, Texas and coached at Rider High School. In 1977, Ken moved to North Richland Hills, Texas and coached at Richland High School. He retired from Richland High School in 1994.

Ken was loved by all and was known to everyone as Coach West. He was known for his big smile and heart, love of life and family, traveling, camping and pulling his kids behind the boat in every lake in Texas and Oklahoma. He loved to spend time at the family farm and take care of his cattle.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Carol West, daughters Denise Sauvajot and her husband Stefan of Colleyville, Texas, and Karen Allen and her husband Gary of North Richland Hills, Texas, and son Teddy West and his wife Jamie of Electra, Texas. His beloved grandchildren include William Allen, Wesley Allen, Brayden West, Nathan Mints, and Christian Sauvajot. He is also survived by a brother Norman West and his wife Louise and sister-in-law Lynda Saxton and her husband Rick.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Raymon West and his wife Vonda of Ryan Oklahoma, and a step-father Eldy Sain of Ryan Oklahoma.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 23, 2022, at 10:30 am at Northwood Church, 1870 Rufe Snow Drive, Keller, TX 76248. Reception will follow with opportunity to visit with family and share memories of Kenneth. Kenneth will be interred at a later date in the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in Grand Prairie Texas.