President calls Mrs. West

Shirley West said she was still in shock Thursday morning even as she received condolences from President George W. Bush in regard to the passing of her husband Buddy West, the eight-term Texas legislator from Odessa.

"He always called him Boudreaux," Shirley said, referencing a nickname the president had for Buddy West while the two served together as Texas officials - Bush as governor and West as the District 81 representative.

Services for Buddy West are set for 3 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church of Odessa, 709 N. Lee Ave. Burial services are scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday at the Texas State Cemetery, 909 Navasota in Austin. A reception will follow at 5 p.m. at the Texas State Cemetery.

Mrs. West also shared a few memories of her life with Buddy, mentioning that they had known each other since they were 9-years-old and that he used to steal bananas out of her lunch box.

The two became sweethearts as juniors in high school.

"He was a lovely man," she said of the man she knew for 62 years and was married to for 52 years.

Mrs. West said the outpouring of love and appreciation she's receiving now isn't unique. She said Buddy West knew all along that people appreciated his service to the community and that he truly enjoyed serving the public.

His service also included time on the Ector County Independent School District board before he went to the Texas Legislature in 1993.

"Buddy belonged to the people," she said.

West died Wednesday at Hospice House in Odessa. Texas Gov. Rick Perry ordered on Wednesday that flags at all state building flags be lowered until West's internment Saturday at the Texas State Cemetery.

West was born in Ballinger Oct. 9, 1936, and moved to Odessa in 1944. He married Shirley Porter, March 22, 1956, in Odessa.

He graduated from Odessa High School, he attended Odessa College, Howard Payne University, Hardin-Simmons University and he graduated with a BBA in business management from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in December 1975. He retired after thirty years with Amoco where he worked in multiple capacities, such as, safety engineer, product technologist, and plant and field technician.

Representative West was elected to the Texas House in 1992 where he represented Texas House District 81, which is composed of Ector, Andrews and Winkler counties. His final term would have ended in December.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley West of Odessa; son, Richie West of Odessa; daughters, Lori Bennington and husband, Wade, of Odessa and Ami Satterwhite and husband, Scott, of Odessa; brother, Joe Carter West and wife, Carolyn, of Dallas; sister, Yvonne Miller and husband, Herb, of Midland; grandchildren, Kelsee, Shelby West, Scotty, Lexi, Landon and Laci Satterwhite and Baylee Bennington; great-grandchild, Rylee West; and several nieces and nephews.

Friday's funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church with Dr. Byron McWilliams, Dr. Bailey Stone and the Rev. Bob Bratcher officiating. A graveside service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas with a reception to follow at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.

Pallbearers will be: Paul Blanton, Huey McCoulskey, Jim Pitts, Jack Frost, Bill Wilkerson, Pete Laney, Vicki Gomez, Wayne Squiers, Scotty Satterwhite, Keith Cardwell, Ken Heatherly and Judge Bill McCoy.

Honorary pallbearers will be: the members of the Texas House of Representatives.

Memorials may be made to Hospice House, 903 N. Sam Houston Odessa, Texas 79761, the Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd Street New York, New York 10016 and First Baptist Church Music Ministry and Children's Ministry, 709 N. Lee Odessa, Texas 79761