Surrounded by family, James C. “Jay” West, Jr., 84, passed away at his home in Bridgeport Friday evening, December 23, 2016. Born in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, on March 15, 1932, Jay is survived by his wife of 63 years, Nina Ramsey West; his daughter, Claudia W. Bentley, and her husband, Norwood Bentley, of Martinsburg; and grandsons Samuel Clayton Bentley and James Berkeley Bentley. He is also survived by his sister, Terri West Lee, and her husband, Joseph Lee, of Port Royal, South Carolina. He was preceded in death by his father James C. West, his mother Grayce B. West, and his brother John Blake West.
Jay served in the United States Navy and upon his honorable discharge, attended and graduated from West Virginia University in 1956 and the WVU College of Law in 1959. After serving as clerk to the Honorable Herbert S. Boreman, Judge of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, Jay accepted an offer to practice law in Harrison County, a decision he never regretted. He began practice with the firm of Clifford, Jones & Williams in Clarksburg. During his early years with that firm, he served as the city attorney for Bridgeport.
In 1967, the firm became Jones, Williams, West & Jones. In 1989, the firm’s name was changed to West & Jones, where Jay practiced with his fellow law school friend Jerold E. Jones and his brother in law, Dean C. Ramsey, among others.
Jay practiced law for 56 years in West Virginia, serving his clients and his profession with honor and great skill. He served on the Board and as the President of the West Virginia Bar Association, was a Fellow of the West Virginia Bar Foundation, served as President of the West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, and was elected to membership in the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Service to his community, to his profession, and to those in need was always a part of Jay’s life. In addition to the many legal organizations which he served, Jay also served on the local board of the Salvation Army, ringing the bell at Christmas time and supporting other activities of that charitable organization. Jay was also a long-time, active member of Rotary International and served on the board of the Burnside Foundation in Harrison County. He and Nina are contributors to West Virginia University, its College of Law, and its projects to preserve and expand the arts.
Jay entered every Mountaineer sports season with the heartfelt belief that “we’re going to go undefeated this year.” From watching Jerry West play at Stansbury Hall to seeing John Denver perform at the first game at the new Mountaineer Field to watching every minute of this year’s ten and two finish, Jay never lost his enthusiasm for Mountaineer football and basketball. He shared this love of WVU sports with his daughter and grandsons, who will carry on the tradition.
Jay will be missed by the family and friends he loved and who loved him. His compassion, his love of story-telling, his generosity, his sense of humor, his good judgment, his tireless work ethic, and his commitment to fairness and integrity were characteristics he nurtured and for which he will be fondly remembered.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, January 9th, at 11:00 AM, at Burnside Funeral Home, 607 S. Virginia Avenue, Bridgeport, WV. Visitation hours will be on Sunday, January 8, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, also at Burnside Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the James C. West, Jr., Memorial Scholarship Fund at the WVU College of Law, with donations to be made through the West Virginia University Foundation, at the following address:
WVU Foundation
One Waterfront Place
7th Floor
PO Box 1650
Morgantown, WV 26507-1650
If you choose to contribute, please address any donations to the WVU Foundation and note “Fund No. 3Z612, the James C. West, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund.”