Deming, NM Auto Wreck, Apr 1947

Crash Victim's Body to Merkel

MERKEL, April 8--Body of James H. West, Jr., 31, who died Monday in a Deming, N.M., hospital of injuries received in an auto accident near there Sunday night, is expected to arrive here Wednesday morning.

Funeral arrangements will be announced by Barrow-Sheppard funeral home.

The traffic victim in the son of James H. West of Merkel who has been seriously ill since September.

Investigating officers reported that West was driving an automobile that struck a culvert abutment about 10:30 p.m. He was only occupant of the car. An employe[sic] of an El Paso car parts firm, he was en route to Silver City, N.M., on company business.

West was born in Merkel and graduated from high school here in 1934. Before the war he was employed by the same firm and was manager of a company branch in Maria when he entered the Army. He returned to the firm after 18 months in service and had been in El Paso the last three months.

Surviving are his father and step-mother; one half-brother, Gerald West; one half-sister, Gloria West and his paternal grandmother, Mrs. George F. West, all of Merkel.

Abilene Reporter News, Abilene, TX 8 Apr 1947
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!