WILLIAM L. WEST
September 24, 1932-November 25, 2018

William Lee (Bill) West was born September 24, 1932 in Greeley, to Lee J. and Marie Beebout West. He graduated from Greeley High School in 1950, and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado in 1954 and his law degree in 1957.

On December 19, 1953 he married Ludene Arnold. They would have been married 65 years this December. Following law school Mr. West spent a year working at Yale University for Professor J.W. Moore, after which he returned to Greeley to practice law with his father. They practiced law together until his father was elected a county court judge in 1965. Mr. West then maintained a solo practice until 1970 when he and Jerry D. Winters formed a partnership that lasted 17 years, until Mr. West was appointed a District Court Judge October 1, 1987. He served as municipal attorney for many of the towns and cities in Weld County including Evans and Greeley, and was town attorney for Eaton for 29 years. He was municipal judge in Greeley and a deputy district attorney, at a time when district attorneys were part time. Mr. West was attorney for the Weld County Charter Commission.

He became Chief Judge of the District Court in January 1994. During his tenure, Judge West was especially proud of Weld being the pilot district for implementation of the first statewide electronic records keeping system and later for the electronic filing of documents, leading eventually to a virtually paperless court system.

During his career Mr. West was active in the Weld County Bar Association, serving as president in 1972-73, as president of the Weld County YMCA, helped to found the Weld County Legal Aid Foundation, Exalted Ruler of Greeley Elks 809, Chairman of the Greeley March of Dimes, Director and attorney for the Greeley Chamber of Commerce and belonged to Greeley Rotary.

Judge West truly enjoyed his career as a judge and wishes to be remembered as having improved the efficiency and business practices of the courts and improving the quality of justice.

In addition to his wife of 64 years, Mr. West is survived by their two children and their spouses, Bill and Susan West of Eaton, and Wendy (West) and Ray Cairncross of Ketchum, Idaho; four grand children Jared (Carly) West and Adrienne (Tim) Stueven and Caitlin and Christian (Laura) Cairncross; his sister Nancy (Rich) Krebs; brother-in-law Stan Arnold; sister-in-law Lynn Arnold. Mr. West is also survived by four great grandsons and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law Jerry Arnold.

He has requested that services be private and the family plans private services this coming summer. Memorial contributions may be made to "Suncrest Hospice" or "A Woman’s Place" in care of Adamson Funeral Service, 2000 47th Avenue, Greeley, 80634.

To Leave condolences for Judge West’s family, please visit www.adamsoncares.com