Calvin "Clee" Lee West

Mr. West, a lifelong resident of LaGrange, was the son of the late Sarah Mae Brazell West Griffith and George Sanders Griffith Jr. He was preceded in death by a sister, Annette West Webb and a nephew, Terry Dean Webb.

A member of the LaGrange High School Class of 1957, Mr. West drove a milk truck for Troup Dairies for several years before joining the staff of the LaGrange Daily News as an advertising salesman. He later was promoted to managing editor and won several Associated Press and Georgia Newspaper Association awards for his reporting. He also wrote weekly columns for several years. Mr. West retired from the LaGrange Daily News after 39 years of service.

Mr. West and his friend, the late Don Rainey, contributed the funds to Dr. Gil Watson to start the first soup kitchen at First United Methodist Church of LaGrange.

A Mason, he was Past Master of Union Lodge #28 Free & Accepted Masons, a member of LaGrange Shrine Club, Yaarab Shrine Temple, LaGrange Optimist Club, Moose Club and the LaGrange Elks Club and a former youth coach for the Elks football team. He was a lifelong member of the Methodist church.

Survivors include three daughters, Randi West Atkins and her husband, Ed, of Burlington, N.C., Kim West Shepard and her husband, Randy, of LaGrange and Traci West Spears of LaGrange; his very special companion, Brenda Toney; granddaughters, Rebecca Caleigh Burnette of LaGrange, and Mallory Atkins and Allison Atkins, both of Burlington, N.C.; grandsons, Brent Headley and his wife, Candace, of Acworth, Westlee Grizzard, and his fiancé, Susan Moore, Brandon Headley of Rhode Island, Matthew Lee Spears of Tallahassee, Fl., and Daniel Atkins of Burlington; one brother, G. Sanders Griffith III and his wife, Deena, of Columbus; a niece, Janet Webb of the Rock; and nephews. G. Sanders Griffith IV and his wife, Sally, of Dunwoody, Daniel Griffith, and his finance, Nancy Roberts, of Columbus; Dr. Jason Lee, his wife Amanda, of LaGrange and Chris Lee of Columbus; and Lee’s constant partner, Blue Party Pomeranian, Lizzie Leola Leigh.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M. Monday, June 14, 2014 in the Chapel of Striffler-Hamby Mortuary with Reverend Wayne Hester officiating. Burial will follow in Shadowlawn Cemetery. The gathering of family and friends will be on Sunday, July 13, 2014 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Flowers will be accepted but gifts to the Troup County Special Olympics or the Shrine Hospital Fund are preferred.

Those wishing to share a condolence or remembrance with the family may do so by visiting www.shlagrange.com.

Arrangements are by Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 1010 Mooty Bridge Road, LaGrange, GA 30240 (706) 884-8636