Tommy West Jr.

Born on January 13, 1935, he was the son of the late Tom and Carrie Ramey West of Charlotte, NC. He attended Seventy First High School in Fayetteville NC and then graduated from Charlotte Central in1953. After graduating, he attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Tommy entered the US Army and Reserves in 1957 and was stationed at Fort Jackson in Columbia, SC.

Tommy started and operated The Holly Café in Mt. Holly, NC with his wife Janice in 1960. In 1967, he became the youngest Volkswagen franchise owner in history in Rockingham, NC. Tommy also owned franchises of Toyota, Mazda, AMC‐Jeep, Subaru, Audi and was a two-time North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association President. Forever the entrepreneur, Tommy became an owner in Apparel Brokers Clothing wholesale and started ABSCO Storage Centers in Little River, SC. He built his first of many mini-storage facilities in 1983. Away from business, he was very involved with youth sports teams in Mt. Holly NC and Rockingham, NC and was an avid UNC sports fan. Tommy coached Pop Warner football as well as the RS & L Youth Football teams, as head coach he led his teams to multiple county championships and coached multiple County ALLSTAR teams to regional championships. Tommy was a member of the UNC Rams Club for sixty years and was the founder and President of multiple chapters in North and South Carolina.

Survivors include his sons, Thomas R. West of North Myrtle Beach, SC; and Ronald J. and (wife) Christian Mack West of Myrtle Beach, SC; two grandchildren Jacob Becker West and Caroline Rivers West of Myrtle Beach, SC; and his-brother-in law Mike Cooke of North Myrtle Beach, SC; a daughter-in-law, Amy Saunders West of Charlotte NC; his two sisters Marie West Nix and (husband deceased) Kelly Nix of Horn Lake, MS; Mary West Webb and (husband deceased) Chuck Webb of Huntersville, NC. Tommy is predeceased by his loving wife of 53 years, Janice Smith West; son Eric S. West; sister-in-law Jackie Smith Cooke of North Myrtle Beach; and his brother, Bobby P. West and his wife Barbara West of Charlotte, NC.

The rescheduled Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00pm on April 23, 2022 at Lee Funeral Home. Family will receive friends after the service at the home of Mike Cooke, 503 47th Ave. S, Windy Hill Beach from 3:00-6:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local YMCA or County/City youth recreation departments in Tommy’s name.

Please share sympathies and fond memories of Tommy at www.leefhandcrematory.com

Lee Funeral Home and Crematory of Little River/North Myrtle Beach is serving the family.