Georgia West

(From Benton County Funeral Home)

Georgia Ellen (Stevens) West, 86, died Thursday, September 1st, 2022, at her home in Bentonville, Arkansas. 

She is survived by her three children: Diana Reynolds of Bentonville, AR; Stuart West and wife Cindy of Rogersville, MO; and Brenda Keene and husband Vernon of Jane, MO. 

Georgia is also survived by five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren: Jeremy West of Abilene, TX, Amy (Reynolds) Warren, husband Randy, and their daughters Annabelle and Madeleine of Rogers, AR; Megan (Reynolds) Beadle, husband David and their daughter Ava of Austin TX; Jessica (West) Wilson, husband Jason, and their children Karlie and Lane of Ewa Beach, HI; and Kent Keene and wife Rachel of Bella Vista, AR. 

She is also survived by many other family members and friends. Georgia was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, William (Bill) West, and infant daughter, Linda Jean West. As the youngest of eight children, she was the last surviving child of Charles and Abby Ellen Stevens.

Georgia was born in Cave Springs, Arkansas but later moved to Arizona where she spent most of her childhood. Georgia married Bill West on January 2, 1957, following a whirlwind romance. After marrying, she traveled the world as a military spouse, living in both Germany and France. 

In 1974, Bill retired from the US Army and their family moved from Detroit, Michigan to an 80-acre farm in the beautiful Missouri Ozarks, where they built their dream home. Here, Georgia quickly adapted to rural life, taking care of her home and family (and eventually becoming known to use her exceptional cooking skills to overfeed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren). 

She was an outgoing partner to Bill as they learned to navigate farm life. In this “retirement” nothing could slow her down – she broke her arm vaccinating calves and was once bitten by a copperhead while tending her garden. 

She enjoyed road trips, making the long drive from Missouri to Alaska to visit family members twice, and long walks on the Bella Vista trails. As they grew older, Georgia and Bill sold the farm and moved around in the four-state area, using their building skills to flip multiple houses – they were finding and renovating fixer uppers even before it was cool. She was a true matriarch and will be sorely missed.

Graveside services will be 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 6th, 2022 at the Bentonville Cemetery, Bentonville, Arkansas. Arrangements by Benton County Funeral Home 306 N. 4th St. Rogers, Arkansas.