Robert "Bobby" Murray West

Robert "Bobby" Murray West, age 66, passed away on April 17, 2021 after a long, hard-fought battle with cancer.  Bobby was born on December 31, 1954 in Harlingen, Texas to the late Hartman and Mary Edna West.  Bobby is predeceased by his wife Sandra Shaw West and his brother Hartman Herbert West, Jr.   He is survived by his brother and best friend Thomas West (Deborah), sisters Sue Griffin (Billy Snider), Teanna Neskora (Daniel) and Becky Muehlstein (Larry), step-daughters Jennifer Villarreal (Lupe), Amber Erickson and Rachel Steffenhagen, grandchildren Nicole, Madison, Connor and Liem, great grandson, Jackson, and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.

Bobby is a graduate of Rio Hondo High School and the TSTC Farm Management program.  Following graduation from TSTC, Bobby assumed management of the family farm in Rio Hondo and has farmed in partnership with his brother Tom until their respective retirements.  Bobby particularly enjoyed the friendship and camaraderie of his fellow Rio Hondo farmers and loved to regale them with stories at the coffee shop and gin, especially when the joke was on him.

Bobby enjoyed a lifetime hobby of hunting and fishing with friends and family.  He was deeply involved in providing hunting and fishing opportunities to the children who were lucky enough to call him uncle or grandpa.  Because Bobby spent his life outdoors as a farmer, he developed an interest in all of nature, particularly bird watching.  As a result, later in life he traveled with his sisters to birding festivals throughout the state of Texas to bird watch and support conservation efforts.

Honorary pallbearers are Bobby's good friends Ricky Alfaro, Aurelio Garcia, Jim Kimbriel, David Newell, Eben Norman, Billie Mack Simpson and Marcus Wick.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Buck Ashcraft San Benito Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at Mont Meta Memorial Park.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the RGV Birding Festival Conservation Fund, P.O. Box 3162, Harlingen, Texas 78551.

All guest should wear a facial covering and practice social distancing while visiting the funeral home.