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Mr. Merle Lee Fetter, better known as Skip, age 83 of Winfield passed away on Friday, August 12, 2022 at his residence. Skip was born in Caldwell, Idaho on August 31, 1938 to Cecil and Myrtle Pullen Fetter. He was raised in Payette, Idaho and graduated high school there in May of 1956. In June of 1957, he joined the United States Army; Skip traveled all over the world serving his country for 22 years, retiring at the rank of Major. Skip was a man of intelligence and many talents, along with his military career, he was also employed with the State of Alabama through the Office of Employment Securities. Mr. Fetter was a graduate of Troy State University, a licensed massage therapist for over 10 years and served as a water aerobics instructor for Northwest Alabama Wellness Center in Winfield. Skip was a member of the Winfield First Baptist Church, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

Skip was preceded in death by his daughter, Robyn Fetter-Laney, parents, and brothers, Robert Fetter and his wife Beverly and James Fetter and his wife Nancy. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 62 years, Tommie Sue Elliott Fetter, son, Dr. Todd Fetter and his wife Chere’, grandchildren, Victoria Fetter, Autumn Davis Loring and David Davis, great granddaughters, Preslee Loring and Paislee McCaleb and a host of nieces, nephews and other close family and friends.

Funeral services for Skip will be held on Sunday, August 14, 2022 at 2:00 from the Bowen Funeral Home Chapel with burial to follow in the Winfield City Cemetery with military honors bring presented at the graveside. The visitation will be held on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. service time at the funeral home.

Bowen Funeral Home of Winfield, Alabama serving the Fetter family.

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Mrs. Betty JoAnn Ruddle Roos, age 81 passed away on Wednesday, August 3, 2022 in Grand Junction, CO. Mrs. Roos was born in Salinas, Kansas on April 11, 1941 to Joseph Darrell and Phyllis Irene Forwalder Ruddle.

Mrs. Roos is survived by her 2 sons, Brien Todd Roos of Hawaii and Christopher Andrew Ross of Guin, AL. She was preceded in death by her parents.

A memorial service for Mrs. Roos will be held at a later date.

Bowen Funeral Home serving the Roos family.

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William Riley West of Fairhope, Alabama, passed away peacefully on August 2, 2022 at 12:21 p.m. to be home with his Heavenly Father in Paradise.

Named after his grandfather Dr. William Riley Bonds of Double Springs, Alabama, Bill was the son of Patsy Bonds West and Herbert Houston West and had one brother, Herbert Harold West (all deceased). He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 56 years, Linda Langston West, and his beloved daughter Daphne and beloved son-in-law Stephen R. Stanford.

Bill was a native of Winfield, Alabama, completed his elementary and high school education at Winfield City Schools. He held a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Alabama, a Master’s Degree from the University of Alabama, Educational Administration Certification from UNA, and a State of Alabama Certification in Classroom Teacher Evaluation.

As a young man, he worked at the family’s Oldsmobile dealership and Winfield Gulf Oil Company. As a college student he worked for the State of Alabama in Mosquito Control. He taught in the Vernon School System and at night he taught a federally funded program for disadvantaged youths. In the Winfield City Schools system, he taught for 27 years, served as an assistant principal, evaluated classroom teachers, was WEA President, served on the Uni-Serv District 7 Committee, was a Senior Class and Key Club sponsor. After retiring, he taught at Bevill State Community College.

Bill’s understanding and empathy for small business owners was a result of his establishing Crossroads Market and owning other local area small convenience stores. He served as a Director on the Board of SouthTrust/ Wachovia Bank. He also served on the Winfield City Council at Place 5 from 1992 until 2000 and was Mayor of Winfield from 2000 to 2008. His campaign slogan was: “Make Winfield an even better place to live.” He was dedicated to all the people of Winfield and enjoyed recounting to family and close friends a phone call he received shortly after taking office. A gentleman called about a drainage problem and told Bill, “I did not vote for you Mayor.” Bill responded, “It does not matter how you voted; I am the Mayor of all the people; I will fix your problem” and he did. Among the many accomplishments during his terms of service for the people of Winfield he was most proud of the jobs he helped to create and the Community Storm Shelter that could house 500 people short term and 250 long-term, withstand 250 mph winds and house a command center.

Bill’s lifetime passions were travel, marine biology, entomology, botany, automobiles, amateur photography and Alabama Crimson Tide football. His daughter Daphne said,” When Dad brought out the road atlas I got excited because I knew he was planning a trip.” Bill, Linda and Daphne traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and the Caribbean. Bill instilled love of travel in his extended family, friends, and students. The first good camera he owned was a German Voigtlander, which accompanied him with friends on a driving trip through Mexico when he was a teenager. He was one of the earliest UA graduate students asked to help conduct research at Dauphin Island before the Sea Lab became a consortium. His love of automobiles began with a 1948 two-door Mercury Coupe he purchased on his own at age 15. His classmates will remember his 1959 black and white Impala and his 1963 navy blue Corvette. Later in life, he would win national awards with his 1962 Studebaker GT Hawk. He loved his Subaru Outback and drove it almost to the end of his life.

Bill was known to everyone for his wide range of interests and knowledge, his ever-present wit, his empathy for people of all walks of life and his tireless efforts to recruit industry and create jobs for Winfield and the surrounding area. He traveled extensively on behalf of economic development, including internationally to encourage investment in Northwest Alabama.

Bill loved and was always there for his extended family: Linda’s mother, Mary Langston, her father, Roy Langston, sisters, Martha Allen, and Freddie Meherg, nephews Todd Lowry and Tim Meherg, nieces Kate Lezak, Lisa Burgess, Lori Jenkins, brothers-in law John Allen and Jim Meherg (deceased), and his niece Mitzi West. He is also survived by niece Allyson West Sutter, nephew Hal West, grand and great grand nieces and nephews and friends.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Winfield and attended Fairhope United Methodist Church and Morgan’s Chapel United Methodist Church of Bon Secour.

A memorial service will be held at a later time.

Donations may be made to: Saad Hospice Retreat, Natasha, Faircloth, HR Director, 1515 South University Blvd, Mobile, AL 36609 / 1-251-380-3810, www.hospice.house or Winfield First United Methodist Church 835 Bankhead Highway, P.O. Box 387, Winfield, AL 35594 /205-487-2405.

 

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Mrs. Marcia Kivette Hoyt, age 68 of Winfield passed away on Friday, August 5, 2022. Marcia was born in Winfield, Alabama on October 9, 1953 to Vado and Ida Mae Estes Kivette. She is survived by her sons Richard Waite Hoyt, Jr. and Joshua Vado Hoyt, grandchildren, Heather Elizabeth Hoyt and Asia Lynn Hoyt, sisters, Brenda Foster and Patsy Cooper. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Waite Hoyt, Sr., parents, and an infant brother, Terry Wayne Kivette.  A memorial service for Marcia will be announced later.

Bowen Funeral Home of Winfield, Alabama serving the Hoyt family.