Ronald A. (Ron) West died unexpectedly on May 20. He was 71.

He was born on the Vineyard on Dec. 26, 1950 to Dorothy Gazaille West and Robert E. West. He was the second youngest of five children. He was raised on the Great Plains of Edgartown and lived there for the majority of his life. He recently resided at Woodside Village in Oak Bluffs.

He worked for the town of Edgartown and the West Tisbury highway department while also working as a painter for many years.

Ron was a simple man and lived a simple life. He enjoyed bantering with the locals whenever possible. He had his own unique sense of humor and at heart wanted to make people laugh. He was the guy who turned the light on for his upstairs neighbor when he came home from work after dark. He was the uncle who always gifted his teenaged nieces the most perfect sweaters — right down to the fit and color.

He was the boy with the unforgettable laugh who loved to fish and play basketball at the court at Dr. Mills’s house in the 1960s. He was an incredible bowler in his early adult years. He was many wonderful things to the people whose lives he graced and his absence will be deeply felt.

He took pride in caring for his two former dogs, Angel and Wicket, and loved them as his children. He had a walking schedule that he adhered to for many years.

In addition to the Island, he loved spending time at Mirror Lake in Marlow, N.H.

Ron was predeceased by his brother Vernon West and sister Nannette West. He is survived by his brother Wayne West, his sister Cynthia and her husband Robert Sequeira, 10 nieces and nephews, and 14 great-nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, June 11 at 10 a.m. at the New Westside Cemetery in Edgartown, with a reception immediately following at 1 Martha’s Way in Edgartown.