Jeffrey “JR” Arnold West August 1, 1944 – December 28, 2025 JR West was born in 1944 to Eleanor Virginia Barry and Arnold Henry West. He spent the first part of his childhood in Hazard, Kentucky before moving to Newburgh, New York. From an early age, music called to him. By thirteen, JR was already a regular performer, captivating audiences with his guitar. By his thirties, he had mastered both acoustic and electric guitar; a testament to his dedication and natural artistry. In 1980, his band, The Good Life, released a top selling album and became a popular live act, performing regularly in Jackson, Mississippi. In later years, JR continued to share his love of music through local theater productions and with his cherished friends in The Yousta Bees. His talents extended far beyond music. JR was a gifted athlete who enjoyed tennis, softball, and basketball well into his senior years. During college, he played basketball at Penn State, and his passion for the sport continued long after his playing days ended. From 1981 to 1986, he served as assistant coach of the Millsaps College men’s basketball team, which advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III Championship during the 1983–84 season. He later coached the Millsaps College women’s basketball team through multiple successful seasons. JR also had a lifetime love for vehicles, his rescue animals, and his many lunchtime friends over the years. JR honorably served his country as an Air Force Staff Sergeant including multiple tours in Vietnam. He was part of the Special Forces Group where he worked with the 1965th Communications Group as an interpreter and communications liaison to the Korean Capital Cavalry (Tiger) Division. There, he was introduced to Hapkido and earned his 2nd degree black belt. After returning to the US, he became a lifelong student of Dr. He-Young Kimm, ultimately achieving the rank of 9th Degree Black Belt (#89, a number he was very proud of). Perhaps his greatest legacy lies in his contributions to martial arts. JR was a distinguished Grand Master of Hapkido and served as the American Representative of the Korean Federation of Hapkido and vice president of The American Kidohae (Korea Kido Association) 대한 기도회. Through his teaching and leadership, he touched countless lives and helped establish a lasting martial arts tradition in the United States. He founded West’s Hapkido Academy while coaching at Millsaps College and later established the United States Korean Martial Arts Federation (USKMAF). The federation brought together practitioners of diverse Korean martial arts to share knowledge and preserve tradition. Master West traveled the world teaching seminars and spreading his passion for Hapkido. He hosted more than 60 seminars at his academy, welcoming some of the finest instructors and students from around the globe. JR lived his life with discipline and joy. Yet greater than any achievement was the respect he earned - not through titles or accomplishments, but through the way he treated every person he encountered. JR offered the same dignity and respect to everyone, often bestowing the title of “friend” to his greetings. His charisma drew people to him, but it was his genuine kindness that endeared him to them. We honor and give thanks for JR’s service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to others, which remain an enduring example to all.
 JR was preceded in death by his parents and by his beloved wives, Renee and Margie. He is survived by his daughter, Mara Stuart (Jimmy) of Madison; his son, Eric Rilko (Holley) of Franklin, TN and his five grandchildren, Ian, Aiden, Zoey, Quinn, and Kai. A Celebration of Life will be held on March 21, 2026 from 4-9pm, at the home of JR’s dear friends, Wayne and Jackie Watkins, at 98 Talbot Court in Madison, MS.