Christopher Columbus "a/k/a Chuck Jurgens" West III

Christopher Columbus West, III (Chuck Jurgens) passed away peacefully at home after a long illness on September 21, 2025. He was born in Oneida, Tennessee on May 26, 1948. His father, Chris West, II, died in an auto accident in Oneida when Chuck was one year old. Chuck and his mother, Frances, lived at Oak Grove in Oneida with her parents for many years. She later married Cedric Jurgens, a career Marine from Robbins who adopted Chuck and raised him as his son. Chuck attended and graduated from Harrison Chilhowee Baptist Academy in Seymour, Tennessee in 1968. Chuck worked in Scott County for the Brimstone Company and for the Tennessee Department of Labor. He retired from the TDOL in Elizabethton, Tennessee, and remained there during retirement. Chuck spent a lot of time gardening and hiking, and became an accomplished nature photographer.

Chuck was preceded in death by his father, Chris C. West, II, mother, Frances West Jurgens, adoptive father, Cedric Jurgens, and maternal grandparents Isaac and Martha Smith of Oneida.

Chuck is survived by his long-time closest friend, Lori Lee, and cousins Janice Spaulding Goble of Seymour, Tenn., Mike Duncan of Inez, Ky., Tom Neal of Maryville, Tenn., Cathy Taylor of Largo, Fla., and Linda Duncan, Vicky Spaulding Foster, Jackie Spaulding Wright, Ranson Smith and Thomas Phillips all of Oneida.

Chuck will be laid to rest beside his parents at Cooper Memorial Gardens in Oneida, TN as he requested.

Jones & Son Funeral Home is serving the family of Christopher Columbus West, III (Chuck Jurgens).