08/22/2025
💔 Our hearts are heavy today in Star City. Last night, our community lost not just a neighbor, but a friend to so many.
James Brannon West, 53, was tragically killed in a plane crash shortly after takeoff from the Star City Municipal Airport. Those who knew Brannon knew his love for aviation, his adventurous spirit, and most of all, his deep roots here in Lincoln County. He was testing out a new ultralight plane when the accident happened.
Brannon wasn’t just “a pilot.” He was a husband, a father, a son, a friend, and someone who gave so much to this community. If you’ve lived here long, chances are you’ve shared a laugh with him, leaned on his kindness, or seen his familiar smile around town. He had a way of making people feel like family, and his absence will leave a hole that words can’t begin to fill.
To his loved ones — we can’t imagine the pain you’re going through. Please know that this entire town is wrapping you in love, lifting you in prayer, and standing with you in this time of heartbreak.
🙏 We ask everyone in Star City and beyond to keep Brannon’s family in your thoughts and prayers in the difficult days ahead. May the love of this community be a source of strength as we grieve together.
Rest in peace, Brannon. You will be dearly missed, but your legacy and light will live on in every heart you touched. 💙
