Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Hawley, Robert D. 1964
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Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net May 20, 2012, 1:44 pm

The Ionia Sentinel-Standard, Friday, November 27, 1964

An auto accident on M21 west of Saranac Thursday afternoon brought death to a 
former Lowell man as Ionia county recorded its 19th traffic fatality of the 
year.

Killed in the Thanksgiving crash was Robert D. Hawley, 47, of 2555 South 
Division, Grand Rapids, who according to witnesses was a former body man at 
Lowell auto repair shops.  Narrowly missing being involved in the crash was 
William Powers, 25, 4936 Caroline drive, Warrensville, Ohio, and his 
passengers.

Powers, a former Ionia resident and son of Al Poulos, Ionia restaurant owner, 
told the Sentinel-Standard he was driving toward Grand Rapids when the 
eastbound oncoming car driven by Hawley crossed the centerline into the 
westbound lane.  Hawley then managed to get back into his own lane as the cars 
neared but his auto again swerved to the left and went off the road, said 
Powers.

Witnesses said Hawley’s auto had started back toward the highway when it 
struck a tree and that Powers’ car would almost certainly have been hit had 
Hawley not crashed broad-side against the tree.

Investigating state police said Hawley was eastbound at more than 70 miles an 
hour and he lost control as he came out of a curve west of the Pinkney road.  
Trooper Ken Maciejewski of the Ionia post said Hawley was across the center 
line for 110 yards before getting back into the eastbound lane where the car 
continued for another 130 feet before recrossing the center line and going 
another 219 feet before striking the tree.

First witnesses on the scene said Hawley, thrown to the right side of the car, 
appeared unconscious, while Richard Hull, Ionia county coroner, said Hawley 
was probably killed instantly from a broken neck. He also received very severe 
chest injuries in the 2 p.m. crash, Hull reported.

He was born November 18, 1917 in Keene township, Ionia county.

Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ward Courter of Saranac; two sisters, 
Mrs. Eldon Taylor of Saranac, and Mrs. Ronald Mahar of Marion; one brother, 
Richard Courter of Saranac; and nieces and nephews.  His wife, Lillian, died 
in 1951.

Funeral service will be at Morris funeral home in Saranac Saturday at 2:30 
p.m. with interment at Easton cemetery.  The Rev. Terrence Wood of Grand 
Rapids will officiate.


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