Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Hiler, Murl H. March 25, 1968 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nan Wheaton wheaton1624@yahoo.com April 21, 2017, 10:16 pm Sentinel-Standard - Tuesday, March 26, 1968 M. Hiler Dies In Florida H. Murl Hiler, 63, former Ionia merchant many years, and chairman of Ionia City Planning Commission, died suddenly on a golf course at St. Petersburg, Fla., about 5 pm Monday where he and Mrs. Hiler were vacationing. Mr. Hiler had been afflicted with a heart ailment for about two years. He collapsed on the 17th green of the golf course while playing with two other Ionians, Orson E. Coe and Rex. P. O'Connor, both also vacationing there, and a friend of the group. He was pronounced dead on arrival at a St. Petersburg hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Hiler left Ionia February 7 for a Florida vacation as was their usual custom and after spending a day or more with Mr. Hiler's daughter, Mrs. George Heim of Wheaton, Ill. made the trip to Florida by plane. They were planning to return to Ionia about April 7. Word of Mr. Hiler's death was telephoned to Ionia by Mr. O'Connor and Mr. Coe shortly before 6 pm Monday evening. Mo arrangements are to be made until arrival of Mr. Hiler by plane at Metro airport Thursday evening. Born in Battle Creek, February 27, 1905, Mr. Hiler moved with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hiler, to Lowell where they lived until about 1915 when Harold Hiler accepted a position in the T.R. clothing store in Ionia. Attending Ionia public schools, Murl Hiler graduated from high school in 1923, attended Ferris Institute and an art school in Chicago before he went into business with his father, who with Thomas Baird had established the clothing store of Hiler & Baird. Upon the retirement of Mr. Baird, Murl Hiler and his father owned and operated the business. Mr. Hiler was one of the first Ionia Boy Scouts, joining the organization about 1917 shortly after Scouting was established in Ionia. A star athlete in high school, Mr. Hiler played basketball and baseball. His interest in athletics brought him in contact with players and coaches. He refereed basketball several years and was the star of an Ionia semi- professional basketball team. His interest in athletics lead to the establishment of Hilers Sporting Goods department which he built into one of the leading distributors of sporting goods. He sold to high schools and colleges. The business flourished until a full sales staff was employed and the store facilities in Ionia were expanded to include another two story building. Later he added, the Trojan Knitting Mills, for the manufacture of athletic sweaters and uniforms which won wide acclaim from coaches. Because of his health he was advised to dispose of the sporting goods department which he did about 1948. Later he sold the knitting mills which were located in the old Saving and Loan building he had purchased. He remained as vice president until the mills were closed only a few years ago. He retained his clothing store which also handled some sporting goods. He retired from active business selling the store November 1, 1966 to Frank Mercado of Ionia. Mr. Hiler was known as an excellent golfer having started as a high school youth, as a caddie and as a club member. He was a subpar and seldom ever par golfer and won the Ionia County club championship so many times he would not confirm the number. He also won numerous golf tournaments throughout the state including several at Traverse City Country club which he joined. He spent his summers in the Traverse City area. One of Ionia's most active civic citizens, he was identified with virtually every organization. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Ionia Chamber of Commerce serving on it's original board of directors and was a past president. For many years he was a member of the Ionia City Park Commission and served as that group's chairman. He was active in his church, the Methodist Church of Ionia serving on most of it's boards he was also identified as a charter member of the Ionia County Fishing and Hunting club, was a member of the Elks, past president and original member of Ionia Lions club, past president of the Ionia Country club and for many years that club's sports committee chairman, a director of the Ionia County National Bank of Ionia, past president of the former Merchants Service Bureau. Mr. Hiler was married in 1928 to Helen Haight of Ionia. Following her death he was married to Mrs. June Spencer also of Ionia, who survives. Survivors also included two daughters, Mrs. George Heim of Wheaton, Ill., and Mrs. Richard Neller of Lansing, and three grandchildren, all children of Mr. and Mrs. Heim: and Mr. Hiler's mother, Mrs. Harold Hiler of Clark Memorial Home in Grand Rapids and a step-son, Dr. J. Clyde Spencer of Lansing. Boynton funeral home is handling the service. Additional Comments: Age: 63 Funeral: March 26, 1968 Highland Park cemetery, Mausoleum #8-31 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/h/hiler6078gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/ File size: 5.4 Kb