William Blue, 64 / May 31, 1947 — March 22, 2012

Published 6:03 pm Friday, March 23, 2012

William Blue, 64

May 31, 1947 — March 22, 2012

Blue

William D. Blue, 64, of Alane Street in Niles, died at 4:15 p.m. Thursday, March 22, 2012, at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, of a brief illness.

Mr. Blue was born May 31, 1947, in Watervliet to Hobert and Bertha (Saltzman) Blue. He graduated from Dowagiac High School and lived in Niles for 32 years. He retired in 2009 after 41 years of service at SEMCO Energy Co.

William was a member of the New Apostolic Church of Niles. He was also a member of the VFW Post 6248 in Decatur and The Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge 933 in Dowagiac. He was a volunteer with We Can Ride. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, making pickles and spending time at the summer home at the lake in Decatur.

On Sept. 26, 1980, in Dowagiac, he married the former Dixie (Petrucci) Ray, who survives. Surviving family also includes their sons, Steven (Kelly) Ray and Joe (Taryn) Ray, both of Niles; granddaughter, Abby Ray, who was the love of his life; siblings, Charles (Kathy) Blue of Dowagiac, Barbara (Earl) Greenman of Niles, Brenda Blue of Dowagiac, Thomas (Hazel) Morgan of Bernice, Mo., Lester (Maggee) Morgan of Decatur and Carolyn (Larry) Moore of Dowagiac; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Kelly Blue, who died on Oct. 29, 1988.

Funeral services for William D. Blue will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 26, at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Michael Sirovica of New Apostolic Church of Niles and the Rev. Dennis Spriggs of New Apostolic Church of South Bend officiating.

Interment will be at Lakeside Cemetery in Decatur.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of William may be made to We Can Ride, in care of the Berrien County 4-H Office.