Merle Niles Bottum

03/06/2004

Merle Niles Bottum, 73, of 101 Willow Cove and Davie, Fla., died Saturday at the Cleveland Clinic Hospital in Weston, Fla. Born in Williamstown on April 12, 1930, son of Norman D. and Mildred Niles Bottum, he graduated from the former Williamstown High School. A Navy veteran of the Korean War, he served for four years and was aboard the USS Worcester in the Mediterranean for two years. He retired from Excelsior Printing Co. in North Adams in 1992 after 22 years of service. He also worked for Wilson H. Lee Co. in Orange, Conn., and McClelland Press in Williamstown as a typesetter. Mr. Bottum was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church of Williamstown, and one of the founders of the Berkshire Gas and Steam Engine Association. He was a maple syrup producer for most of his life. He enjoyed boating and bowled on the same team for 40 years. He and his wife were members of the Promenades Square Dance Club for 17 years, and he was a member of the New Ashford Volunteer Fire Department for 20 years. He also served as assistant fire chief for several years. He was an active member of VRW Post 8304 in Williamstown. He leaves his wife, Fay Place Bottum of New Ashford and Davie; one son, Dale H. Bottum of St. Petersburg, Fla.; one daughter, Darlene H. Dameron of Owosso, Mich., two grandchildren and two stepgrandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- There will be a memorial service for Merle Niles Bottum, who died March 6, 2004, at the convenience of the family in the summer. Memorial donations may be sent to the New Ashford Volunteer Fire Dept., 4 Ingraham Road, New Ashford, MA 01237. A funeral service was observed March 9, 2004, at the FRED HUNTER FUNERAL HOME, 2401 S. University Drive, Davie, FL 33324. Survivors include a daughter-in-law, Roxanne Bottum; a son-in-law, Larry Dameron; one grandson, Daniel Niles Dameron; one granddaughter, Sarah Joy Dameron; two stepgrandsons, Jason Thomas Dameron and Eric Joseph Dameron, and two nephews, Norman and Douglas Bottum of Longwood, Fla. He was predeceased by a brother, Forest "Frank" Bottum.

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Merle Niles Bottum

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