Fallen Firefighters of Pentwater Fire Department
Paul Smith, Chief
End of Watch: November 16th, 2021
Obituary, Beacon Funeral Home
Chief Paul Smith, 60, of Pentwater, passed away Tuesday, November 16, 2021, at his home. He was born January 2, 1961, in Flint, the son of Charles and Edrid Diane (Peterson) Smith. Smith had previously battled cancer that returned this past summer.
He began firefighting on Pentwater Fire Department in the fall of 2002 and worked his way up the ranks over the years. In 2006, he was promoted to Lieutenant and, following the line-of-duty death of Captain John Sayles in 2012, Chief Smith was promoted to Captain. In 2014, he was the Assistant Fire Chief until the retirement of longtime Fire Chief Terry Cluchey in 2018. Chief Smith had served as Fire Chief of Pentwater Fire Department since April of 2018. Over the years, he had also served the Department as caretaker and dive team leader.
Chief Smith will be remembered by his fire department brothers as someone that loved the camaraderie of firefighting. He loved serving his community as much as he loved aggressive interior attack inside structure fires. Chief Smith was a builder whose knowledge of construction aided in extinguishing building fires.
Chief Smith leaves behind his wife, Karen Smith; children, Kelly (Mike) Tobias, Julie (Adolf) Smith, Tim (Yessenia) Watkins, Ben (Chrystal) Watkins, and Andy (Martha) Watkins; grandchildren, Christian, Lily, Grant, Greenlee, Sullivan, Emeri, Aiden, and Ryan; father, Charles Smith; sister, Nicole (Neil) Holladay; and many nieces , nephews, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Edrid Diane Smith.
John Sayles, Captain
End of Watch: November 14th, 2012
Shoreline Media, November 25th 2012
PENTWATER — Pentwater Fire Department Captain John Sayles died unexpectedly Wednesday, Nov. 14. He was 38.
Pentwater Fire Chief Terry Cluchey said Sayles was working on his truck after returning home from work and began to feel chest pains. He then went into his house and collapsed,. Cluchey said.
Sayles was taken to Mercy Health Partners in Muskegon where an aortic aneurysm was discovered and was being transferred to Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids for surgery when the aneurysm ruptured.
The death is being considered a line-of-duty death because it happened within 24 hours of Sayles responding to his last department call when the department assisted Hart at a small fire at Washington and Stiles roads on the north county line.
“There wasn’t anything he would say no to,” Cluchey said. “He’s going to leave a big hole in our department. He was secretary also. We’re basically going to be lost without him.”
Obituary, Beacon Funeral Home
Mr. John Thomas Sayles, age 38, of Pentwater, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, November 14, 2012. He was born May 7, 1974, in Jackson, Michigan to Thomas and Ann (Sexton) Sayles. He earned his associate degree from West Shore Community College. On October 3, 1998, he married Melanie Hartley at the Riverside Park in Scottville. John was very active in the Pentwater community. He was a first responder and the Captain of the Pentwater Fire Department, a 4-H leader, a member of the West Michigan Old Engine Club, and coached both soccer and basketball. John attended Lighthouse Lutheran Church. He was employed at Pentwater Department of Public Works and was a longtime worker at Aerts Farms.
John is survived by his wife, Melanie Sayles; three daughters, Mercedy, Marissa, and Mandi Sayles, all at home; his parents, Thomas and Ann Sayles of Pentwater; one sister, MaryAnn Sayles of Pentwater; his mother-in-law, Connie Hartley of Scottville; three nieces, Mackenzie and Ireland Breitner; and Cameryn Sutcliffe; brothers and sisters-in-law; several aunts, uncles, cousins; and many friends. He was preceded in death by his father-in-law, William Hartley.
Wm. Everett Parnell
End of Watch: June 4th, 1953
The Pentwater Times Newspaper June 11, 1953 (excerpt)
Pentwater Firefighter Everett Parnell died from injuries suffered while fighting an early morning fire that practically destroyed the small home owned by Miss Vesta Russell near Pentwater Lake. Fire, set by lightning during a severe storm early Thursday morning, completely wrecked the interior of the home before being brought under control by the Pentwater Fire Department. It is thought the fire got quite a start before the Russells were awakened by the smoke and crackle of the flames. Damage was estimated by Fire Chief Judson Scovill at about $4,000.
Firefighter Parnell fell from a ladder while putting a hose in a second story window and received injuries which caused his death late the same afternoon in Oceana Hospital. In falling, Mr. Parnell sustained a skull fracture and never regained consciuosness. He was born January 11, 1910 in Weare Township. He served in the U.S. Army for 3 years beginning in 1928, and served as a Seebee during World War II in the South Pacific. He served as a Pentwater Firefighter before and after the War.
Firefighter Parnell is survived by his widow, two daughters, one son, five brothers, and three sisters. Funeral services were held at the Methodist church, attended by members of the Pentwater Fire Department, North Weare Grange No. 1233 and Oceana Lodge No. 200 S.&A.M. Veterans of Eldon Chadwick Post No. 6017 V.F.W. were in charge of services at the interment in North Weare cemetery where honors were rendered by a firing squad and taps sounded by Marshall Simms and Eddie Bigelow.
Members of the Pentwater Fire Department serving as pallbearers were Judson Scovill, Maurice Kokx, Otho H. Graham, Otho R. Graham, Glenn Rought and Collins Gregwer.