June 6, 2015 — Jan. 8, 2016

Rowan Matthew Bridges, 7 month old son of Kaley Williams and Richard Bridges died Friday morning, Jan. 8, 2016, at his home in Berrien Springs, Michigan.

He was born on Saturday, June 6, 2015, at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana to Kaley Allison Williams and Richard Ewing Bridges. He was born a month earlier than the doctors predicted — adding 30 days to his brief life — but even though premature, he started at a sturdy 6 pounds, 3 ounces.

Rowan continued to thrive, anxious to experience as much of the world as he could, and enjoy it all with a great smile. He welcomed pets that invaded his space, and as he gained strength and skill liked to invade our space with a “face-to-face” when least expected. If he saw a meal, he was ready to try it, and at Christmas he was already trying to crawl with his usual concentration evidenced by his tongue showing. He had also mastered the verbal skills needed to indicate which of his parents or grandparents should hold him.

Surviving family includes his parents, Kaley & Richard; his grandparents, Diane Williams of Niles, and Betty Bridges-Potter and Phil Potter of Berrien Springs; great-grandparents Harold Butterworth of Niles, Sandra (Larry) Miller of Crown Point, Indiana, and Mary Lou Potter of Benton Harbor, Michigan; a half-brother, Aiden Bridges; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins including Anna Thibault of Niles, Amanda Williams, and Angela Williams, both of Saint Louis, Missouri, and Samantha (Adam) Meyer of Niles.

The funeral service for Rowan Bridges will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Parson Paul A. Mueller — Rowan’s great-uncle — of Buchanan, Michigan officiating. Committal will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 until 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. A GoFundMe account has been established to assist with the cemetery and other expenses.

www.halbritterfunerals.com