Our History

W.D. Farley was born on a farm in Oakland, Michigan on November 1st, 1853. He attended country schools and later a business college in Detroit. He graduated from Albion College in 1879. W.D. taught for a number of years, and was the superintendent of schools in Indiana until 1882. He came to Battle Creek in 1882 and went into business with Charles M. Ranger, in the furniture and undertaking business. They continued their partnership until Charles retired. The business was then split up into Farley Funeral Home and Ranger Furniture. W.D. became the sole owner of Farley Funeral Home. He retired in 1925 from the funeral home, and died at the age 76 on April 26, 1929.

George Farley was born on December 18, 1890 in Battle Creek, Michigan to William D. and Luella Farley. He attended Battle Creek High School and graduated from Albion College in 1914. He was a member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity at Albion College. He married Miss Clarice Wilson on June 27, 1917. They had one daughter, Anne (Ford), and one son, William D. Farley.

George Farley was active in school and club affairs, and operated one of Battle Creek’s oldest undertaking businesses, Farley Funeral Home. He joined the business in 1914 under the lead of his father, W.D. Farley. He operated the business after the retirement of his father, and in 1925, formed his first association with his father-in-law, W.D. Wilson. He continued in partnership of the Funeral Home until his death on September 9, 1953.

Clarice Farley (Wilson), was a lifelong resident of Battle Creek, Michigan. She attended Argubright Business College and taught for three years at Battle Creek High School. She married George Farley on June 27, 1917. After her husband passed away, Clarice became a partner in 1940. She served as vice president when it was incorporated in 1967. Together with her husband, she had one daughter, Anne Ford, and William D. Farley. Clarice passed away at the age of 83 in Leila Hospital.

William D. Wilson, became a partner in the Farley Funeral home in 1919, joining his son-in-law, George Farley and George’s father, William D. Farley. He remained a partner until his death in 1941

Clyde B. Schimmel was an early partner in what is now the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home in Battle Creek. In 1958, Clyde, Clarice Farley and Donald Estes formed a business that became the Farley Estes and Schimmel Funeral Home, where he served as a partner until his retirement in 1980.

Prior to coming to Battle Creek, Clyde completed his funeral service residency at Estes-Leadley Funeral Home in

Lansing, followed by training and graduation from Chicago’s Worsham School of Mortuary Science in 1938. After briefly managing the Johnson Funeral Home in Bellevue, he was invited by George Farley to join his business in Battle Creek in 1940.

“Making our community better is what we should live for,” was Clyde’s motto, and with attention to detail, he

 practiced what he preached. Caring for families and understanding their challenges in difficult times was exemplified in many ways as he served his profession and community throughout his career.

He married Arlene Best at a small ceremony of family members in her parent’s home in Alma on New Years Eve, 1937. A surgical nurse by profession, Arlene joined Clyde in a committed relationship and strong partnership for more than 60 years, as parents of five children and in service to their community.

Clyde was an active member of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association, serving as its president, and in 1998, was honored as one of only three 60-year members at the Association’s State Convention. He was a dedicated member of his community, serving as trustee, elder and deacon of the First Presbyterian Church; president of the Battle Creek Exchange Club; president of Goodwill Industries in Battle Creek; and member of the Y’s Men’s Club at the Battle Creek Y-Center. He further served his profession as a board member of Wayne State University School of Mortuary Science, as well as serving on the Michigan State Board of Licensing and Regulation. He retired in 1980, after more than 50 years in the profession.

Clyde is remembered as a caring father who enjoyed family gatherings, in a backyard or on a boat. His dedication to his children’s lives on the water was exemplary, as all learned to water ski behind a boat he drove, even though he was a non-swimmer; he wanted to make sure his children were confident and capable in the water, a tribute to his commitment to their safety and well-being.

He was a dedicated outdoorsman, a hunter, but one who much preferred to watch his dog “work” a field more than bringing home a bird. Fall and winter were his favorite times of year. He was happiest when he was able to enjoy the turn of season and the quiet beauty of a landscape in transition. And, he never missed an opportunity for a road trip to just about anywhere in his beloved State of Michigan, a simple but enduring passion that he passed on to his children. Favorite getaways with Arlene always included journeys “up north” where the pace of life slowed and the natural world revealed its beauty.

Clyde was born June 12, 1913 in Lansing. He was the son of John and Sarah (Young) Schimmel of Charlotte. He was the captain of his high school football team in Charlotte and a competitive boxer. He graduated in 1933 and attended Michigan State University before deciding to dedicate his life to funeral service.

He died on September 28, 1999 in Hastings, Michigan at the age of 86. He was survived by a daughter, Marlene Kershaw of Oro Valley, AZ; sons, Dr. Gordon Schimmel of Bourne, MA and Ross Schimmel of Climax, MI; and numerous grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Chris, on 1984. Arlene passed in 2006, and his son, John, passed in 2017.

As the son of a son of a son of those who farmed the land and settled the State of Michigan, his appreciation of what life had to offer was profound. Stewardship to his community and to the land were personal touchstones.

Donald F. “Don” Estes, age 81, of Battle Creek, C.E.O of Farley Estes & Dowdle Funeral Homes, died on Friday, July 4th 2008 at Borgess Medical Center after complications from injuries he incurred in an auto accident in Plainwell, MI on June 17, 2008.

Don was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan to Clarence B. and Mary E. (Meehan) Estes on June 5, 1927.  He was raised in Gary, Indiana where he graduated from Tolleston High School.  Don served in the U.S Army during WWII and was assigned to the 8th Army Headquarters in Yokohama, Japan with the Occupation Forces.  He attended Indiana University but was loyal only to his other alma mater, Michigan State University.  After that, he graduated from Wayne State University School of Mortuary Science in Detroit in 1952.  Don was briefly employed in Detroit after graduation but then moved to Battle Creek in 1952 and joined the staff of Farley Funeral Home, and so began his 56-year career.  He became partner at Farley Funeral Home in 1958.  The firm was incorporated in 1967 and the name changed to Farley Estes Funeral Home in 1983.  Don remained the Chief Executive Officer and actively involved in the business until his accident.  Don always managed to balance work and family.  It was always family first, business second.  So, after a nice family dinner, he’d make sure to properly excuse himself from the table to call the office.  Don never retired.

Don served his apprenticeship in Lansing, where he met the love of his life, Dorothy L. Johnson, and they married on February 3, 1951 in Battle Creek, MI. Dorothy, his wife of 57 years passed away on June 30, 2017. Don is survived by two daughters, Deborah J. (John) Dowdle and Deonne F. Estes, both of Battle Creek; two granddaughters, Stacey Smith of Richmond, VA, Jessica (Darriel) Alsobrooks of Battle Creek; three grandsons, Cory (Kori) Dowdle of Grand Rapids, Barton (Janelle) Dowdle of Augusta, Adam Dowdle of Kalamazoo; eight great-grandchildren; and his sister, Norma Jean (Jack) Wallace of Valparaiso, Indiana.  If you were in his family, you were inside his kitchen cupboard where he taped a list of all the family birthdays and anniversaries.  He never missed them.  He was as dutiful at remembering these important dates as he was relentless at photographing their occasions.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Floyd.

Don played an integral role to the city of Battle Creek, a city he loved.  He worked on all the major Battle Creek Fund Drives through the years and served as chairman or division head of the Battle Creek Y-Center Drive, the Hospital Fund Drive, United Way Fund Drive, and the United Arts Council.  He was a member of the planning Committee for NorthPointe Woods, worked on the fund drive and served as a board member.  He was a former member of the Battle Creek Jaycees, served as vice president and was awarded the Outstanding Young Man of the Year.  He was a current member and the 1962 president of the Battle Creek Kiwanis Club, 1969 president of the Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce, 1983 board president of Good Samaritan Hospice Care, former board member of People’s Savings and Loan Association, board member of the Battle Creek Boy Choir, former member of the administrative board at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, a former chairman of its finance committee and served as a chairman of Chapel Hill Balloon Parking Committee.  He received the Enquirer and News George Award in 1970.  He was currently an active member at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, Battle Creek Kiwanis Club, The National Funeral Directors Association and District #3 Michigan Funeral Directors Association. Involvement this grand of scale was proof that: even if Don did retire he would never stop working.  Though consistently busy both by his business and his organizations, Don always found time to write in his daily journal.  Priceless now are those pages where he jotted fond memories about family, community happenings, notable sports scores, or sometimes just the weather.  He would notoriously quote from his journal by announcing, “Four years ago today…”  Don was nostalgic in that he remembered, sentimental in that he wrote it down.

Don always had a way with words yet words fall short in explaining who he was. He is better understood by what he meant. Don was something to everyone and everything to the rest of us. He was a leader, a boss, a businessman, a family man.  A man of tradition and a man of his word whom we were better for knowing, lucky if we knew him well, and blessed if he was family.

We weren’t ready to say goodbye but do so in the same manner and grace Don went about his life.  A good life it was.

Visitation to honor Don was held Monday, July 7, 2008 at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care.

Funeral services to celebrate Don’s life were held at his funeral home 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 8, 2008, with Rev. Dr. James M. Gysel officiating.  Military honors and interment followed at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, Battle Creek Community Foundation or NorthPointe Woods.