News

Actions

23-Year-Old Killed at Silver Lake Dunes Just Weeks Before Wedding

Posted at 8:13 PM, Sep 02, 2013
and last updated 2013-09-03 04:09:16-04

OCEANA COUNTY, Mich.- Scott Silvernail, 23, was killed in a quad accident Saturday, just weeks before his wedding.

Silvernail was thrown from his quad at Silver Lake State Park Dunes, the Oceana County Sheriff’s Department said.

Friends said Silvernail had taken his quad out for a nighttime ride, and after some time passed, they couldn’t find him before they got a call about the accident.

“We’re a group of 10 people, and part of us is gone, ” a friend said.  “Going to Silver Lake and going quading, we’re just always going to miss somebody.”

Silvernail and fiancé Brianna had plans to be married in just five weeks. Now, friends and family are remembering someone they say saw the best in everyone.

“Just a tremendous love in his heart for needy people, children, special needs children,” Silvernail’s uncle David Westhouse said. Silvernail had been to Guatemala on three mission trips with a local church and had a special connection with the orphans there.

“Scott just loved people, and he loved his lord,” Westhouse said.

Friends say the South Christian High School graduate’s laugh was contagious. Now, they’re trying to find peace in knowing he died doing something they say he loved.

Visitation for Scott Silvernail will be Thursday, September 5, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m.

A funeral will be held at Byron Center First Christian Reform Church at 11 a.m.