AUGUSTA - Merrill E. ?Sonny? Niles, 89, of Augusta, died Friday April 13, 2007 at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta. He was born in Augusta September 25, 1917 the son of Benjamin and Jenny (Mayo) Niles. He graduated from Cony High School and began working soon thereafter. Merrill worked for many years at Hudson Pulp and Paper and maintained a small farming operation of his own. After retiring from Hudson, he and his wife, Caroline, moved to Massachusetts to become caretakers for several different estates. They returned to Maine in 1974 to retire. Mr. Niles was a member of the Green Street United Methodist Church. He enjoyed gardening, golfing and fishing in his spare time. Caroline and Merrill gave foster care to many children in the years he worked at Hudson Pulp and Paper. ?Sonny? was predeceased by his wife, Caroline and his daughter, Carol Littlefield. He is survived by his daughter, Rebecca Savage and her husband, Michael; his son, Wayne B. Niles and his partner, Marie Pierce and her son, Jonathan; three sisters-in-law, Alice Gilley, Marguerite B. Gilley and Marilyn Lund; a son-in-law, George Littlefield; a daughter-in-law, Ann Niles; five grandchildren, Russell Littlefield and his wife, Dana Lundell, Stephen Niles and his wife, Holly Sheehan, Benjamin Niles, Diane Anderson and her husband, Mark, and Melissa Washburn and her husband, John; eight great-grandchildren, Caleb, Liam and Daniel Niles, Carolyn and Andi Anderson, Gavyn, Duncan and Ian Washburn. A memorial service will be held at Green Street United Methodist Church, Wednesday at 1:00pm. Spring burial will be at the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Augusta. In lieu of flowers, memorial donation may be made to Green Street United Methodist Church, 13 Green Street, Augusta, ME 04330 or Health Reach Hospice, C/O MaineGeneral Office of Philanthropy, P.O. Box 828, Waterville, ME 04903-0828.