Obituaries

We now have over 7,000 obituaries collected about the interred here at Silverbrook Cemetery.

The obituaries are transcribed by the volunteers of the Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery from various sources.  If you see an opportunity for an addition or a correction, please email our obituary editor at obits@friendsofsilverbrook.org.

Howe, LaVonne W. 1934-1978

LaVonne W. Howe
March 12, 1934-Dec. 16, 1978

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, December 18, 1978, page 2, col 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES―Mrs. LaVonne W. Howe, 44, of 2036 Ontario Road, died at 2:25 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Hospital, South Bend, following an extended illness.

A member of Fulkerson Park Baptist Church, she was an employee of the Fulkerson Park Day Care Center.

Mrs. Howe was born March 12, 1934 in South Bend, and had lived here since 1954, coming from Berrien Springs.

Survivors include her mother, Mrs. Minta Ross of Berrien Springs; two sons, Marlin and Bradley, both of Niles; a daughter Mrs. Brenda Kronewitter of Niles; a brother, Junior Ross of Berrien Springs; four sisters, Mrs. Sherry Hall and Mrs. Ruth Burlingame, both of Berrien Springs, Mrs. Dorothy Masterson of Eau Claire, and Mrs. Kathleen Martin of San Bernadino, Calif.; and one grandchild.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Fulkerson Park Baptist Church with the Rev. Larry L. Whiteford of Fulkerson Park Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 3:30 p.m. today at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Herring, Sarah 1854-1940

Sarah Herring
April 20, 1854-Nov. 8, 1940

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Friday, November 8, 1940, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. HERRING, 86, TAKEN BY DEATH

Mrs. Sarah Herring, 86, died in her home at 15 ½ East Main street at 5:15 this morning after an illness of 10 days. She was the widow of E.A. Herring who died Aug. 5.

Mrs. Herring was born in Hamilton county, Indiana, April 20, 1854 and came here from Chicago 18 years ago. She was married in Chicago in 1888. She is survived by one son, Leslie E. Herring, 921 Hickory street.

Friends may call at the Rutherford funeral home where services will be conducted Saturday afternoon at 1. The Rev. Floyd W. Johnston, pastor of the First Baptist church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, November 2, 1940, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: HERRING SERVICES

Funeral services were conducted this afternoon at 1 in the Rutherford funeral home for Mrs. Sarah Herring, 86, who died Friday morning after an illness of 10 days. The Rev. Floyd W. Johnston, pastor of the First Baptist church, officiated. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Goldfuss, Katy 1881-1978

Miss Katy Goldfuss
Oct. 16, 1881-Dec. 11, 1978

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, December 12, 1978, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Miss Katy Goldfuss, 97, of Berrien Center, died at 10:34 a.m. Monday in the Michigan Skilled Care Center in Niles.

She was born Oct. 16, 1881 in Indiana and had resided in Berrien county most of her life.

Survivors include two half sisters, Mrs. Mable Williams of Niles and ;Mrs. Jerue of Galien, and a niece, Mrs. Hazel bates of Niles.

Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Silverbrook cemetery. The Rev. K.W. Phipps of the First Missionary church will officiate.

Friends may call at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home after 7 p.m. tonight.

Finney, Clara 1908-1978

Clara Finney
Nov. 6, 1908-Dec. 2, 1978

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, December 4, 1978, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES—Mrs. Clara Finney, 70, of 512 Superior St., died at 9 a.m. Saturday at Pawating Hospital, following an extended illness.

A member of the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, she was a former Campfire Girls leader.

She was born Nov. 6, 1908 in Louisiana, and had lived here since 1967, coming from St. Louis, Mo.

On Aug. 10, 1943 in St. Louis, she married James H. Finney, who survives.

Also surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Katherine Brown of Niles, Mrs. Sarah Washington of St. Louis, and Mrs. Joyce Green of Oakland, Calif.; and 13 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. W.L. Daniel officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

 

Everhart, Merle Lee 1940-1940

Merle Lee Everhart
July 1, 1940-Nov. 6, 1940

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, November 7, 1940, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Pneumonia Causes Death Wednesday of Merel Lee Everhart

Merel Lee Everhart, four moths old son of Mr. and Mrs. Marcel Everhart, 642 North Eighth street, died Wednesday night at 7:30 in Pawating hospital. He had been ill since Friday of pneumonia.

The infant was born July 1 in Berrien Springs. Beside the parents he leaves two brothers, William Leroy and Marcel David, at home; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Glen Goff and Leroy Everhart, Niles, and his great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Wilson, Niles, and Mrs. H.O. Goff, Coldwater.

Friends may call at the home of the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Glen Goff, 713 Howard street, until the hour of the service at 2:30 Friday in the Rutherford funeral home. Mrs. Ruth Lynch, of the Old Faith assembly, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Note: Michigan Death Record and grave marker have spelling of given name as Merle.

Coons, Charles A. 1861-1940

Charles A. Coons
Aug. 10, 1861-Nov. 25, 1940

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, November 25, 1940, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Charles A. Coons, Life Resident of Niles Area, Dies

Charles A. Coons, who had been in failing health for many months, died early today. He was 79 years old and had lived in or near Niles all his life.

Mr. Coons was born in Mason township Aug. 10, 1861. He was married 57 years ago to Miss Jessie Pullman, who died several years ago.

Surviving are two sons and two daughters—Ralph, Niles; Clyde, South Bend; Mrs. Gladys Young, Niles; and Mrs. Marie Green, Coldwater. He also leaves a sister, Mrs. Clara E. Shafer, Elkhart.

Services will be in the Price and Kiger chapel Wednesday afternoon at 2, the Rev. Floyd Johnston officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Friends may call the funeral home prior to the hour of the funeral.

Barnes, Leatha Jeanne 1899-1978

Leatha Jeanne Barnes
Nov. 23, 1899-Nov. 25, 1978

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, November 27, 1978, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES—Word has been received here of the death at 8:30 p.m. Saturday of Leatha Jeanne Barnes, 79, of 1557 Whitehall Road, Muskegon, following an extended illness.

She was born Nov. 23, 1899 in Niles and lived in Niles until 1963. On Jan. 21, 1917 in Dowagiac, she married Erie Barnes, who died in 1963.

Survivors include a son Richard H. of Lansing; three daughters, Miss Pauline Barnes of Seattle, Wash., Mrs. Russell (Kathryn ) Poling of Marion, Ind., and Mrs. John (Virginia) Staal of Muskegon; and four grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Ray C. Cunningham of the First Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are calling at the Halbritter Funeral Home.