Edward Blee
Dec. 10, 1876-Dec. 2, 1968

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, December 3, 1968, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES—Edward Blee, 91, of 1217 State Line Rd., died at 6:15 p.m. Monday in the Oak Grove manor Nursing Home where he had been ill for several years.

He was born Dec. 10, 1876 in Pennsylvania and was married to the late Laura Lee who died in 1948. Mr. Blee was a retired employe of the city of Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday with graveside rites at Silverbrook Cemetery. Rev. John R. Wyngarden, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, will officiate.

Friends may all at the Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home after 7 tonight.

Lawrence Dean Baxter
Nov. 17, 1968-Nov. 24, 1968

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, November 25, 1968, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Lawrence Dean Baxter, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Terry Baxter of 1154 Lambert St., died at 7:10 a.m. Sunday in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, Ind.

He was born Nov. 17, 1968 in South Bend.

He is survived by his parents, and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Chester Jones of Niles and Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Baxter of Niles.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Silverbrook Cemetery, with the Rev. Robert V. Kinney of the Bertrand Bible Church officiating.

Friends may call after 7 tonight at the Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home.

Richard William Carey
June 13, 1922-April 14,1992

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, April 16, 1992, page 2, col. 3-4

            Funeral services for Richard William Carey, 69, of the Veterans Administration Center, Battle Creek, formerly of Niles, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, by the Rev. Stephen Naas of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

            Mr. Carey died suddenly at 11:35 p.m. Tuesday at the Veterans Administration Hospital, Battle Creek.

            He was born June 13, 1922, in Niles and left Niles in 1955 in South Bend, Ind.[sic]

            Mr. Carey was a tool and die maker.

            He served in the United States Coast Guard in World War II.

            Mr. Carey was married to Mary Lu Byrne, who preceded him in death in 1958.

            Survivors include three sons, Timothy Carey of Elkhart, Ind., Richard Carey of Mishawaka, Ind., and Robert Carey of Indianapolis; and four grandchildren.

            There will be no visitation.

            Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

Lewis F. Brown
March 6, 1861-Aug. 4, 1919

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, Aug. 5, 1919, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for the late L.F. Brown were held this morning at 10 o’clock from the Brown residence.  Rev. Harold Holt of the Trinity church officiated.  Many floral tributes were in evidence and a large crowd paid their last respects.  At the cemetery the Masons held ritualistic rites.

Anna Walter
1858-Aug. 2, 1919

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, August 4, 1919, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Aura[sic] Walter, wife of Henry Walter, is dead at her home in South Bend, following an illness of three days.  Death resulted from complication of illnesses.  She was married to Henry Walter in this city on March 11, 1877.  Funeral will be held from the home tomorrow afternoon at 1 o’clock. Burial will take place in Niles.

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, August 5, 1919, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

The body of Anna Walter was brought to Niles this afternoon from South Bend. Interment occurred at Silver Brook cemetery.

Dean R. DePoy
July 27, 1936-June 11, 2020

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:59 am Saturday, June 27, 2020

July 27, 1936 — June 11, 2020

Dean R. DePoy, 83, passed June 11, 2020, in Winter Haven, Florida, after a long illness. He was a resident of Winter Haven, Florida, where he had lived for nearly 22 years.

Dean was born in Niles, on July 27, 1936.

He is survived by his sisters, Judy DePoy Atwood, of Vero Beach, Florida, and Sue DePoy Conner, of Walton, Kentucky; his sons, Erik DePoy, of Moscow, Russia, and Kurt DePoy, of Celina, Texas; and Kristen DePoy Blaeser, of Boxford, Massachusetts.

Dean graduated from Niles High School in 1954 and studied music education at the University of Michigan, where he earned a BA in 1958 and an MA in instrumental music education in 1959.

Dean was a lifelong Wolverine stemming from his days at the University of Michigan, where he met his former wife, Judith. His sister, Judy and son, Erik also studied in Ann Arbor. 

His career as a band director began at Cassopolis High School from 1960 to 1963. He subsequently moved on to become director of bands at Wheeling High School from 1964 to 1969, and moved on to the collegiate level at Ball State University 1969 from 1971. After teaching briefly at Staples High School in Westport, Connecticut from 1971 to 1972, and Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, Illinois, from 1972 to 1973, he moved to East Setauket, New York to begin 25 years teaching at Brentwood High School in Brentwood, New York.

During his 22 years in Winter Haven, Dean was a regular player in the Over 55 Show Band, which showcased his lifelong love for playing the clarinet and saxophone.

Under his direction, the Brentwood High School marching band (the “Green Machine”) was a regular winner of awards at local and state marching band championships. The reputation for excellence that his bands earned led to invitations to perform at professional sporting events, including at Shea Stadium and Yankee Stadium. 

Dean will be sorely missed by his family and the many students he taught over the years. May he rest in peace.

His urn will be laid to rest at Silverbrook Cemetary in Niles on July 27, 2020, which would have been his 84th birthday.