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.

Flora, Ethelyn M.

Ethelyn Flora, 92
Oct. 20, 1918 — April 24, 2011

Ethelyn M. Flora, 92, of Oak Street in Niles, died at 11:45 p.m. Sunday, April 24, 2011 at West Woods of Niles following an extended illness.

Flora

She was born Oct. 20, 1918 in New Market, Iowa to Thomas A. and Jesse (Shore) Harris. She graduated as valedictorian from New Market High School; completed her teaching certification two years later at Northwest Missouri State Teacher’s College; earned a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University; and earned a master of science degree from Michigan State University. She also completed 30 hours of post-graduate work at Eastern Michigan University.

Mrs. Flora began her teaching career in one-room schoolhouses in Iowa, and taught in Missouri, Illinois and Indiana prior to moving to Niles in 1945. She taught English at Ring Lardner Junior High School for 25 years, and retired in 1987, completing a 50-year teaching career.

She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Niles. She was also a member of the local, state and national education associations and the local and state retired educator associations; was a member of the American Association of University Women and the Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Sorority; the Niles Piecemakers Quilt Club; and was a founding member of the Ring Lardner Retirees’ quarterly luncheon.

Ethelyn enjoying traveling, completing nine trips to Europe; and extensive tour of China;l and visits to 44 of the states and five Canadian provinces. Yellowstone National Park was a favorite return visit. She was also an avid reader of books, newspapers and magazines; a genealogist of her family’s lineage; and a seamstress with a special interest in quilting.

On Aug. 8, 1944 in Chicago, she married George William Flora, who was also a teacher. He was a director of the music department at Niles High School and choir director at First Presbyterian Church. George died unexpectedly on Aug. 7, 1969, one day short of their 25th wedding anniversary.

Ethelyn is survived by their children, Margaret Ann McClintic of Houghton Lake, Mich. and Robert Harris (Paulette) Flora of Troy, Mich.; granddaughters, Jessica (Brian) Rauch and Erin (David) Tanenbaum; great-grandsons, Derek Michael and Ian Joshua Rauch; step-granddaughter, Sarah Pallazzolo; and Ethelyn’s sister-in-law, Mary (Lyle) Harris of Clarinda, Iowa; and a dear friend, Carol Lans of Niles.

In addition to her husband, Ethelyn was preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Robert’s first wife, Dinah Bundy; and a brother, Lyle V. Harris.

The funeral service for Ethelyn M. Flora will be at 11 a.m. Monday, May 2 at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of First Presbyterian Church officiating.

Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Ethelyn may be made to the scholarship program of Pi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma International.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 8:34am Thursday, April 28, 2011

Graham, Marjorie E.

Marjorie Graham, 94
Nov. 28, 1916 — April 24, 2011

Marjorie E. Graham, 94, of Redbud Trail in Buchanan, died at 4:15 p.m. Sunday, April 24, 2011 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles.

Miss Graham was born Nov. 28, 1916 in Pontiac, Mich. to John C. and Lola (Mount) Graham. She moved to California, remaining a resident there most of her life. She also taught and served as a librarian at public schools there. She returned to Michigan several years ago.

Marjorie was a Christian all her life. She enjoyed international travel all her adult life, and volunteered for various performing arts.

Miss Graham is survived by her brother, Ross (Wanda) Graham of Niles; sister, Joyce Graham of Buchanan; and nephews and nieces, David, Julie, Malcolm, Megan and Vivian.

She was preceded in death by her brothers, Bruce Graham and Malcolm Graham; and a sister-in-law, Lillian (Bruce) Graham.

Funeral services for Marjorie E. Graham will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Trinity Episcopal Church in Niles with the Rev. James Slack of the church officiating.

Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive friends and relatives beginning at 10 a.m. Friday at the church.

Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Marjorie may be made to Trinity Episcopal

Niles Daily Star, Published online 10:16pm Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Hiles, Helen A.

Helen A. Hiles
1856-Aug. 30, 1945


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, Sept. 1, 1945, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Hiles, 89, Dies at Quick Convalescent Home

Mrs. Helen A. Hiles, 89, 1124 Fort street, died Thursday at the Quick Convalescent home. She had  been in poor health for five years.

Mrs.  Hiles had no immediate relatives in Niles. Her husband Theron, died several years ago. She was born in Chicago and moved here about 25 years ago.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home where funeral services will be held at 5 p.m.  Saturday. Rev. Theodore M. Greenhoe will conduct the services.  Burial will be at Silverbrook cemetery.

 

NB: Obituary was published Niles Daily Star, Friday, Aug. 31, 1945 page 2, col. 1, which was same except name was given as Hines

Moody, Mark Vernon

Mark Vernon Moody
Sept. 19, 1882-Sept. 1, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, Sept. 1, 1945, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

HEART ATTACK IS FATAL TO MARK V. MOODY, 62

A heart attack proved fatal this morning to Mark V. Moody, 62, of 402 Brown street, who died at his home at 3 a.m.
Born in Niles, he had lived his entire life in this city.
Surviving are four brothers, Albert, Claude, and Robert, all of Niles, and Arthur, of Rockford, Ill., and two sisters, Mrs. Alma Bishop, of Cassopolis, and Mrs. Grace Cochran, residing on a Niles rural route.
Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where services will be conducted Tuesday at 2 p.m.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Rooks, Albert G.

Albert G. Rooks
May 4, 1879-Jan. 13, 1960


Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 15, 1960, page 1, col.7, microfilm Niles District Library

Stroke Caused Driver Death

Albert G. Rooks, 80, 1303 Barron Lake Rd., who died Wednesday night in Memorial Hosptial, South Bend, was the victim of a stroke that resulted from a mild concussion suffered in an automobile accident on Jan.7 on Yankee street, Cass County.

Cause of his death was reported late Thursday afternoon to Niles State Police by the South Bend physician who attended him.

His death is the first this year in Cass County.

Mr. Rooks was injured when his car, for no apparent reason, careened out of control, crashed into a tree and went through a fence, overturning several times.

Funeral services for the victim are to be conducted Saturday afternoon in the First Presbyterian Church by the pastor, the Rev. John P. MacLachlan.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home.

Ash, Arneal Winfield

Arneal Winfield Ash
Nov. 26, 1903-Sept. 20, 1993


Arneal Winfield Ash
1903-1993
Retired Pawating Hospital employee

Funeral services for Arneal Winfield Ash, 89, of 56 Marmont St., Niles, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at Faith Baptist Church in South Bend, Ind., with the Rev. George M. Joseph, church pastor, and the Rev. Joseph Arnold, of Franklin AME chruch in Niles, officiating.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Ash died at 9:45 a.m. Monday at Woodfield Manor, Niles, following an extended illness.

Born Nov. 26, 1903, in Chicago, she had lived in Niles since 1914, coming from Vandalia.

On April 15, 1923, in Niles, she married the late Fred Shepard, who preceded her in death Nov. 25, 1958. On Dec. 30, 1967, in Niles, she married the late Irving Ash, who preceded her in death on Feb. 11, 1978.

She was a retired employee of Pawating Hospital. She was a charter member and pianist of Faith Baptist Church.

Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Marguerite Adams of Niles; a son, David Shepard of Dowagiac; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Friends may call from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Faith Baptist church.


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, September 21, 1993, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Miller, Lenore L.

Lenore L. Miller
Feb. 5, 1919-Oct. 9, 1953


Lenore L. Miller, 34, of 1344 Eagle street, died at 9:45 a.m. Friday in Pawating Hospital following an illness of two months.

Mrs. Miller was born Feb. 5, 1919, in Chicago and had lived most of her life in Niles.  She is survived by her husband, Howard; her father, Edward Bishop of Niles; a son David and three daughters, Vera Bernice, Loretta Mae and Trudy Ann, all at home, and a sister, Mrs. Leona Bishop, also Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. Clarence Pedersen, pastor of the First Assembly of God, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home.


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, October 10, 1953, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library