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.

Wilson, Doris Sarellen

Doris Sarellen Wilson
June 18, 1947-Dec. 30, 1947


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 30, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Doris Sarellen Wilson, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Wilson, 1206 South Thirteenth street, died in her home at 3:30 a.m. today after a short illness.

Services will be held 2 p.m. Friday in the Pifer funeral home with Elder Charles A. Johnson, pastor of the South Niles Pentacostal church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

The baby was born June 18, 1947 in Niles. Surviving besides parents are her brothers, Vernon Lee, Marvin and Richard.

 

Womack, Burt

Burt Womack
Dec. 5, 1895-Dec. 28, 1947


Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 29, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Following an illness of two years, Burt Womack, 701 North Third street, passed away at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at his home.

He is survived by his wife, Agnes, a step-son, Alfred Hicks, South Bend; daughter, Mrs. James Parks, Chicago; son Burt Womack, Jr., Benton Harbor; two grandchildren; brotehr, Patrick Womack, Elizabeth, Ind., a brother, Frank Womack, Manchester, Tenn.; a sister, Lena Morgan, Hillsboro, Tenn.

Womack, who was born on Dec. 6, 1895 came here from Tennessee 21 years ago, and has been employed as a salesman.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home until 12 noon Wednesday, when the body will be taken to the Methodist church, where services will be held at 2 p.m. with the Rev. L. George Beacock officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Womack was a member of the Moose lodge and the Eagle lodge.

 

Horner, Neva Pearl

NEVA PEARL HORNER
July 2, 1902-May 18, 1984

Mrs. Neva Pearl Horner, 81, 1265 Huntly Road, Niles, died at 6:15 pm Friday in St. Joseph's Medical Center, South Bend, following a five-year illness.

Born July 5, 1902, in Aix, Ind., the homemaker lived in Niles since 1924, coming from Buchanan.  She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.  On Aug. 23, 1924, in St. Joseph, she married Clarence Horner, who preceded her in death on Jan. 22, 1983.

Surviving are three daughters, Patricia A. Horner, Mrs. Barbara Houghteling and Mrs. Marjorie Reed, all of Niles; one brother, Ernest Price of New Buffalo; two sisters, Mrs. Stella Kleine of New Carlisle, Ind. and Mrs. Laura Dohlman of Kalamazoo; two grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren.

Services are 1:30 pm today at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. William Fuerstenau of the First Presbyterian Church officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Kidney Foundation, St. Joseph's Medical Center.

from the Niles District Library - microfilm Niles Daily Star, Niles, Berrien, Michigan. Monday, May 21, 1984; page 02; col. 02.

 

Horner, Clarence J.

CLARENCE J. HORNER
Feb. 15, 1901-Jan 22, 1983

Clarence J. Horner, 81, 1265 Huntly Road, died at 8:18 pm Saturday, Jan. 22, 1983, at Pawating Hospital after a lengthy illness.

Born Feb. 15, 1901 in Niles, he was a lifelong resident.  On Aug. 23, 1924 in St. Joseph, he married Neva P. Price, who survives.

Also surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Nathan (Barbara) Houghteling, Mrs. Frank (Marjorie) Reed and Patricia Horner, all of Niles; a daughter Mrs. John (Lucille) Deditch of LaPorte; two grandchildren and a greatgrandchild.

Services will be held at 1:30 pm Wednesday, Jan. 26 at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, with Rev. Ray C. Cunningham of First Baptist church of Niles officiating.  Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call from 7 to 9 pm today and from 7 to 9 pm Tuesday at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.  Memorials may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service and the Cass County Health Department.

from the microfilm at the Niles District Library, Niles, Berrien, Michigan. Newspaper: Niles Daily Star, Niles, Berrien, Michigan Monday, January 24, 1983; page 02, col. 02.

 

Bidwell, Myron E.

Myron E. Bidwell
April 6, 1866-Aug. 16, 1935


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, August 17, 1935, page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

FORMER DRUGGIST CLAIMED BY DEATH

Myron E. Bidwell Succumbs After Two Years' Illness; Services Sunday

 

Myron E. Bidwell, former Niles druggist, died Friday afternoon at his home, 122 Silverbrook avenue, after a two years' illness of angina pectoris.

For a number of years Mr. Bidwell conducted the drug store here which was afterward sold to the Dean Drug company and is now known as Dean's No. 2 store.  He purchased the business from E.H. Griffin in 1921 and continued its operation until failing health forced him to retire.

Mr. Bidwell was born in Girard, Mich., April 6, 1866. He was married Nov. 15, 1893, to Elizabeth Y. Ackerman, at Dowagiac, who survives him; also two children, Mrs. Evangeline Fink, of Mishawaka, and Seth Bidwell of Grand Rapids.  He leaves two brothers, Ray Bidwell, Adrian, and Fred Bidwell, Coldwater, and a sister, Mrs. Dora Arthur, of Pasadena, Calif., and three grandchildren, Betty Lou and James Fink, of Mishawaka and Seth Bidwell, Grand Rapids.

He came to Niles from Coldwater and had lived here since 1916.  His business activity covered a period of 40 years in the drug business.  He was a member of the Methodist church.

Funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock in the Price and Kiger funeral chapel. Dr. Robert E. Meader, of the Niles Methodist Church, and the Rev. O.R. Grattan of St. Joseph, will officiate. Burial will be in the mausoleum at Silverbrook cemetery.

Friends of the family may call at the Price and Kiger funeral home until the hour of the service.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 19, 1935, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

BIDWELL RITES SUNDAY


Funeral services for Myron E. Bidwell, 122 Silverbrook avenue, who died at his home Friday, were held Sunday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock in the Price and Kiger funeral home. Dr. Robert E. Meader, of the Niles Methodist church, and the Rev. O.R. Grattan of St. Joseph, oficiated[sic]. Burial was in the mausoleum at Silverbrook cemetery.



Boose, Floyd I.

Floyd I. Boose
April 6, 1908-Jan. 30, 1982


Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 1, 1982, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Floyd I. Boose, 73, 1213 Thompson Road, died early Saturday morning at the St. Joseph Medical Center in South Bend.

A native of Logansport, Ind., he had resided in the area for many years. He retired from the maintenance department at Tyler Refrigeration Corp. in 1971, and was a member of the Niles Moose Lodge No. 978.

Survivors include his wife, Emma L.; several step-children; a brother, Charles of Niles; two sisters, Dorothy Monte and Irene May, both of Niles, and several step-grandchildren.

Services for Floyd I. Boose will be at 10:30 a.m. today at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. Rev. Donald Hall of the Huntly Memorial Baptist Church will officiate and burial will be in the Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

Dudley, Charles

Charles Dudley
Dec. 5, 1863-Jan. 21, 1948


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, January 21, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library


Charles Dudley Succumbs

 

Charles Dudley, 84, 519 Superior street, passed away at 7 a.m. today at Pawating hospital after an illness of one week.

He is survived by his widow, Lillian, and two daughters, Cecilia, at home and Beatrice Dudley, Los Angeles, Cal.  Dudley was born on Dec. 5, 1963[sic] in Lexington, Ky., and came here from Elkhart, Ind., 45 years ago. He had been employed for 33 years at the French Paper company.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral home Friday evening. Services will be conducted by the Rev. Richard Alexander, of the Second Baptist church, at 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.