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.

Liebetrau, Gladys (Powell)

Gladys Powell Liebetrau
March 23, 1894-Aug. 26, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 26, 1963, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Mrs. Gladys Powell Liebetrau, 69, of 1365 Regent St., will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Kiger Funeral Home. The Rev. John G. Carlton, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

She died at 12:05 p.m. Saturday in the Dor-A-Lin Nursing Home, South Bend, following a 10 month illness.

Mrs. Liebetrau was born here March 30, 1894, and was a life-time resident of the city. Her husband, Ernest J., died Aug. 19, 1959.

Survivors include two sons, William P. and Richard E., both of Niles; a sister, Mrs. Kenneth Kloko, Indian Lake and 11 grandchildren.

She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, the Order of Eastern Star, and the White Shrine and the Ladies' Auxiliary of the American Legion.

Friends are being received at the funeral home where Eastern Star Memorial services will be conducted at 7:30 p.m. tonight.

Lipps, Royanna

Royanna Lipps
Nov. 21, 1943-Dec. 11, 1943

Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 13, 1943, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Lipps Baby Dies in Ann Arbor; Funeral Today

Funeral services for Royanna Lipps, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Lipps, 61 South Third street, who died Saturday afternoon in University hospital, Ann Arbor, were conducted this afternoon in the Pifer funeral home by the Rev. Floyd W. Johnston of First Baptist church. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Born Nov. 21, 1943, the child is survived by the parents, a brother, Larry Lee, and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Wager, Niles.

McPhearson, Vincent S.

Vincent S. McPhearson
Dec. 24, 1884-July 20, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 20, 1963, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Vincint (Strong) McPhearson, 78, formerly of the Beckwith Nursing Home here, died at 3 a.m. Today in the Berrien County Hospital, Berrien center. He had been ill several years.

Mr. McPhearson, who retired from the Kawneer Company in  1952, was born Dec. 24, 1884, in Indiana. He lived most of his life here.

Surviving are a sister, Mrs. Ruth Bailey, South Bend, and two brothers, Leo C. and Veryl W. Strong, both of Niles.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in the Kiger Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Friends will be received at the funeral home after  5 p.m. Sunday.

Note: This is also on some records as McPherson/McPheron.

Meldrum, Edna

Edna Meldrum
June 13, 1906-March 30, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 1, 1963, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Mrs. Edna Meldrum, 57, of 602 N. 13th St., will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Pifer Funeral Home.  Dr. Maurice McKean, pastor of the First Methodist Church, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

She died at 10:30 p.m Saturday in Billings Hospital, Chicago, where she had been a patient 10 days.

Mrs. Meldrum was born June 13, 1906, in Orleans, Ind. She came to Niles from California in June 1962.

Survivors include her husband, James; a daughter, Mrs. Larry Clymer, and a son, Jerry, both of Niles; a sister, Mrs. Clara Myers, also of Niles; a brother, Morris Strange, South Bend; and two grandchildren.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

Miller, Anna Gertrude

Anna Gertrude Miller
Oct. 15, 1889-March 24, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 25, 1963, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Miss Anna Gertrude Miller, 73, of 303 S. 3rd St., will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Trinity Episcopal Church. The Rev. John G. Carlton, rector, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

She died at 10 p.m. Sunday in Pawating Hospital, where she had been a patient 10 days.

Miss Miller was born Oct. 15, 1889, in Niles, and was a lifelong resident of this city.  She retired from the National-Standard Co. eight years ago.

She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church.

Surviving is a sister, Mrs. Clara Gallagher.

Friends will be received at the Pifer Funeral Home, Tuesday evening.

Miller, TImer

Timer Miller
Feb. 17, 1922-March 5, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, March 6, 1963, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Timer Miller, 41, of 1831 Fulkerson Road, was pronounced dead on arrival at Pawating Hospital at 11:30 a.m. Friday. Death was attributed to natural causes.

Mr. Miller, a gasoline station attendant, was born Feb. 17, 1922, in New Edinburg, Ark. He came to Niles from Arkansas 25 years ago.

Survivors include his widow, Eileen; a sister, Mrs. Julia Orsborn, Niles; and two brothers, Theodore, Niles, and T.M. Miller, South Bend.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. Theodis Hadley, pastor of the Mount Calvary Baptist Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

Morris, Edouard W.

Edouard W. Morris
March 17, 1896-March 28, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 29, 1963, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Edouard W. Morris, 67, of 1224 Shoey Court, died at 9:15 p.m. Thursday in Pawating Hospital. He was admitted to the hospital  March 7.

Mr. Morris was born in Chicago, March 17, 1896, and came to Niles from Detroit 30 years ago.

He operated the Ed Morris Co. on E. Main Street.  Mr. Morris was a former Chief engineer of the experimental laboratories, Clark Equipment Co., Buchanan. He was a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers and the Niles Elks Lodge.

He is survived by his widow, Marguerite, Niles, a son, Aurthur, St. Louis, Mo., and two grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Monday at the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. John P. MacLachlan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, will officiate. Cemetery. The Elks Lodge will have charge of the committal service.

Friends may call after 7 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.