Marilyn Geneva Duis (Womack), 92
Oct. 14, 1920-April 11, 2013

Niles Daily Star, Published 12:42pm Monday, April 15, 2013

Marilyn Geneva Duis (Womack) passed away peacefully in her home Thursday, April 11 in Niles surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Marilyn was born Oct. 14, 1920 in Manchester, Tenn., but relocated with her family to Niles where her father Rendle Burt Womack was a well-known local barber, and her mother Margaret Agnes Womack worked in the downtown Niles restaurants.  Mother attended the Niles schools and then the Chicago Secretarial School where she found employment with the Bendix Corporation after World War II. She met and married Richard John Duis, and was a dedicated mother of six children, Sherry (Wright), Gail (Cheeseman), David, Daniel, Randall and Andrew. Marilyn was also the proud grandmother to 15 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.  Marilyn knew all the birthdays, took care of all the holiday planning and inspired her children with her constant cheerfulness, kindness and patience.

She enjoyed traveling and loved to garden in her senior years. Marilyn and her husband Richard, who preceded her in meeting our Savior, were members of the Niles Westside Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

A church memorial service at 1105 Grant Street is planned for Friday at 1 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to “Hospice at Home” in Buchanan or the Niles Westside Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Doris Irene Balos, 90
July 8, 1922-April 14, 2013

Niles Daily Star, Published 2:03pm Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Doris Irene Balos, age 90, of Niles, Michigan died Sunday, April 14, 2013 at Hilton Head Hospital, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.  She was born July 8, 1922 in Niles to Clarence William & Alta Jenny (Westerhouse) Grieger.  On November 27, 1946, Doris married Francis Michael Balos, who preceded her in death on May 3, 1990.

Balos

Doris was a lifetime resident of the Niles and Buchanan area.  She graduated from Niles High School where she was voted ‘Athlete of the Year’ in 1940.  She worked at the Niles High School for seven years after graduation and retired from Chemical Bank after 30 years of service. Doris was a member of Saint John’s United Church of Christ in Niles.

Doris was an avid college basketball and football fan; especially the teams of the Big 10.  She also loved animals and loved her daughters’ dogs and cats as her own.

Surviving family includes daughters; Linda Donohoe of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and Patricia (and James) Mansfield of Niles, step-son F. Michael (and Evelyn) Balos of Buchanan, Michigan, two step-grandchildren, 10 great-step-grandchildren and one brother; Donald (and Louise) Grieger of Batavia, New York.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents and sister

Funeral services for Doris Irene Balos will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 19, 2103 at Halbritter Funeral Home with Rev. Harry Clark of Saint John’s United Church of Christ officiating.  Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

The family will receive relatives and friends beginning an hour prior to services at the funeral home on Friday.

Donations in memory of Doris may be made to Saint John’s United Church of Christ, Niles or to Pet Refuge, Mishawaka.

Ruth Faye Gouldman, 76
Sept. 30, 1936-March 6, 2013

Niles Daily Star, Published 5:50pm Thursday, March 7, 2013

Ruth Gouldman, 76, of Niles, passed away on Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at Lakeland Hospital in Niles, following an extended illness.

Gouldman

Ruth was born on Sept. 30, 1936 in Stoddard County, Missouri to the late Alfred and Mary (House) Gouldman.

She is preceded in death by her parents, two sisters; Marjorie Jarman and Norma Jarman, and two brothers; Cletius Gouldman and John Gouldman, four nephews; Rex and Jeff Jarman, Ted Gill and John Gouldman and a niece Christie Gouldman.

Ruth is survived by her twin brother Buford “Ray” (Jean) Gouldman of Niles, her nieces and nephews; Mattie (Bernie) Beaudoin, Duane Gouldman, Terry Oxender, Travis Jarman, Robin (John) Doonan, Julie (Bob) Russell, Tammie Gouldman, David (Gloria) Gouldman, Eddy Bell (Darrel) Chappl.

Ruth was very passionate about animals and enjoyed spending time outdoors.  She had a tender heart and was always there for her nieces and nephews.  Everyone always said she had a kind heart.

In keeping with Ruth’s wishes cremation has taken place and there will be a memorial service held at home of her niece Mattie Beaudoin a later time.

Memorial contributions may be made in Ruth’s memory to Mattie Beaudoin at 1382 Airport Rd. in Niles.

Condolences, photos, and memories may be left for the family on our website at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or on our Facebook page www.Facebook\BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Margaret Anna (Conrad) Beardslee, 103
March 10, 1910-April 2, 2013

Niles Daily Star, Published 3:53pm Thursday, April 4, 2013

Margaret Anna (Conrad) Beardslee, 103, of Apple Valley, Minn., and previously of Niles, passed away Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at St. Joseph Hospital in St. Paul, Minn.

Margaret was born on March 10, 1910 to the late William J. and Margaret (Nieb) Conrad in Buchanan, Mich.

After completing high school Margaret went on to work for Simplicity Pattern Company as a secretary in their corporate offices. On May 9, 1937 Margaret wed the love of her life, Howard E. Beardslee. Together they raised two daughters.  She was a lifelong member of the Community Grange in Niles where she played the piano for over 70 years.

She is preceded in death by her parents William and Margaret, her husband Howard and her sister Mabel Sumption.

Margaret is survived by her two daughters Mary (Art) Gilmore of Cool Valley, Ill., and Kathryn (Arnold) Proff of Apple Valley, Minn., six grandchildren Phil Gilmore, Ruth Ann (Tom Burke) Gilmore, Jennifer Gilmore, Tom Gilmore, Mark (Anne Marie) Proff and Cynthia (Jeff) Wood and several great grandchildren.

A time of visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 from 6-8 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home in Niles where her funeral service will also be held on Wednesday at 11 a.m. with a time of visitation one-hour prior.  Margaret will be laid to rest next to her husband at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home of Niles.

Lori Ashawn Thames, 32
Nov. 25, 1983-March 22, 2013

Niles Daily Star, Published 5:47pm Thursday, April 4, 2013

Lori Ashawn Thames, 32, of Niles, Mich., died at 1:05 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles, unexpectedly, but of natural causes.

Thames

She was born on February 7, 1981 in Flint, Mich., to Floyd Robert and Lorraine (Jackson) Thames.  She was graduated from Andrews Academy in Berrien Springs, Mich., and has lived here most of her life.  She was currently employed by Corvilla, Inc.

Lori was a member of the Niles Westside Seventh-day Adventist Church.  She enjoyed travelling and participating in mission work, both internationally and domestically.

Surviving family includes her mother, Lorraine Thames of Niles; father Floyd Thames of Flint, Michigan; sisters, Alicia (& John) Harris of Atlanta, Georgia and Andrea (& Terry) Curtis of Niles; nieces and nephew, Aubrion, Amber, and John, Jr.; grandfather Ishmon Jackson, aunt Alvina Grant, and uncle LuJuan Jackson, all of Flint, and many cousins.

The funeral service for Lori Thames will be at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 7, 2013 at Niles Westside Seventh-day Adventist Church, with The Rev. Darrell le Roux of the church officiating.  Committal will be on Monday, privately at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 10 a.m. on Sunday at the church.  Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Pauline T. Brown
April 13, 1918-April 2, 2013

Niles Daily Star, Published 12:33pm Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Pauline T. Brown, 94, of Niles, Mich., died at 5:07 a.m. on Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at Riveridge Manor in Niles following a brief illness.

Brown

She was born on April 13, 1918 in Hinton, W.V., to Robert Lee and Sarah Elizabeth (Wiseman) Thompson.  She came to the Oak Manor neighborhood of Niles in 1951, and was a department manager at the former Parmalee’s department store in Niles.  She was also employed at the former Rowley’s Family Shoe Store in Niles, and at the lady’s departments of the former MiLady, L.S.Ayers, and other department stores where she specialized in high fashion clothing.  She retired to Florida in 1967 and returned to Niles in 1998.

Pauline was a member of First Baptist Church in Niles.  She enjoyed golfing, including time spent with her husband who was a U. S. Amateur champion.

She was first married to Charles Wiseman.  On June 14, 1975 in West Palm Beach, Florida she married J. Wolcott Brown, who preceded her in death in 1991.  She was also preceded in death by a son, Harold Edward “Eddie” Wiseman in 1994, and by sisters, Thelma Meador and Orpha Toutloff, and brothers Carl Thompson, Herbert William Thompson, and infant Frank Emmett Thompson, and a son-in-law, Pierce “Skeet” Williams on March 20, 2011.

Surviving family includes her son, Wesley Lane (& Gloria) Wiseman of Kankakee, Ill., and daughter, Doretta Williams of Niles; seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; and Pauline’s brother, Earl Thompson of Niles and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Pauline T. Brown will be at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 5, 2013 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Jim Wing of First Baptist Church officiating.  Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the funeral home beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday.  Contributions in memory of Pauline may be made to the First Baptist Church.

www.halbritterfunerals.com