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.

Barski, William

editor Obituaries

William Barski
Dec. 12, 1894-Nov. 30, 1953*

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 2, 1953, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Theft From Body of Dead Man Charged

 

A charge of Grand larceny has been filed against Albert Sikora for the theft of a billfold and gold wristwatch from the body of his Powell Hotel roommate, William Barski, who was found dead at 6 a.m. this morning. Sikora is being held in City Jail.

Barski, 58, a painter about whom little is known, was found in the room that he shared with Sikora.  Coroner Franklyn G. Rice Jr. creditted the death to natural causes.

When officers discovered that the watch and wallet were missing, they conducted a search. Sikora was arrested three and a half hours later.

Barski, employed by Miller, Frantz and True, local building contractors, had been suffering from heart trouble and was released from Pawating Hospital in the middle of November.

His body is at Pifer's Funeral Home but no relatives were located by noon today.


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 2, 1953, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Services for William Barski, 58, who was found dead at 6 a.m. Tuesday in his room at the Powell Hotel, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Pifer Funeral Home.

Lt. Arthur Homer of the Salvation Army will officiate, and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. No relatives have been located as yet, but friends may call at the funeral home. Barski was a painter.

 

*DOB and DOD from Michigan Death Record

 

Bolton, Grant S.

editor Obituaries

Grant S. Bolton
March 31, 1866-July 2, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 3, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Grant S. Bolton, 82, 122 South St. Joseph avenue, died 8:20 p.m. Friday in the Berrien hospital at Berrien Center. He had been ill six months.

Services will be held 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Pifer funeral home with the Rev. G.A. Steeby officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Bolton was born March 31, 1866 in Berrien Center and spent his entire life in this area. He was retired.     Surviving are his wife, Hattie; a daughter, Mrs. Hazel Barnes, Niles; six grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren; and a brother, Samuel Bolton, Niles.

 

Bracken, Elizabeth

editor Obituaries

Elizabeth Bracken
Dec. 26, 1855-Nov. 14, 1946

Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 15, 1946, page 2, col5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Bracken, 90, Succumbs Thursday in Residence Here

 

Mrs. Elizabeth Bracken, 90, died last night at 6:35 p.m. at her residence, 621 North Sixth street, after a 14 months illness.

Services will be held tomorrow at 1:30 in the Kiger funeral home with the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Mrs. Bracken was a Niles resident for 65 years, having come here from Canada. She was born in Ipswich, England, Dec. 26, 1855. Her husband, William, died in 1932. She was a member of the Presbyterian church.

Surviving are a son, William, Jackson; and a daughter, Miss Clara Bracken, Niles; seven grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; and two sisters, Mrs.Nellie Spencer, Sarnia, Canada, and Mrs. Esther Thomas, Mt. Clemens.

 

 

 

Brown, Brian L.

editor Obituaries

Brian L. Brown
Aug. 1, 1968-June 20, 1972

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 20, 1972, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Brian L. Brown, 3, of 1355 Zilke St., died at 9:40 a.m. Tueday in Pawating Hospital after an illness of 11 months.

Brian was born Aug. 1, 1968, in Berrien Center, and had lived here all his lfie.

Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Denny Brown of Niles; his grandparents, Mrs. Roy Mangrum of Buchanan, Ejner Neilson of Niles and Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Brown of Niles; his great-grandfather, Paul Neilson of Decatur; and two brothers, Denny Jr. and Anthony, both at home.

Funeral services will be held at 1 P.m Thursday at the Halbritter Funeral home, with the Rev. Hezakiah Davis of Buchanan officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 1 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

 

Brown, Frank

editor Obituaries

Frank Brown
Dec. 18, 1893-May 12, 1981

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 14, 1981, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Frank Brown, 87, of 2788 Detroit Rd., Niles, died at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Pawating Hospital.

Brown, a retired railroad worker, was born Dec. 18, 1893, in Mississippi. A widower, he lived in the Niles area for over 50 years after moving from Chicago.

Brown is survived by a brother, Mr. Charlie Bibbs of Hampton, Va. and a sister, Mrs. Annie Mays of Niles.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. W.L. Daniels of Mt. Calvary officiating. Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery.

A wake will be held from 7 p.m to 9 p.m Friday at Mt. Calvary.  Arrangements are being handled by Hoven Funeral Home in Buchanan.

 

 

Clark, Infant Son

editor Obituaries

Infant Clark
July 17, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 17, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

The infant son of Mr.and Mrs. Amil Clark, rural route five, was dead at birth this morning at Pawating hospital. Surviving, in addition to the parents, are two brothers, John and Robert, and a sister, Sandre, all at home. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Pifer funeral home. Interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Coffey, Dewey O.

editor Obituaries

Dewey O. Coffey
Oct. 14, 1925-May 13, 1981

Niles Daily Star, Friday, May 15, 1981, page 2 col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Dewey Coffey, 55, formerly of Niles, died at 6 a.m. Wednesday in Waxachachie, Texas following a lengthy illness.

He had been employed as a programmer-analyst for Tyler Refrigeration. He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army.

He was married in 1957 in Plainwell to Janet Crane, who survives.

Also surviving is his mother, Mrs. Madeline Coffey of Mecosta.

He was a member of the Eaton Rapids Masonic Lodge.

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Pifer-Smtih Funeral Home in Niles.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 18, 1981, page 2 col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Dewey O. Coffey, 55, of 2435 Rebecca Lane, Niles, died Wednesday at 6 a.m. at Waxachachie, Texas after a short illness.

A programmer analyst with Tyler Refrigeration Co. in Waxachachie, Coffey was a member of Eaton Rapids Lodge No. 63 F & AM. He was born Oct. 14, 1925 in Eaton Rapids. On Feb. 16, 1957, in Plainwell, he married Janet Crane, who survives.

Also surviving is his mother, Mrs. Madeline Coffey of Mecosta.

Services will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. David Henderson of Westminster United Presbyterian Church officiating.  Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 1 p.m. Sunday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Michigan Heart Fund.



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