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.

Gobble, Irene M.

Irene M. Gobble
Nov. 20, 1910-June 5, 1990


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, June 6, 1990, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Irene M. Gobble, 79, of 584 N. Clark St., Niles, are at 2 p.m. Friday at the Halbritter Funeral Home by Pastor Rodger L. Peck of the First Missionary Church.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Ms. Gobble died at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Silverbrook Manor in Niles following an extended illness.

Ms. Gobble was born Nov. 20, 1910, in Ellisville, Ark., and had lived in Niles since 1940, coming from Arkansas. She was preceded in death by two brothers.

Survivors include two sisters, Margaret Bailey and Geneva Sigfrids, both of Niles; and seveal nieces and nephews.

Friends may call from 1 to 2 pm. Friday at the funeral home.

 

Miller, Theodore

Theodore Miller
June 12, 1924-June 5, 1990


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, June 7, 1990, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Theodore Miller, 65, of 2913 Adams Road, Niles, are at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Mount Calvary Baptist church in Niles by the Rev. W.L. Daniel, pastor of Mount Calvary Baptist Church.

Burial will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery.

Miller was dead on arrival at Pawating Hospital Tuesday afternoon after an tree fell on him while cutting firewood.

Miller was born June 12, 1924 in Hermitage, Ark., and had lived in the area since 1955, coming from Arkansas.

He retired in 1982 from Clark Equipment Company where he was employed as a machinest[sic]. He was affiliated with the Mount Calvary Baptist Church.

On Nov. 14, 1952, in South Bend, Ind., he married Mary B. McCorkle, who survives him.

Also surviving are his mother, Luella Miller of Niles; five daughters, Lynnette Lottie and Carol Jean King, both of South Bend, Ind., Penny Miller of Fresno, Calif., Linda Harold of Colombus[sic], Ohio, and Vicki White, Oakland, Calif.; a son, Danny Quinn of South Bend; a sister, Julia Osborn of Niles; and a grandchild.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.

 

McKamey, Wayne E.

Wayne E. McKamey
April 30, 1922-June 6, 1990


Niles Daily Star, Friday, June 8, 1990, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Wayne E. McKamey, 68, of 1126 Fort St., Niles, died at 6:55 a.m. Wednesday at the Veteran's Administration Medical center in Ann Arbor, following an extended illness.

A private committal servcie will be held at a later date.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

McKamey was born April 30, 1922 in Cloverdale, Ind., and had lived in Niles since 1934, coming from Greencastle, Ind. He was employed as a supervisor of a tool and die shop.

McKamey was a veteran of World War II, having served in the United States Army. He was a member of the American Legion Post 26, the Niles Disabled American Veterans, Wolverine State 33, the Niles Fraternal Order of Police and the Niles Lodge 95.

On April 26, 1975, he married Theresa McCartney, who survives him.

Also surviving are a daughter, Sandra Powell of Richmond, Ind.; a son, Timothy Wayne McKamey of South Bend, Ind.; a step-son, Delbert "Mike" Werner of South Bend; a sister, Barbara Fleming of Lincoln, Neb.; a brother, David Stone of Statesville N.C.; and seven grandchildren.

Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home of Niles. Memorial contributions may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service.

 

Bloyd, Forrest E.

Forrest E. Bloyd
March 29, 1917-June 15, 1990


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, June 16, 1990, page 2, col. 1-1, microfilm Niles District Library

Services for Forrest E. Bloyd, 73, of 1734 Howard St., in Niles, are 3 p.m. Monday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles by the Rev. Robert E. Jackson of the First Church of God.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Bloyd died at 7:39 p.m. at Pawating Hospital in Niles after an extended illness.

He was a member of the First Church of God and a 22-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, retiring as captain.

Bloyd was born March 29, 1917 in Toulon, Ind. and had lived in Niles since coming from Brownstown, Ind., in 1987.

On March 28, 1942, he married Evelyn W. Bedell in Holyoke, Mass., who survives him.

Survivors include daughters, Karen Tilbury of Niles; Bobbye Foster of New Delhi, India; son James Bloyd of North Bend, Wash.; brothers, Roger Bloyd of Anderson, Ind.; James Bloyd of Bedford, Ind.; 11 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren.

Friends may call one hour prior to funeral service at Halbriter[sic] Funeral HOme.

Memorials may be given to the First Church of God.

 

Dorn, Edith Ruth

Edith Ruth Dorn
Feb. 7, 1912-April 3, 1912


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, April 4, 1912, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for the infant child of Mr. and Mrs. John Dorn were held at the  home, 1015 Lake street, this morning at 10 o'clock. Rev. R.A. Wright officiating. Interment at Silver Brook cemetery.

Note: Additional information from Michigan Death record.

 

Himes, Robert Loran

Robert Loran Himes
Nov. 24, 1911-April 4, 1912

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 6, 1912, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Robert Loran Himes, infant son of Mr.and Mrs. Loran Himes, 748 South Main street, South Bend, died Thursday night at 10:40 o'clock. The child was born November 24, 1911. The body was brought to Niles and the funeral was held today.

Ballard, Ellen Jane (Chapman)

Ellen Jane Ballard
Aug. 11, 1837-April 5, 1912


Niles Daily Sun, Saturday, April 6, 1912, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. ELLEN J. BALLARD

Her death terminates a long and useful life

 

Mrs. Ellen J. Ballard, whose death occurred at her home southwest of the city April 5th, was born Aug. 11, 1837, near Moccasin Bluff, north of Buchanan, at a time when the neighbors were mostly Indians, and the bear, deer and wolf were still plentiful in the woods about her home.

When she was a little child her parents, Arvin and Clarissa Sprague Chapman moved to Ohio, but not being satisfied with that location soon returned, making the trip both ways by wagon.

Several years of her early life were spent at the log house on the little farm by the St. Joseph river, below Moccasin Bluff, and the rest of her girlhood was spent in Niles, where she was married to Milton M. Ballard April 17, 1855.

In 1857 they moved to the farm, which her husband and his brother, Otis W. bought and which has ever since been her home.

On Dec. 21, 1871 her husband died.

Her life was devoted to her family and friends, to many of whom, the days spent with her at "The Farm" are among their dearest recollections.

Of her four boys, Edward M., Fred, Harry and Ralph, three survive her.

Fred Ballard of Berwyn, Ill., and Harry and Ralph, who together with their uncle, Otis W. conduct the farm.

Besides the children there are five grandchildren who will miss her, Mary Esther, Edward M., Frances and Alice of Berwyn, Ill., and Donald T., of Niles.

Of her six brothers and sisters, four are left, Mrs. Clara Griswold of Niles, Mrs. Alice J. Anderson and Mrs. Emma Brookfield of Oakland, Calif., and Frank Chapman of Delta, Colo.

The funeral will be held from the home Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock.


Same appeared in Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 6, 1912, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library under headline "SUDDEN DEATH OF MRS. ELLEN J. BALLARD, An Old and Respected Citizen of Niles Passes Away."