Garst, Amy E. (Cloyes)

Amy E. Garst
Aug. 12, 1908-July 23, 2001

Amy Elizabeth Garst, 92, of South Third Street, and formerly of 913 North Thirteenth Street, Niles, Mich., died at 1:15 a.m. Monday, July 23 , 2001, in Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center, Chicago, Ill. Her final illness began as a stroke on July 9, 2001.

She was born on Aug. 12, 1908, in Elkhart, Ind., to Charles and Jessie Luther (Stultz) Cloyes. On July 21, 1928, in Gary, Ind., she was married to Vern C. Garst. They came to Niles in 1940 from South Bend, Ind. Mr. Garst was well-known in Niles as the owner and operator of several service stations. Mrs. Garst retired in 1982 after 20 years of employment with the Niles Credit Bureau. Mr. Garst died on Feb. 19, 1993, and they were preceded in death by a great-grandson, Scott Garst, who died in 1987.

Mrs. Garst was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Niles. During much of her life she was a skilled seamstress, making a full line of clothing for her family. She also enjoyed making jewelry, writing poetry and reading. Since retirement she had been interested in professional basketball, following on television both the Chicago Bulls and the Women's National Basketball Association, and had gained a reputation for cultivating house plants.

Mrs. Garst is survived by her children, Roger W. (and Mary Ann) Garst of Grand Rapids, Mich., Diana S. (and Doug) Miller of Niles; and by six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. (Mich. time) Saturday, Aug. 11, in the First Presbyterian Church, Niles, with The Reverend Doctor Ronald H. Wakeman officiating. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

There will be no visitation.

Contributions in memory of Amy E. Garst may be made to The Foundation of First Presbyterian Church, Niles.

Arrangements are by the Halbritter Funeral Home.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown