Fred Schier
April 13, 1869-Dec. 31, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 31, 1945, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Fred Schier, 76, Succumbs Today

Fred Schier, 903 Ferry street, a resident of Niles for 36 years, died early today at the Berrien county hospital, Berrien Center, at the age of 76.

Born in Germany, April 13, 1869, he came to the Untied States at the age of six and lived in Three Oaks bfoere[sic] moving to Niles.

Survivors, in addition to the widow, Louisa, are a son, Louis, at home; two daughters, Mrs. Clifford Shirk and Mrs. Clifton Fay, both of Nles; two sisters, Mrs. John Williams, Niles, and a Mrs. Matt Powell, Plymouth, Mich., an a brother, William, of Belleville, Kas.

Several grandchildren and one great grand son also survive. One daughter, Mrs. Claude Fay, preceded her father in death.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home where services will be conducted Wednesday at 2 p.m. The Rev. Theo Eisen will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

John F. Williams
March 12, 1861-Dec. 28, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 28, 1945, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

John F. Williams Dies Early Today

John F. Williams, 84, a resident of Niles the greater part of his life, died at 3:15 a.m. Today in his home at 1334 Ferry street. He had been ill two weeks.

Born in Cass county, March 12, 1861, he came to Niles as a youth and made his home here since then. He was a retired painter and a former railroad employe.

In addition to his wife, Mary, whom he married in Three Oaks, August 17, 1886, he is survived by a daughter, Mrs. [illegible]. .berg, South Bend, and five sons: Henry, of South Bend, and Filbert, Benjamin, Lloyd and Edgar, all of Niles.

Funeral services will be held Monday at 2 p.m. at the Kiger funeral home where friends may call Saturday and Sunday. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery and the Rev. William Putnam will officiate.

Justina B. Palmer
Feb. 11, 1832-Aug. 15, 1888

The Republican (Niles, Michigan), Thursday, August 23, 1888, page 4, col. 3 (microfilm Niles District Library)

OBITUARY

Died in this city, Aug. 15, 1888, after a painful illness of several weeks, Justina B., wife of Harvey Palmer, in her 57th year.
The deceased was a daughter of Chad Brown and wife, deceased, and was their last surviving child.
She was born in York State February 11, 1832, and while she was yet a small child, her parents took up their abode in the vicinity of the then thriving village of Bertrand, about the time Michigan sought admission to the Union.

She has spent the greater part of her life in and about Niles, and was too well and favorably known in th community to need words of encomium from us at this time.

About 1850, she was married to a Mr. A. B. Young, and two sons were born unto them. Mr. Young died in a few years and the younger of the sons a few years later. The old one, L.C. Young, of Chicago, surviving to bear the loss of a devoted, loving mother.

In May, 1881, she accepted the hand of Harvey Palmer in matrimony with whom she lived in devotion and faithful companionship until her death.

In this dispensation a home has been robbed of its light and sole attraction, and a heart again made desolate. The husband parts with a devoted, loving wife, a son buries from his sight his fond mother, to whom he had ever been a dutiful son, and these suffering ones are entitled to the sympathies of the community in which the deceased was known.

Her nobility of character, her Christian fidelity, her unselfish charitableness had won for her a host of friends, many of whom attested their regard for her in many kind offices for her relief during her last illness.

In her death the Methodist society and church lose a consistent, devoted member. She died in a full faith of a blessed immortality, joyfully anticipating a blissful reunion with her dear ones gone before. She was laid to rest in Silver Brook Cemetery to await the assembling of the just at the last day.

Niles Democrat (Niles, Michigan), Saturday, August 25, 1888, page 5, col. 1
(microfilm Niles District Library)

Mr. L.C. Young of Chicago, was called here on Wednesday by the illness of his mother Mrs. Harvey Palmer.

Niles Democrat (Niles, Michigan), Saturday, August 25, 1888, page 5, col. 2
(microfilm Niles District Library)

Mrs. Justava [sic] B. Palmer, wife of Harvey Palmer, Esq., died at her residence.

Justena Batson Putnam
Sept. 29, 1861-Dec. 29, 1945

News-Palladium, Monday, December 29, 1945, page 14, col. 6

Mrs. Justena Putnam Taken By Death At 84

Mrs. Justena Batson Putnam, 84, 172 Lake avenue, died at Mercy hospital at 8 p.m. Saturday. She had been in failing health for the past year.

She was born in Bertrand, Sept. 29, 1861 and lived in this vicinity her entire life.

Mr. Putnam, who was accidenty[sic] killed in a flour mill in Fremont, which he operated, had the ownership and manager of other mills in Shanghai, Baroda and engaged in the milling business in Benton Harbor with the firm of H.P. Boehm & Co.

Mrs. Putnam lived from 1913 to 1939 with two sons in South Have, when she moved to her her Lake avenue residence here.

She leaves three sons, Harold and Frank of Benton Harbor and Albert, South Bend; two sisters, Mrs. Gertrude Estes, Benton Harbor, and Miss Lena Batson, Chicago; three grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Florin funeral home, the Rev. Glenn M. Frye, Methodist church pastor officiating. Burial will be in silver Creek cemetery, Niles.

Betty Viola Colcord-Jewell, of Buchanan
April 5, 1940-Dec. 6, 2018

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:35 am Thursday, December 6, 2018

Betty Viola Colcord-Jewell, 78, of Buchanan, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles.

She was born April 5, 1940, in South Bend, to Ralph K. and Edith McHone. Betty attended and graduated from Niles High School.

Betty Viola Colcord-Jewell

On Dec. 18, 1959, she married Norman D. Colcord; later in life she married Jim Jewell, whom both preceded her in death.

Betty is survived by her children, Diana (Robin) Herwick, David (Janice) Colcord, Melody (Mark) Mercado; sister, Virginia (Herbert) Yost; brother, Ralph Jr. (June) McHone; grandchildren, Brianne (David), Justin (Stephanie), Anthony, Ronnie (Amanda), Annieta, Arielle, Blake, Sarah, Alannah; and 12 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph K. and Edith; and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral service for Betty will be at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018, at Hoven Funeral Home Inc., Buchanan.

Visitation will be two hours prior to the service. Burial will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, PO Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142. Online condolences may be made at hovenfunerals.com.

Thomas DeForest, Sr.
June 17, 1934-Dec. 23, 2018

Thomas O. DeForest, 84, of Niles, passed away at The Chalet of Niles on Sunday, December 23, 2018.

He was born on June 17, 1934 in Plymouth, Indiana to the late Garold and Thelma DeForest.

 On August 29, 1954 he wed Donna Belle Robbins at a ceremony in Niles and to that union three children were born. Thomas enjoyed hunting, golf, bowling and was an avid Notre Dame and Chicago Cubs fan.

 Thomas was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Donna Belle DeForest; a grandson, Nick Hansen and a sister, Sharon Holmes.

 He is survived by sons, Thomas (Fawn) DeForest Jr. and Tim DeForest; daughter, Debra (Gene) Hansen all of Niles; eight grandchildren, Thomas DeForest III, Robert DeForest, Mary (Tony) Johns, Jamie (Chuck) Stockton, Mindy Hansen, Steven DeForest, Christopher (Jaymee) DeForest and Amanda (David) Fuller; fifteen great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren; twin brother, Richard DeForest Sr; a sister, Jackie (Bob) Hess and a sister-in-law, Emma Summers all of Niles.

 Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 27, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home with a time of visitation one hour prior. An interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

 Memorial contributions in his memory may be directed to the Berrien County Cancer Services.

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