Mrs. Pearl Ethel Sherrick
1890-Feb. 24, 1975

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 24, 1975, page 2, col. 7, microfilm, Niles District Library, from K. Alton

Niles – Funeral services were held Sunday in Phoenix, Ariz., for Mrs. Pearl Sherrick, 84, who died Saturday in Phoenix.

Mrs. Sherrick lived most of her lifetime in Niles until moving to Zephyr Hills, Fla., in 1955 and in 1965 to Phoenix. 

Her husband, Joseph E. Sherrick died in 1957.

Survivors include two sons, Larry of Phoenix and Joseph C. Sherrick of Niles; a sister, Mrs. John Lessor of New Buffalo, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Thomas Earl Matthews
Feb. 2, 1930-Dec. 17, 2000

Niles Daily Star, Monday, Dec. 18, 2000; page 2, col. 1, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

Thomas Earl Matthews, 70, of 2381 Cherokee Pointe, Greensboro, Ga., passed away this Sunday in his residence.

Thomas was born on Feb. 2, 1930, to J. Earl Matthews and Laura Elizabeth Dougan Matthews.

He is survived by his wife, Gail Matthews, daughter April E. Matthews, Greensboro, son, Kurt Thomas Matthews, Marietta, Ga., a sister Patricia Lewis, Overland Park, Kan., and brother Richard Matthews, Niles

Thomas had recently moved from Niles to Greensboro in 1998.

He served in the Navy from 1948 to 1949 and again from 1952 to 1954, was a member of the Niles Masonic Lodge and a Kawneer 25-year member as well as a member of the First United Methodist Church and Greensboro. He was a Niles High School graduate and an alumnus of Michigan State University.

Friends may call the McCommon’s Funeral Home at (708) 453-2626.

Family requests that memorial contributions be made to Vistas Hospice, Athens, South Care, PO Box 309, Washington, Ga., or the First Methodist Church of Greensboro.

No Visitation is scheduled.

Kenneth Unger
Dec. 9, 2014 — Dec. 12, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:17am Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Kenneth “Owl” Greyson Unger, three days old, passed away on Friday, Dec. 12, 2014, at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana.

Kenneth, a triplet, arrived prematurely to Lyle and Jennifer (Duncan) Unger on Dec. 9, 2014 in South Bend, Indiana.

Although he did not live years upon this earth, Kenneth’s sweet face will be forever etched on his family’s hearts.

He is survived by his parents, Lyle and Jennifer (Duncan) Unger, Jr. of Niles, his brothers Lyle Unger, III and Liam Unger, paternal grandparents Lyle (Lisa Perkins) Unger, Sr. of Niles, maternal great-grandparents Kenneth and Mary Duncan of Niles, Godmothers Nancy Miller of Watervliet and Amy Gearhart of Edwardsburg, many aunts, uncles, cousins and countless other lives Kenneth has already impacted.

Those wishing to make a memorial donation in honor of Kenneth may do so to NICU at Memorial Hospital or The Ronald McDonald House, both at 615 North Michigan Street, South Bend, IN 46601.

Arrangements for Kenneth have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home.

Note:  Reinterment at Silverbrook July 20, 2015

Liam Unger
Dec. 9, 2014-Dec. 15, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:29am Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Liam “Monkey” Alexander Unger, six days old, passed away on Monday, December 15, 2014 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana.

Liam, a triplet, arrived prematurely to Lyle and Jennifer (Duncan) Unger on Dec. 9, 2014 in South Bend, Indiana.

Although he did not live years upon this earth, Liam’s sweet face will be forever etched on his family’s hearts.

He was preceded in death by his brother Kenneth Unger just three days prior.

He is survived by his parents, Lyle and Jennifer (Duncan) Unger, Jr. of Niles, his brother Lyle Unger III, paternal grandparents Lyle (Lisa Perkins) Unger, Sr. of Niles, maternal great-grandparents Kenneth and Mary Duncan of Niles, Godmothers Nancy Miller of Watervliet and Amy Gearhart of Edwardsburg, many aunts, uncles, cousins and countless other lives Kenneth has already impacted.

Those wishing to make a memorial donation in honor of Liam may do so to NICU at Memorial Hospital or The Ronald McDonald House.

Arrangements for Liam have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home.

Note:  Reinterment at Silverbrook July 20, 2015

Lyle Gene Unger, of Niles
Dec. 9, 2014 — Dec. 20, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:23am Monday, December 22, 2014

Wilbert C. Thomas, of Niles
Nov. 16, 1928 — July 8, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:19am Friday, July 10, 2015

Wilbert C. Thomas, 86, of Niles Daily Star, Published 9:19am Friday, July 10, 2015Niles, Michigan died at 10:47 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, 2015, at Silverbrook Manor in Niles, Michigan following a brief illness.

He was born on Nov. 16, 1928, in Holland, Kentucky to Porter Lee and Mary Matheny (Meadows) Thomas. He served his country in the United States Army for nine years, earning the rank of Master Sergeant.

Bill moved to Michigan in 1963, coming from Bowling Green, Kentucky. He owned and operated Buchanan Upholstery, in Buchanan, Michigan and was then employed by Modineer in Niles, from which he retired in 1993, after 17 years of service.

Bill was a member of the Northeastern Harley Motorcycle Association, and the Gold Wing Road Riders Association. He enjoyed camping with his family, especially “up-north” in Michigan, and watching wildlife.

On Aug. 16, 1980, in Niles, he married the former Lucia A. Riddle with whom he celebrated last year the 34th anniversary of their wedding.

He is survived by his wife, Lucia Thomas and by his children, Ronnie Thomas of Minong, Wisconsin, Wilbert (Patty) Thomas, Jr. of Gulfport, Mississippi, Donnie Ray (Anna) Thomas of Princeton, Minnesota, Porter Ray (June) Thomas of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and Darla Sue Knuth of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota; Lucia’s children, Karen (Seamus) Cochran of Buchanan, Michigan, Leslie Wood and Mike Kirk, both of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Roderick (Judy Young) Boyle of Niles, and Andrea Connors of Fort Myers, Florida; 19 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren; Bill’s brother Joe Fred (Wanda) Thomas of Bowling Green, Kentucky, and many nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, step-son Quinn Kirk, and brothers Herbert, Gilbert, Caulkin, Ross, Robert, Ray, Ralph, Stanley, Roger, and Arthur Thomas.

The funeral service for Wilbert Thomas will be at 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 12, 2015, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor Rob McPhearson of First United Methodist Church in Buchanan, officiating. Committal will be on Monday at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and will conclude with Full Military Honors by the United States Army Honor Guard and American Legion Post No. 51 of Buchanan.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the funeral home beginning at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Contributions in memory of Bill may be made to the Hospice at Home. www.halbritterfunerals.com