Eugene R. Fender
Oct. 18, 1927-Oct. 21, 1994

Eugene R. Fender, 67, of 1409 Jeannine Court, Niles,  died at 11:55 p.m. Friday in Pawating Hospital of natural causes.  Mr. Fender was assistant branch manager of Standard Federal Savings Bank and was a savings officer. He was born Oct. 18, 1927, in South Bend, and was a lifelong area resident.  On June 1, 1968, in Niles, he married Shirley Fender.  She survives with a daughter, Karena Nygaard of Fort Wayne; a grandson; a sister, Elaine K. Leidy of Niles; and a brother, Richard D. of Niles.  A son, Kevin M. Jones, died Sept. 22, 1987. He was a member of St. Paul's Church choir, Salvation Army advisory board and was a U.S. Army veteran.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the church. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday in Halbritter Funeral Home.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Florence R. Feather
Nov. 26, 1905-May 29, 1996

Florence R. (Zordel) Feather, 90, of 13053 Gardner Road, Buchanan, died at 10:10 a.m. Wednesday (May 29,l 1996) in Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph, of natural causes.  Mrs. Feather was born Nov. 26, 1905, in St. Joseph. She married Alford Zordel, who died in 1956. On April 11, 1992, she married Andrew Feather.  He survives with a daughter, Mary Campbell of Lawton; a son, Donald Zordel of South Haven, Mich.; four grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.  She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Niles.

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday in Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, Niles. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the church foundation.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

James Roy Farris
Feb. 17, 1924-Aug. 24, 2007

James Roy Farris of Niles, Michigan, died at 83 after a brief illness on Friday, August 24, 2007.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 28, 2007, in the Hoven Funeral Home in Buchanan, Michigan, with his nephew, Rev. Charles Guinn from Tennessee, officiating.

His family will receive friends on Monday, August 27th, from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Hoven Funeral Home.

He will be laid to rest at Silverbrook Cemetery .

Jim was born Feb. 17, 1924, in Tullahoma, TN. He is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Alice Farris of Niles.

He has two daughters, Judy Richter of Strawberry Plains, TN, and Monica Gould of Stevensville, MI. Two stepsons, Joe Sarratore of South Bend and Jack Coffinger from Edwardsburg. Eight grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

He worked for UniRoyal in Michigan and retired after 36 years.

He served his country proudly in the United States Air Force infantry during World War Two.

He was a proud member of the American Legion in Edwardsburg.

There will be a dinner after the funeral at the Eagles Lodge on Sycamore in Niles.

Special Thanks to Steve Gillispie, his grandson, for the loving care and help that he has given.

Richard E. Farrell
December 15, 1913-July 12, 2007

Mr. Richard E. Farrell, 93, of East Main Street, Niles, died at 3:15 p.m. Thursday, July 12, in Our Lady of Peace Hospital, South Bend, following a brief illness.

Mr. Farrell was born on December 15, 1913, in Grand Rapids, MI, to Fred buckle and Letha Millard. He was later adopted and was raised in Hartford, MI, graduating from Hartford High School. He came to Niles in the 1940s, and was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army.

He was a machinist, working in several area shops, and then owning and operating his own. He also owned and operated gasoline service stations in Niles.

Mr. Farrell was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, South Bend, a member of the American Legion Post #26 and the B.P.O. of Niles Elks Lodge #1322, both in Niles, and the Loyal Order of Moose #449, Buchanan, MI.

He was an active sportsman all of his life, golfing and bowling in area leagues. He also played for and assisted in managing minor league teams of the Chicago Clubs, and the House of David. An article and photograph about Mr. Farrell was published in the July 1989 issue of Sports Illustrated. He remained a fan of the Cubs all of his life.

He was first married to the former Ethel Lillian Moser. Later, on May 21, 1977, in Niles, he married the former Margaret V. (Huse) Heiermann, who survives. Also surviving are three daughters and a son, Jacki Bonebright of Kalamazoo, Jo Ann Farrell of Stockbridge, MI, Richard E. Farrell of Los Angeles, CA, and Margo (Ed) MacGregor of Stillwater, OK; 14 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son, John Heiermann in 2002, and by two brothers, Robert Farrell and Robert Harvey; and a sister, Geri Fike.

The funeral service for Mr. Richard F. Farrell will be at 2 p.m. Monday, July 16, in Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Pastor Karen Brugler of Westminster Presbyterian Church, South Bend, officiating, assisted by Pastor Barbara Wirt of South Bend. Committal services will follow at the graveside at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, and will conclude with the veteran's Flag Presentation and "Taps" by American Legion Post #26, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home, with rites by the Elks Lodge at 7:30 p.m.

Contributions in memory of Richard Farrell may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Omarri Akeem Allen

September 17, 2008-March 1, 2009

Omarri Akeem Allen, 5 months, of North 5th Street in Niles died Sunday March 1, 2009. Omarri was born in Niles, Michigan on September 17, 2008 to Jaquatia Allen and George Donley. He is preceded in death by his grandparents Preston and Lucille Donley.

Omarri is survived by his parents Jaquatia Allen and George Donley, brother Jatwon Jaque Dipree Wade, step siblings Tyisha Donley, Tevin Moffitt and Deserae Donley and grandparents Cinderella Allen and Calvin King.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 6, 2009 at 11am at Brown Funeral Home in Niles.  Omarri will be interred at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Condolences, photos and memories may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Niles.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Melvin D. Evick
June 17, 1920-March 5, 2006

Melvin C. "Mel" Evick, 85, formerly of Oak Street; Niles, Michigan, died at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, March 5, 2006, at West Woods of Niles due to an extended illness.

Mr. Evick was born on June 17, 1920, in Niles, Michigan, to Carl F. and Lena M. (Doehrer) Evick. He was a lifelong Niles resident.  Retiring after 35 years, Mel served as acting treasurer of Niles Chemical Paint.

Following his 1939 graduation from Niles High School, Mr. Evick attained the rank of master sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps during W.W.II.  He was a member of American Legion Post #26, Niles.  For over eight years, Mel was active as coach in Niles' F.O.P. Little League Baseball program.  He was a member of the Fort Saint Joseph Historical Association.

On October 21, 1944, in Niles, Mel married Margaret 'Meg' (Curtis) Evick, who survives.  Also surviving are three sons, Bruce (Nancy) Evick of Niles, David (Cheryl) Evick of Lawrence, Michigan, and Ross Michael Evick of Paw Paw, Michigan.  Mel enjoyed his three grandsons, Kip, Cody and Ryan Evick; and his granddaughter, Morgan Evick.

Additional survivors include two brothers, Clayton (Kathy) Evick and Richard (Helen) Evick; his sister, Shirley (Howard) Killarney, all of Niles; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Melvin C. Evick will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 10, 2006, in the First Presbyterian Church, with Mr. Raymond Fulbright, assistant to the minister of the church, officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery with a military flag presentation by American Legion Post #26 of Niles. The family will receive friends in the Halbritter Funeral Home Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.

Contributions in memory of Mr. Evick may be made to the Foundation of the First Presbyterian Church of Niles.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown