Dewey O. Coffey
Oct. 14, 1925-May 13, 1981

Niles Daily Star, Friday, May 15, 1981, page 2 col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Dewey Coffey, 55, formerly of Niles, died at 6 a.m. Wednesday in Waxachachie, Texas following a lengthy illness.

He had been employed as a programmer-analyst for Tyler Refrigeration. He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army.

He was married in 1957 in Plainwell to Janet Crane, who survives.

Also surviving is his mother, Mrs. Madeline Coffey of Mecosta.

He was a member of the Eaton Rapids Masonic Lodge.

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Pifer-Smtih Funeral Home in Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 18, 1981, page 2 col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Dewey O. Coffey, 55, of 2435 Rebecca Lane, Niles, died Wednesday at 6 a.m. at Waxachachie, Texas after a short illness.

A programmer analyst with Tyler Refrigeration Co. in Waxachachie, Coffey was a member of Eaton Rapids Lodge No. 63 F & AM. He was born Oct. 14, 1925 in Eaton Rapids. On Feb. 16, 1957, in Plainwell, he married Janet Crane, who survives.

Also surviving is his mother, Mrs. Madeline Coffey of Mecosta.

Services will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. David Henderson of Westminster United Presbyterian Church officiating.  Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 1 p.m. Sunday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Michigan Heart Fund.

Henrietta Joyce Coffinger
April 13, 1934-July 25, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 26, 1948, page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

3 KILLED IN COUNTY CRASHES

Niles Girl One of Two Victims of US-112 Smash

Cassopolis and Three Oaks Young Men Also Victim of Car Crack-Ups

Three persons were counted dead today in Berrien county traffic mishaps that boosted this county's toll of highway dead to 27.

Two persons, including a young Niles woman, were killed Sunday night in a two-car collision one half mile east of the city limits on US-112. A Three Oaks man was killed when a car in which he was riding struck a tree.

Two Escape Death in Fire

Two other persons escaped a flaming death as they crawled from their overturned car north of Niles on M-40 last night, shortly before the car burst into flames. [See story elsewhere on the page.]

The accident dead are:

Henrietta Joyce Coffinger, 14-year-old daughter of Mr.and Mrs. Frank Coffinger of 627 South Fifth street, Niles.

Arthur J. Eaglesbarger, 20, Cassopolis.

William Eugen Cramer, 27, son of Mr.and Mrs. Clarence Cramer of rural route one, Three Oaks.

Miss Coffinger and Eaglebarger were passengers in a car driven by Hayes W. Smith, 715 Bryant strteet, Niles, which was hit and virtually telescoped by an automobile driven by James William Peak, 1702 Emerson street, South Bend.  Charles Layman, 35, 514 Noline street, South Bend, was a passenger in the Peak vehicle.

Slippery Road Blamed

The accident occured[sic] shortly before 8 p.m. last night. Police said Smith stated a car stopped in front of him, When he applied the brakes, his vehicle skidded across the road in the path of the oncoming vehicle. It has been raining about 15 minutes before the mishap.  The front of the Peak car smashed through the right side of the Hayes auto, throwing the occupants out the left door, officers said.

Miss Coffinger died at 8:45 p.m. after being admitted to Pawating hospital. Eaglebarger was believed to have been killed almost instantly. Smith and Peak both suffered severe lacerations on the face and head. Layman suffered a fractured left arrm, possible jaw fracture and other injuries. All were given a good chance to recover.

Coroner Louis Kerlikowske stated an inquest would be held.

Ninth Grade Student

Born April 13, 1934, in Niles, Miss Coffinger had spent her entire life here. She would have entered the ninth grade at Central high school this fall.

Besides her parents, she is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Doroth Nichols, Niles, Mrs. Annabelle Curtis, Pokagon, and June Coffinger, at home; and six brothers, George Eau Claire, Henry, Benaana, and Frank Thomas, Paul,and Russell, all at home.

Friends will be received at the Kiger funeral home. Services will be held at 2 p.m. . Wednesday at the St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church, of which she was a member. The Rev. Theo Eisen, retired pastor, will officiate,and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 29, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

COFFINGER RITES HELD

Girl friends of Henrietta Joyce Coffinger, 14, acted as pallbearers at last rites conducted for her yesterday in St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church. Interment was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Pallbearers were Patsy Lou Monahon, Lois Kather, Alice Reed, Vivian Geishirt, Jane Rhodes and Beverly Gray. Flower girls were Marilyn Grabner and Verna Geishirt.

Miss Coffinger lost her life in a highway accident last Sunday.

Catherine Corey
Dec. 25, 1872-July 5, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 6, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Catherine Corey, 1535 Hickory street, died at 1 p.m Monday in Pawating hospital, following an illness of five days. She leaves two sons, Frank and Clarence, of Niles and four grandchildren.

Mrs. Corey was born on Dec. 25, 1872, in Germany, and had lived here for the past 65 years.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home. Services will be performed at 9 a.m. by the Rev. Leo Zavatsky at St. Mary's Catholic church. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

The decedent was a member of St. Mary's Rosary society, and members are requested to meet at the Funeral home at 8:30 p.m. tonight for the rosary service.

Irene Craig
March 21, 1913-July 1948

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 10, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Irene Craig, 35, wife of Claude Craig, 515 1/2 Howard street died at Docter's hospital, Benton Harbor, a few hours after entrance. She had been ill for about one month. Born in McPherson, Kansas, March 21, 1913, she moved to Niles 10 years ago making her home with her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Owen, Niles. On June 30 1946, she married Claude Craig in the First Methodist church of Niles. She was a member of the Methodist church of McPherson. Surviving, in addition to her husband and aunt and uncle here, are her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Morrow, McPherson; six brothers, Robert and Everett, Bakerfield, Cal.; James, Texas; Byron and William, of McPherson; and Leray, Indianapolis, Ind.; and five sisters, Betty Morrow, Wyoming; Mrs. Vesta Pugh, Cortez, Colo; Roberta Morrow, Bakersfield; Mrs. Orville Batesel, Wichita, Kansas; and Virgiletta, Boston, Mass. Funeral services will be held at the Kiger funeral home at 2 p.m. Tuesday; the Rev. L.George Beacock, pastor of the First Methodist church will officiate. Interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Vera L. Deditch
May 17, 1921-Aug. 30, 1995

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, August 31, 1995, page 2, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library

Vera L. Deditch
1921-1995
former assistant Howard Township clerk

Funeral services for Vera L. Deditch, 74, of 6935 Paradise Trail, Carp Lake, formerly of Niles, will be Saturday at noon at First Presbyterian Church in Niles by the Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman, pastor, and the Rev. Douglas Vernon of Southfield.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Mrs. Deditch died at 1:55 p.m Wednesday at Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey, following an extended illness.

She was born May 17, 1921, in Niles, and had lived in Carp Lake since 1975, moving there from Niles.

On Feb. 77, 1942, in Niles, she married Dale L. Deditch, who survives.

Mrs. Deditch was a former member of First Presbyterian Church in Niles; a member of Church of the Straits, Mackinaw City; Yankee Street Neighbor's Club; former member of Pawating Hospital Auxiliary; former Lioness of Howard Township Lions' Club; former employee, Montgomery Ward, Niles; and former assistant Howard Township clerk.

In addition to her husband, survivors include two sons, Dale Deditch and Mark L. Deditch, both of Niles; one granddaughter; a step-sister, Coralee Dale of South Bend, Ind.; and a step-brother, Wilbur Meldrim of South Bend.

She was preceded in death by a grandson, Jonathan Deditch, who died Nov. 15, 1994.

Visitation will be from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home, Ind., 2618 W. John Beers Road, Stevensville, MI 49127, or the Niles Community Library.

Emma W. Flower
Died July 16, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 17, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Emma W. Flower, of Keokuk, Ia., died at 1:30 p.m. Friday in Keokuk. Mrs. Flower formerly lived at 513 Broadway and is the widow of the late George Flower, who died on April 1, 1938.

After Mr. Flower's death Mrs. Flower moved to Keokuk to live with her brother, Arnot Weess, who survives, as do several nieces and nephews.

Services will be held in Keokuk before the remains are brought to Niles on Monday. Friends may call at the Kiger funeral Home Monday night. Committal will be at the Mausoleum, and services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Tuesday by the Rev. Harry Laws, acting rector of Trinity Episcopal church.

The family has requested that on[sic] flowers be sent for the committal service.

Mrs. Flower was a member of the Trinity Epoiscopal[sic] church, the Ladies Reading club and the Niles Musical club, as well as St. Agnes guild and the Woman's auxiliary at the Episcopal church. She was also one of the organizers and an atcive[sic] member of the Niles Charity society for many years.