Mayo Elder
July 17, 1907-Nov. 23, 1995

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, November 25, 1995, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Mayo Elder
1907-1995
Worked in a cotton gin in Tennessee

Funeral services for May Elder, 88, of 1422 N. 11th, Niles will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at Mount Calvary Baptist church, Niles by the Rev. W.L. Daniel.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Mr. Elder died at 4 a.m. Thursday at home of natural causes.

He was born July 17, 1907 in Gibbons County, Tenn. and had lived in Niles since 1984.

He was a laborer in a cotton gin in Tennessee, and was a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church.

Survivors include one sister, Minnie Irvin of Indianapolis, Ind.; two sons, Thomas Elder of Kalamazoo and Billy Ray Elder of Dallas; and one daughter, Mary Esley of Niles.

One daughter, Johnnie Mae Porter, preceded him in death in 1985.

Friends may call at the church from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday.

Margaret M. Contois
Aug. 9, 1910-Nov. 25, 1995

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 27, 1995, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Margaret M. Contois
1910-1995
helped establish for School for Exceptional Children in Niles

Funeral services for Margaret M. Contois, 85, of 1605 Broadway, Niles, will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles by the Rev. Nolan R. Williams of Wesley United Methodist Church, Niles.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Mrs. Contois died at 2:21 a.m. Saturday at Country Home Adult Foster Care in Niles, following an extended illness.

She was born Aug. 9, 1910 at Eau Claire, and had lived in this area all her life.

On Jan. 26, 1942, in Allen County, Ohio, she married George T. Contois, who died March 29, 1989.

Mrs. Contois was co-owner of the former Contois Hardware Stare in Niles.

She was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church. She participated in many community service and social activities including helping to establish the former School for Exceptional Children in Niles, and the Niles Garden Club.

Survivors include several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in Death by two brothers, William Howard LaMore and Weldon P. "Pete" LaMore.

Friends may call at the funeral home today from 6-8 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Blossomland Learning Center.

Blossom Eisele
Nov. 6, 1914-April 14, 1915

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 14, 1915, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Blossom, five months' old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Eisele of Barrett street, died of pluro pneumonia this morning at 9 o'clock. The funeral arrangements are pending the arrival of relatives. A brother, Fred, ill with pneumonia at Sumnerville, has sufficiently recovered to be able to come here for the funeral.

Lowell Thompson
Aug. 29, 1936 — June 27, 2011

Lowell N. “Butch” Thompson, 74, of Merrifield Avenue, Niles, died at 9:50 p.m. Monday, June 27, 2011 at his home following an extended illness.

He was born Aug. 29, 1936 in Niles to William Lloyd Thompson and Linnie Lillian (Coomes) Thompson. Butch lived in Niles all his life.

He was a retired employee of Riblets Manufacturing in Elkhart, Ind. He was a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose and the Niles Senior Center. He enjoyed carpentry in his wood shop at home and camping, especially at Marcellus.

He married Bonnie Netta (Rankin) Thompson on Aug. 15, 1959 in Niles. She died Nov. 19, 1994.

He was also preceded in death by his brothers: Robert Thompson, who died Feb. 1, 2002; Raymond Thompson, who died Sept. 21, 1990; and Roy Thompson, Sr., who died July 2, 1991.

He is survived by his daughters, Janet Hubbard of Pineville, Ark. and Debbie (Ed) Jasinski of Edwardsburg; a sister, Virginia Harwood of Niles; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at noon Friday, July 1 at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Janet Van Lear of Buchanan officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Friends may call beginning at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 8:58pm Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Floyd Walter Bright
June 3, 1882-May 21, 1946

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 22, 1946, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Floyd W. Bright, 63, Dies Tuesday; Was Ill Three Years

Floyd Walter Bright, 63, of 856 North Eighth Street, died Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. in his home after an illness of three years.

Born in Lake Station, Ind., June 3, 1882, he came to Niles from Galesburg, Mich., in 1911 and worked here as a railroad car inspector. He was married in Galesburg in 1904 to Catherine Wood.  Bright was a member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Carmen of America.

Survivors are is wife; four children, Wayne, Donald, and LeRoy, all of Niles, and Mrs. Dorothy Brown, Chelsea; and a sister, Mrs. Minnie Hall, Kalamazoo.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home until the services Friday at 2 p.m. where the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

George H. Zwergel
April 13, 1893-March 20, 1970

Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 20, 1970, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--George H. (Polly) Zwergel, 76, of 965 S. 13th St., died at 8 am. today in Pawating Hospital, where he had been patient for the past five weeks.

Born April 13, 1893, in Niles, Mr. Zwergel had lived here all his life.

He was a World War I veteran, a life member of the Niles Elks Lodge and a member of the Four Flags Barracks No. 1093, Veterans of  World War I.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Father Vincent A. Anderson of the Trinity Episcopal Church officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, with graveside rites by the Elks Lodge.

Friends may call after 7 Saturday night at the funeral home.