Wayne Baxter, 85
Aug. 23, 1925 — March 8, 2011

Wayne J. Baxter, 85, of Cherry Street in Niles, died at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at his home following an extended illness.

He was born Aug. 23, 1925 in Angola, Ind. to Harley Baxter and Nellie (Gaffney) Baxter. He lived most of his life in Niles.

He was a CB radio enthusiast and enjoyed listening to police scanners. He loved to feed the birds and squirrels.

He married Marjorie L. (Shriner) Baxter on Oct. 28, 1950. She died March 21, 1989.

Surviving family includes his sons, Danny (Ruth Ann) Baxter, Jack (Anne) Baxter of Niles and Dick (Betty) Baxter of Mishawaka, Ind.; daughters, Linda (Paul) Hess of Niles, Betty (Roland) Arndt of Mishawaka and Rose Mitchell of New Carlisle, Ind.; 23 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Patty Willard, who died May 9, 2005; two brothers and two sisters.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, March 11, 2011 at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor Scott Labbe, chaplain of Lakeland Hospice, officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Friends may call one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the donor’s choice.

Niles Daily Star, Published online  11:34pm Thursday, March 10, 2011, paper Friday, March 11, 2011, page 2

Richard Heckelsberg, 74
Feb. 1, 1937 — March 11, 2011

Richard Heckelsberg, 74, of Niles, passed away on Friday, March 11, 2011 at his residence with his family by his side.

Services will be held on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home with a time of visitation two hours prior. Pastor Allan Poage will officiate the service. An interment will follow the services at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home, 4025 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph, MI 49085 or Pet Refuge, 2300 W. 6th Street, Mishawaka, IN 46544.

Condolences, photos, and memories may be left for the family at www.brownfuneralhomeniles.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 3:59pm Sunday, March 13, 2011; paper March 14, 2011, page 2

Goldie B. Ralston, 100
March 16, 1910 — March 11, 2011

Goldie B. Ralston, 100, of Bell Road in Niles, died at 4:20 p.m. Friday, March 11, 2011 at Riveridge Manor in Niles following a brief illness.

She was born on March 16, 1910 in Plymouth, Ind. to Benjamin Franklin and Elizabeth (Born) Zehner and graduated from Plymouth High School in 1929. She has lived in Niles since 1942, coming from South Bend.

Goldie was a member of the Niles Chapter 332, Order of the Eastern Star. She enjoyed the outdoors and gardening and helping her family and neighbors.

On March 10, 1934 in South Bend she married Marshall Paul Ralston who preceded her in death on May 19, 1976. She was also preceded in death by a son, Eugene Ralston and by six sisters and brothers, Florence, Harvey, Ethel, Burke and Harold, Merle, Don and Reo Zehner.

Surviving family includes her children, Anne B. (C. Grover) Williams of Eden, North Carolina and Marilynn Barbour, Lila (Gary) Wallace and Edwin (Joyce) Ralston all of Niles; 17 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; her brother, Wayne Zehner of Plymouth and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Goldie Ralston will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor Jim Wing of First Baptist Church officiating.

Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with Eastern Star Rites at 7:30 p.m. by Niles Chapter 332.

Contributions in memory of Goldie may be made to the Niles Chapter 332, Order of the Eastern Star.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 4:03pm Sunday, March 13, 2011, paper Monday, March 14, page 2.

Miss Augusta Louise Vought
1853-January 11, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, January 11, 1936, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH TAKES AGED PIONEER WOMAN

Miss Augusta Louise Vought, 82, Dies at Hickory Street Home

Miss Augusta Louise Vought, 917 Hickory street, died Saturday morning at 7:15 o'clock at her home. Miss Vought, who was 82 years old, had spent her entire life in Niles.

She leaves a sister, Mrs. Linda E. Landon, of East Lansing, and two nephews, Rufus Landon, Detroit, and Lee Landon,  Gary, Ind.

The body was taken to the Price and Kiger funeral home, where services will be held Monday morning at 10 o'clock. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson, rector of Trinity Episcopal church, of which Miss Vought was a member, will officiate, and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Friends of the family are asked to call at the Price and Kiger funeral home until the hour of the services.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 13, 1936, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

VOUGHT SERVICE TODAY

Funeral services were held this morning at 10 o'clock in the Price and Kiger funeral home for Miss Augusta Louise Vought, who died Saturday morning at her home, 917 Hickory street.  Miss Vought, who was 81 years old, has been a lifelong resident of Niles. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson officiated and burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Ora Vought
June 8, 1859-Feb. 4, 1915

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, February 4, 1915, page 4, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library

ORA VOUGHT CALLED BY DEATH THIS MORNING

Well Known Citizen Had Been in Poor Health Some Time

The death of Ora Vought occurred this morning at the home, 907 Hickory street. Mr. Vought has been in poor health for several weeks. Last week he went to South Bend and was given an X-ray examination, the conclusion of the physician being that he was suffering from ulceration of the bowels, and that an early operation might be advisable.  Returning home, Mr. Vought was taken with a sinking spell and he has steadily failed unitl death released him this morning.

Mr. Vought leaves two sisters, Miss Gussie Vought of this city, with whom he made his home, and Mrs. Linda Landon, librarian at Michigan Agricultural college, Lansing.  Their mother died some time ago.

Mr. Vought was never married. He was well known as a competent workman in his line, that of carriage trimming.  The funeral arrangements had not been made this afternoon.

Jane Carr Vought
July 4, 1831-November 16, 1912

Niles Daily Sun, Saturday, November 16, 1912, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. VOUGHT WAS BORN IN MID-OCEAN

Resident of Niles for 50 years died this morning. Daughter of English Sea Captain

Mrs. Jane C. Vought, a resident of Niles for a half centtury[sic], passed away about 12:35 o'clock this morning at her home, 907 Hickory street. Mrs. Vought's health had been failing for several years but her last illness was about 10 day's duration.  The immediate cause of death was pneumonia.

Mrs. Vought was 81 years of age. She was of English parentage and was the daughter of an English sea captain.  She was born July 4, 1831, on board her father's vessel as the family was crossing the Atlantic ocean. For several years the family resided in New York City where the death of both parents occurred.

In 1862, Mr. and Mrs. Vought came to Niles from Centerville, Mich., and she had resided her since continuously until her death.

Mrs. Vought is survived by two daughters and one son, who are Mrs. Linda Landon, librarian at the Michigan Agricultural College, Lansing, Miss Gussie and Ora Vaught of Niles.

The demise of Mrs. Vought removes a pioneer and well known resident and one held in high esteem by many friends.

The funeral will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the  residence.  Rev. George Huntington of Trinity Episcopal church will officiate.  Interment will occur at Silver Brook cemetery beside those of her late husband Justus Vought who passed away a number of years ago.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, November 16, 1912, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

DEMISE OF MRS. J.C. VOUGHT

Mrs. J. C. Vought, 907 Hickory street, died at 12:34 o'clock last night.

Jane C. Carr was born July 4, 1831 on the Atlantic ocean, while her parents were enroute from England to America. They removed from New York when she was a mere child and came to Niles 60 years ago.

In 1847, she was united in marriage with Justus T. Vought, who died in 1882.  To this union were born three children, Gussie L. and Ora L. of Niles and Mrs. Linda E. Landon, librarian at the M.A.C. in Lansing.

The deceased has two grandsons, Rufus W. Landon of Gatun, Panama, and Lee B. Landon of Elwood, Ind.

The funeral will take place at the home Monday at 2 p.m.  Rev. George Huntington officiating. Interment at Silver Brook cemetery.