Gary Cook
November 5, 1948-August 23, 2009

Mr. Gary Elton Cook, 60, formerly of Niles, MI, died on Sunday, August 23, 2009, following an illness.

He was born on November 5, 1948, in Allegan, MI, to Charles Willis and Virginia M. (Rodgers) Cook. He graduated from Niles High School in 1966 and had lived in Niles most of his life. He was self-employed as an electronics repair technician and was a member of the International Society of Certified Electronic Technicians.

Gary attended Hope College, Holland, MI, and Ferris State University, Big Rapids University, MI, and earned the bachelor's degree from Indiana University, South Bend.

He was an athlete, winning a wrestling championship for his weight division in his high school conference and was a collegiate state champ. He ran in marathons and greater distances throughout his life.

Gary was active in a long list of civic and political organizations, supporting programs for youth such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Boy Scouts, health associations such as Riley's Children's Hospital and Doctors Without Boarders, Native American projects such as the Cheyenne River Youth & Cultural Center, and political interests including the campaigns of U.S. presidential candidates.

He was a former member of the Niles Optimist Club and First Baptist Church of Niles. In more recent years he had attended the Kern Road Mennonite Church and First Brethren Church, both in South Bend.

Gary was married for several years to the former Leslie Steiner, who died in 1994. He was also preceded in death by his parents, and by a brother, Moonie Cook, who died in 1979.

Surviving family included his daughter, Tracee L Cook of Niles; and granddaughter, Payton Yarbrough; his sisters, Charlene Dalenberg of Saint Joseph, MI, and Alana (Jesse) Madrigal of Austin, Texas; and his aunts, Gloria Shunkwiler of Berrien Springs, MI, and Kathy Rodgers of Niles; and an uncle, Tom Rodgers of Edwardsburg, MI.

Services for Gary Cook will be at 7:00 p.m. today, September 3, in First Baptist Church, Niles, with Pastor Jim Wing of the church and Rev, David Sutter of Kern Road Mennonite Church officiating. Interment will be at a later date at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles

The family will receive relatives and friends at the church's fellowship hall immediately following the services.

Contributions in memory of Gary Cook may be made to the donor's choice.

Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Donna Mae Washburn
January 7, 1935-August 29, 2009

Donna Mae Washburn, 73, died at 7:30 a.m. August 29, 2009, Saturday in Hospice House, South Bend. She was born January 7, 1935 in Niles. Survivors include a son, Daniel Arnold of Arizona; daughters, Rhonda Dieng of Chamblee, GA, and Brenda Keen of White Bluff, TN; brothers, Owen Demuth of Vancouver and Harold Demuth of Boonesville, MO; and sister, Dorothy Albin of Niles. Graveside services will be at 12:30 p.m. today in Silverbrook Cemetery. Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, is handling arrangements. Memorials may be made to Hospice House of South Bend or West Woods of Niles.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Treva M. Vollman
January 9, 1926-August 14, 2009

Treva M. Vollman, 83, formerly of Barron Lake Road in Niles, Michigan, died at 11:10 p.m. Friday, August 14, 2009, in Meadow View Estates with her daughter, Barbara, by her side.

She was born on January 9, 1926, in Niles, to Harold Louis and Genevieve Cornelia (June) Ort. She graduated from Niles High School and had lived in Niles all of her life. She retired in 1988 from the former Pawating (now Lakeland) Hospital in Niles. She was also previously employed at Tyler Refrigeration in Niles. Fred and Treva operated hog roasts for many public and private events, including the annual Brian Parker Foundation.

Treva was also a specialty cake baker and decorator, and was a fan of the Dallas Cowboys football team.

On March 3, 1956, in Niles, she married Fred Vollman Jr., who preceded her in death on November 12, 2001.

She was also preceded in death by her grandson, Shannon Dale Thomas, who died December 1, 1997; sisters, Melvina Thompson and M. Louise Ort; and brothers, Harold and Louis Ort.

Mrs. Vollman is survived by her daughters, Marilyn Bangert of Detroit, Michigan, Barbara Farris and Melody Rockwell, both of Niles; stepsons, Dean Vollman of Colorado and Jon (Lynn) Vollman of Mesquite, Texas; 10 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren; and a brother, Jack Ort Sr. of Niles.

The funeral services for Treva will be private at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles, with Pastor Jim Wing of the First Baptist Church of Niles officiating. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, August 21, in the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Treva may be made to Meadow View Estates.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Flossie Mae Chavous
December 24, 1924-August 18, 2009

Flossie Mae Chavous, 84, of 27474 White Street, Cassopolis, died at 6:18 a.m. Tuesday in Lakeland Hospital, Niles, of Natural causes. She was born in Tupelo, MS on December 24, 1924. Survivors include a brother, Odell (Olivia) Freeman of Niles. She was a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Niles, and a homemaker. She was preceded in death by a son, Robert W. Chavous in 2001. Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Niles, with Pastor Bryant Bacon of the church officiating, friends may call one hour before services. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, is handling arrangements.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Fred R. Cramer
Jan. 13, 1934-Aug. 11, 2009

Fred R. Cramer, 75, of Superior Street, Niles, died at 4:20 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009, at his home following an extended illness.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 14, at the First Baptist Church, Niles, with Pastor Jim Wing of the church officiating.

Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, and will conclude with the Veteran’s Flag Presentation and Taps.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

He was born on Jan. 13, 1934, in Muskegon, to Elsworth LeRoy and Elizabeth Ann (Walter) Cramer.

He graduated from Niles High school in 1952, and has lived most of his life in Niles.
He was employed by the railroad for 43 years and nine months, retiring from Conrail in Elkhart, Ind. In retirement, he drove for Jordan Ford.

He served from 1952 until 1960, in the Michigan Army National Guard, where he was a sergeant in Company A, 246th Tank Battalion.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Niles. He was also a member of the International Association of Machinists, and of the Michiana Cruisers. He had rebuilt a 1937 Chevrolet pick-up truck and several Corvairs. He enjoyed his family’s summer home in Bitely, but his greatest interest was his grandchildren.

On Oct. 26, 1957, in Niles, at First Baptist Church, Niles (when it was downtown at Fourth and Broadway) he married the former Nancy Sue Hulett, with whom he celebrated the 50th anniversary of that wedding in 2007.

He is survived by his wife, Sue Cramer; their sons, Alan (Angie) Cramer and Jeff (Teresa) Cramer, all of Niles; grandchildren, Bryanna, Lena and Sarah and by his brothers, Kenneth (Judy) Cramer of Pinellas Park, Fla. and Clarence (Judy) Cramer of Caledonia.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home, Buchanan, or to First Baptist Church, Niles.

Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

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Fred R. Cramer, 75, of Superior Street, Niles, died at 4:20 a.m. Tuesday, August 11th, in his home following an extended illness.

He was born on January 13, 1934, in Muskegon Heights, MI, to Elworth LeRoy and Elizabeth Ann (Walter) Cramer. He graduated from Niles High School in 1952 and had lived most of his life in Niles. He was employed by the railroad for 43 years and nine months, retiring from Conrail in Elkhart, IN. In retirement he drove for Jordan Ford.

He served from 1952 until 1960 in the Michigan Army National Guard, where he was a sergeant in Company A, 246th Tank Battalion.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Niles. He was also a member of the International Association of Machinists and of the Michiana Cruisers. He had rebuilt a 1937 Chevrolet pickup truck and several Corvairs. He enjoyed his family's summer home in Bitely, MI, but his greatest interest was his grandchildren.

On October 26, 1957, in Niles, at the First Baptist Church (when it was downtown at Fourth and Broadway), he married the former Nancy Sue Hulett, with whom he celebrated the 50th anniversary of that wedding in 2007.

Fred is survived by his wife, Sue Cramer; and by their sons, Alan (Angie) Cramer and Jeff (Teresa) Cramer, all of Niles; grandchildren, Grant, Bryanna, Lena and Sarah; and by his brothers, Kenneth (Judy) Cramer of Pinellas Park, FL, and Clarence (Judy) Cramer of Caledonia, MI.

The funeral services for Fred R. Cramer will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 14th, in the First Baptist Church, Niles, with Pastor Jim Wing of the church officiating. Committal will follow at  Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, and will conclude with the veterans flag presentation and taps.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Contributions in memory of Fred Cramer may be made to Hospice at Home, Buchanan, MI, or to the First Baptist Church.

Gilbert L. Barnes
August 2, 1918-August 6, 2009

Gilbert L. "Slim" Barnes, 91, of 124 S. Third Street, Niles, passed away of natural causes on August 6, 2009, in his home.

Gilbert was born in Elkville, IL, on August 2, 1918, to Hattie Barnes. While in the U.S. Army in California during WWII, he married Dorothy Cruthers in 1943.

He is survived by his daughters, Sharon Barnes Olivier of South Bend, Ind., and Gilda "Lori" Barnes (retired Army) of Enterprise, AL. A son, Larry Barnes, preceded him in death in 1978 while serving in the U.S. Army.

In 1971 Gilbert married Marna (Weimer) Byerley. She has three sons, William (Noi) Byerley of Oak View, CA, Thomas (Beth) Byerley of Lansing, MI, and Paul (Tina) Byerley of Indianapolis, Ind.

Gilbert is also survived by nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, his mother, a sister, Bernice of southern Illinois, and by a son-in-law, Larry Olivier.

Surviving are a brother, Frank (Alma) Varnum of Ft. Myers, FL, and a sister, Ellen (Howard) Rath of Elkville, IL.

Gilbert worked as manager of Super Par Service Station in Niles and had retired from the U.S. Postal Service in Niles.

Gilbert "Slim" loved to hunt deer and turkey, loved to garden and have lots of flowers. He was a big reader of Western novels.

Special thanks to the women from Hospice at Home: Mary, Debbie, Bethany and Amanda. And especially to his neighbor, Charles Milner, who was so helpful.

Cremation has taken place. There will be no visitation or services. A graveside service will be held at a later date at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Hospice at Home, 4017 Chamberlain Road, Buchanan, MI 49107.