Robert M. "Bob" Bowling, 78, of Palmetto, FL, formerly of Niles, died February 9, 2009.

Bob was born December 17, 1930, in Niles, MI, to the late Everett and Opal Bowling of Buchanan, MI.

Bob was a member of the Buchanan High class of 1949, prior to entering the United Sates Navy.

On September 16, 1950, he married Phyllis (Boht). After 30 plus years delivering Tyler refrigeration products, Bob retired and begun to enjoy spending summers in Michigan and winters in Florida. In 1996 he became a full time resident of Florida.

Surviving children are Robert Jr. (Tammy) of Niles, MI, Rhonda (John) Bird of Spring Lake, MI, Frank (Hazel) of Buchanan, MI, Diana (John) Baxter of Niles and Sandra of Niles; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; brother, Bill (Carol) Bowling of Palmetto. A sister, Yvetta (Donald) Toll is deceased.

A memorial service was held on Feb. 28, 2009 in the Palmetto Moose Lodge #2117, Palmetto, FL.

A memorial services will be held at the Buchanan Moose Lodge #449, Buchanan, MI, in June 2009, with burial in the Bowling family plot at the Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles

Martha Miller
Sept. 3, 1945-May 12, 2009

Mrs. Martha Miller, 63, a resident of Darden Road, South Bend, Indiana passed from this life at 6:50 a.m., Tuesday, May 12, 2009, at Healthwin Hospital, following an extended illness.

Martha began her life on September 3, 1945 in Niles, Michigan, daughter of Rev. MacCullen and Dennell (Morgan) Williams. She attended Edwardsburg schools and was a life time area resident.

Mrs. Miller led a fulfilling life with many interests. She owned and operated Miller Adult Foster Care in Niles until her health failed. She also started adult foster care in her home in Kalamazoo, Michigan. As a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Niles, Ml, she sang in the choir. Her love for the music ministry led her to sing and play piano with many gospel groups including the Kalamazoo Gospelettes. Mrs. Miller was a member of the PTO and always volunteered to help with her children's activities. Because of her compassionate heart, she enjoyed caring for people with special needs and prayed for everyone. Among her hobbies was bowling until she became ill.

Family members who will mourn her loss include two daughters, Patricia (Myron) Miller-Chism of South Bend and Doris Winfield of Lilburn, GA; three sons, Timothy Bell of Elkhart, IN, Jerry (Felicia) Williams of Clarksville, KY and Christopher Williams of Niles, Ml; 16 grandchildren; ; three great-grandchildren; stepfather, Bishop Oliver Reed of Gary, IN; four sisters, Ruth (Willie) Williams and Dorothy Moore of Niles, Ml, Janice (James) Hall of South Bend and Cheryl (Henry) Singleton of South Sioux City, Iowa; one brother, Vernon Williams of Peoria, IL; a special friend, Benjamin Forest, Jr. of Benton Harbor, Ml, a host of nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Dennell Williams & MacCullen Williams, Sr., a brother, MacCullen Williams, Jr.; and a nephew, Anthony Moore.

Funeral services for Mrs. Miller will be held at 12:00 noon, Monday, May 18, at Mt. Calvary Baptist

Church, 601 Ferry St., Niles, with Pastor Bryant Bacon, officiating. Interment will follow in Silverbrook

Cemetery, Niles. Friends may call Sunday evening from 7-9:00 p.m. at Alford's Mortuary where arrangements have been entrusted.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Linda L. Jaroch
Aug. 17, 1944 – May 28, 2009

NILES — Linda Louise Jaroch, 64, died at 3:55 p.m. Thursday in Lakeland Community Hospital. She was born August 17,1944 in Paris, TN, to the late Charles and Bertha Day. On August 2, 1964 in Niles she married Neal Jaroch who preceded her in death. She owned and operated Chuck Day Music Center in Niles. Survivors include sons, Charles Jaroch of Niles and Anthony (Mellinda) Jaroch of South Mills, NC; very close friends, Janice Himes of Walkerton; sisters, Cheryl C. "Kay" Morris of Ferndale, CA; and grandchildren, Katelyn, Ryan, Tonya, Amanda, Carissa and Christopher. Services will be at noon Wednesday in Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, with Pastor Russell Simonson of Forgotten Man Ministries officiating, where family may call two hours before services. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Memorials may be made to American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Miss Bessie Webber
October 10, 1886-March 30, 1906

A PATIENT SUFFERER

Miss Bessie Webber Passed Away Yesterday Afternoon

After an illness with tuberculos’s[sic] covering a period of eight years, three of which the patient little sufferer was bedfast, Miss Bessie Webber, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Webber of 399 Grant street, passed away yesterday afternoon at 4 o’clock.

She was born in Niles, Oct. 10, 1886 and had always resided here. Besides her mother and father, she leaves two sisters, Hazel and Blanche, and three brothers, Clyde and William of this city and Clarence of Kalamazoo to mourn her loss.

The patience and forbearance with which the young girl has borne her protracted illness has been the subject of comment of all who knew her and was beautiful to see. Every little act of Kindness, many of which she received from sympathetic children and their elders, was appreciated by her and helped to brighten the long hours. Especially close was the tie between daughter and father, the devotion of the latter during all her illness being untiring—every spare moment was devoted to her.

The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock at Trinity Episcopal church, Rev. C.J. DeCoux officiating. The remains may be viewed at the home from 9 a.m. to 12. Burial at Silver Brook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Sat. March 31, 1906, page 2, col. 4

LUCY FITZGERALD
December 11, 1814- February 13, 1886

Niles Mirror, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1886, page 4

Death of Mrs. Lucy Fitzgerald

           Mrs. Lucy Fitzgerald, after a long and painful illness, went to her final rest on Saturday afternoon last.  Mrs. Fitzgerald was born in Detroit, Dec. 11, 1814, of French parents.  She was married to Obed P. Lacey Jan 22, 1834, and came to Niles the spring following, and was thus one among the early settlers.  She was one of the brightest ornaments in the then village, and was the life of social circles, the lady first to call and welcome all new comers to the place and make them feel at home.  In 1844 she lost her husband, and was left with two daughters, and she sorrowed as only those do who have last one to whom they are devotedly attached.  Nov. 7, 1848, she married Col. Thomas Fitzgerald, man who then filled the office of US. Senator by appointment from Govenor Ransom, in place of Lewis Cass, resigned.

            She accompanied her husband to Washington, and remained there during the Congressional session of 1848-49, taking high rank in the social circles of refined Washington  society.

            He was afterwards elected Judge of Probate and commanded the respect and esteem of all for his honesty, competency and integrity.  He died in the spring of 1855, since which time she and her daughter Fanny have lived together, ever welcoming their many friends to their quiet home.  By her marriage to Mr. F. she had one son, who died a few years since.  Mrs. F. was a faithful member of the Episcopal church, from which church she was buried on Tuesday, the Rev. C.C. Tate officiating.  She was a woman who commanded the respect of all.  She leaves two worthy daughters and a host of friends.

John L. Myer
Sept. 11, 1940-Feb. 10, 2000

John L. Myer, 59, of 1441 Ferry Street, Niles, Mich., entered into rest of natural causes at 12:25 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 10,  2000, in Saint Joseph's Regional Medical Center, South Bend, Ind.

John was a machinist at the Clark Equipment Company, retiring after 27 years, was the former owner of JD's Pizza, and was the current owner of JLM (Jesus Loves Me) Machine Company, Niles.

John was a member of Vandalia Gospel Lighthouse, and was a member of the following organizations: Forgotten Man Ministries, Chuck Colson's Prison Fellowship, United Ministerial Association of Cleveland, Tenn., Amateur Trapshooting Association, and the Howard Township and Deer Creek Conservation Clubs. He was former chaplain of Cass County jails, serving from 1990-1996. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, serving from August 1958 to September 1961.

John was born on Sept. 11, 1940, to LaVerne A. and Lillian M. Lightfoot Myer in Buchanan, Mich., and was a lifetime resident of the area. John was preceded in death by his parents, and by two brothers, Michael and Jerry Myer.

He married Carol Speakman on Feb. 20, 1982, in Niles. He is survived by his wife, Carol; three sons, Michael (Debby) Myer of North Liberty, Ind., Joshua (Lisa) Myer and Jeremy Myer, both of Niles; two brothers, Dale Myer of Stevensville, Mich., and Gregg (Carol) Myer of Niles; three sisters, Denise (Bill) Fowler of South Bend, Ind., Madalyn (Cleo) Alford of Niles and Mildred Burger of South Bend; six grandchildren, Bill, Jessica, John, Sarah, Jordan and Cody; and by his stepmother, Niadah Havener.

Memorial services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 18, in the Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, with the Reverends Dolly Coad of Jail Prison Ministry and Don Damron of Gospel Lighthouse officiating. Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

John was sponsoring two children through Compassion International at the time of his death, one from Columbia and one from the Philippines.

Memorials may be made to the Forgotten Man Ministries of Berrien County, 3940 Fruit Ridge Avenue, NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown