Hilda Mead
July 22, 1912-Aug. 14, 1994

Services for Hilda Mead, 82, of 417 N. 14th St., Niles,  who died at 8:30 a.m. Sunday Aug. 14, 1994, in Pawating Hospital after an illness, will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to any charity.

Mrs. Mead retired in 1977 from Simplicity Pattern Co. She was born July 22, 1912, in Leeds, England, and had lived in Niles since 1920. She married Thomas Lutzen, who died in January 1948. On Oct. 29, 1946, in Huntington, Ind., she married Clarence E. Mead. He died April 28, 1980. Surviving are two daughters, Linda Mead Leet and Connie Lutzen Stark, both of Niles; a son, George Lutzen of Niles; a stepson, Bill Mead of Niles; nine grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren. A daughter and a grandson preceded her in death. Mrs. Mead was a former president of the Simplicity Retirement Club. She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church; the Golden Age Club of the YMCA; Red Bud Senior Citizens Club, Buchanan; American Legion Post 51 Auxiliary, Buchanan; and Edwardsburg Golden Age Club.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Violet C. McMillan
May 10, 1901-Oct. 6, 2002

Mrs. Violet Cassie McMillan, 101, of Oak Street, Niles, Mich., died following a brief illness at 6:35 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, 2002  in Lakeland Medical Center, Niles.

She was born on May 10, 1901, in Rose City, Mich., to Katherine Fedelia (McCormack) and Leon Ray Ingleright, M.D. In 1924 Dr. Ingleright moved his family to Niles into the newly constructed house on Oak Street in which Mrs. McMillan lived the rest of her life. She also maintained a home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. She had been a member of First Presbyterian Church, Niles.

She earned a bachelor's degree in music performance from the University of Michigan, and a master's degree from a fine arts school in Chicago, Ill. She was a professional musician all of her life, specializing in piano and organ. She organized and toured the United States with two groups, "Violet Joy and the Bluebelles" and "The Brickheads" all redhead girl band. In Niles she often performed at the Four Flags Hotel and the former Roberts Supper Club.

On Nov. 8, 1958, she was married to Tom Lucas, who died in 1971. Then, on July 19, 1972, in Eau Claire, Mich., she married Neil McMillan, who died on Nov. 19, 1988. She was also preceded in death by her parents, and by her brother, Ray "Doc" Ingleright.

She is survived by a stepson, John (Carol) Lucas of Bay City, Mich.; a niece, Margaret (Marvin "Kip") LaVanway of Eau Claire; a nephew, Leon "Butch" (Lynn) Ingleright of Florida; and by several grand-nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Violet C. McMillan will be at 2 p.m. today, Oct. 9, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Pastor Kevin Parkins of Friends in Faith Community Church, Eau Claire, officiating. Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. The family will receive friends in the funeral home for an hour prior to the funeral.

Contributions in memory of Violet may be made to LESEA Ministries, or to Running Strong for American Indian Youth Christian Relief Services.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Audra E. McLaughlin
Nov. 19, 1908-April 12, 2006

Mrs. Audra Esther McLaughlin, 97, of Parkway, Niles, Michigan, died following an extended illness at 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, April 12, 2006, in her home.

She was born on November 19, 1908, in Decatur, Indiana, to Stewart LeRoy and Viola (Daugherty) Everhart. She was raised in Dowagiac, Michigan, and came to Niles as a young lady, living in the same house since 1936. She was employed by the National-Standard Company of Niles for 28 years, retiring in 1972.

Mrs. McLaughlin enjoyed the outdoors, feeding birds and animals in her yard, and fishing and mushroom hunting. She also enjoyed baking and cooking for others, and going shopping and going out to lunch.

The family's pet dogs held a special place with her, especially the Dachshunds.

On December 1, 1928, in South Bend, Indiana, she was married to Raymond W. McLaughlin. They were able to celebrate the 66th anniversary of that marriage before he preceded her in death on June 2, 1995. She was also preceded in death by a son, Kenneth McLaughlin in 1933; two brothers, Marcel and Paul Everhart; and by a sister, Frances Runyon.

Surviving family include two daughters, Evelyn Hughes of Benton Harbor, Michigan, and Jean McLaughlin and her husband, Joseph Chalhoub of Edgewater; a son, Walter (Mary) McLaughlin of Niles; 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

A funeral service for Audra E. McLaughlin will be at 11 a.m. Monday, April 17, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Chaplain Phil Apol of Hospice at Home officiating. Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 10 a.m. Monday in the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Mrs. McLaughlin may be made to Hospice at Home.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Clarence E. McLauchlin
Aug. 10, 1909-July 15, 2000

Mr. Clarence Edgar "Mac" McLauchlin, 90, of Silverbrook Avenue, Niles, Mich., died at 12:35 p.m., Saturday, July 15, 2000, in the Oakcrest Manor Adult Foster Care, Spring Lake, Mich., following a brief illness.

He was born on August 10, 1909, in Cassopolis, Mich., to Albert David and Emily Elizabeth (Bartholomew) McLauchlin. He was graduated in 1928, from Marcellus (Mich.) High School, where he had been a member of the Baseball and Football teams. The same year he moved to Niles, where he lived the rest of his life. He was retired in 1974, from the National-Standard Company, Niles, after 33 years of employment.

Mr. McLauchlin had been a member of the former Church of the Savior, Niles, a member of the Hammond Organ Club, and was the oldest surviving officer of the B.P.O of Niles Elks #1332. He always enjoyed camping with friends, dancing, and more recently had been practicing carpentry in his home shop.

On December 31, 1933 in Niles he was married to the former Marie Emily Holloway, with whom he celebrated the sixty-fifth anniversary of their wedding, prior to her death on March 30, 1999. He was also preceded in death by five brothers, Ellery, Lemi, Myron, Glen and Marcus McLauchlin; and by an infant sister.

He is survived by his son and his wife, Larry H. and Sharon L. McLauchlin of Graand Haven, Michigan; three grandsons, Mark, Todd & Kirk McLauchlin; and by four great grandchildren, Kyle, Jarred, Justin and Kristin McLauchlin.

Funeral services for Mr. Clarence E. McLauchlin will be at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 19, 2000, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. Leon Roggen of Niles officiating. Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive friends beginning at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Mr. McLauchlin may be made to the Hospice of Grand Haven.

LaVoid McKibbin Sr.
Oct. 3, 1933-April 15, 2003

Mr. LaVoid Irvin "Curly" McKibbin Sr., 69, of Redfield Street, Niles, Mich., died at 12:05 a.m. Tuesday, April 15, 2003 in his home. His passing was unexpected but of natural causes.

He was born Oct. 3, 1933, in Elkhart, Ind., to DeWayne Daniel and Lois Ruth (Dettweiler) McKibbin, and had lived in this area most of his life. He was preceded in death by his parents, and by a sister, Leota Davis.

He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving in the U.S. Army. As a member of Teamster's Union Local 364, South Bend, Ind., he was employed by the local Bendix Trucking division until it was closed, and then drove for Mohawk Flush Doors.

Mr. McKibbin chose as an adult to complete his education, and was graduated from Brandywine High School in 1979. He also chose Christianity and was baptized in the same ceremony with his grandson in Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Niles, where he became a member. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and gardening, but his greatest joy was his grandson.

On July 14, 1956, in Elkhart, he was married to the former Dorris Elizabeth Schaen, who survives. He is also survived by their children, Lois McKibbin-Cooper (Kelly Cooper) of Niles, Esther (Thomas) Nowicki of Mishawaka, Ind., and LaVoid (Kris) McKibbin Jr. of Dowagiac, Mich.; grandson, Daniel Greenwood Nowicki; and by his brothers and sisters, Ralph McKibbin of Homosassa Springs, Fla., Benjamin McKibbin of Sarasota, Fla., Arthur McKibbin of Virginia, DeWayne D. McKibbin Jr. of Bradenton, Fla., Grace Christie of Sarasota and Lola Poneleit of Bradenton.

Funeral services for LaVoid I. McKibbin Sr. will be at 10 a.m. today, April 19, in Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Niles, with the Rev. Carl W. Bassett of the church officiating. Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, and will conclude with the veteran's flag presentation by American Legion Post 26 Commander John McLaughlin.

The family has received friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 18, in the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Contributions in memory of Mr. McKibbin may be made to the organization of the donor's choice.

Helen M. McKibbin
Nov. 30, 1917-March 14, 2005

Helen M. McKibbin, 87, of White Street, Niles, died Monday (March 14, 2005) in Gillead Elder Care, Berrien Springs, after an illness. She was born Nov. 30, 1917. Survivors include a daughter, Carolyn Churchill of Cheboygan, Mich.; two sons, Dave Richey of Decatur and Gary Richey of Cassopolis; and three brothers, Paul Miller, Peter Miller and Dick Miller, all of Niles. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Halbriter Funeral Home, where friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown