Floyd Masten
Nov. 13, 1892-Dec. 15, 1937

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 15, 1937, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Floyd Masten Dies; Native of Berrien, Plaster Contractor

Floyd Masten, 45, widely known, Niles plastering contractor, died suddenly at 4 o’clock Tuesday afternoon at his home, 530 East Main Street. He had been in ill health for the last few weeks.

The Rev. Guy W. Simon of the First Presbyterian church will conduct funeral services at 2 o’clock (EST) Thursday afternoon in the Turner and Pifer Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

A lifelong resident of Berrien County. Mr. Masten was born near Niles, Nov. 13, 1892. At the time of his death he was actively engaged in the plastering business.

He leaves his mother and stepfather, Mr. and Mrs. William Walker, Bourbon, Ind.; his wife, Merle and three sons, Baxter, Camden and Duane, all of Niles, also two grandchildren.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Ethelyn Ann Masten
April 5, 1920-March 22, 2007

Ethelyn Ann (Rosenberger) Masten, 86, of South 15th Street, Niles, passed away at Westwood of Niles on Thursday, March 22, 2007.

Ethelyn was born on April 5, 1920 in Niles, to the late Floyd and Myrna (LaComb) Rosenberger. On October 15, 1937, Ethelyn married the love of her life, Camden Masten. Together they had four children.

Camden and Ethelyn enjoyed traveling in their younger days. After Camden passed away in 1991, Ethelyn spent most time with her family and traveling enjoyed playing the occasional card game and word puzzles.  She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 54 years, son Earl Masten, daughter, Nancy (Jim) Worland and sisters, Eileen Quick and Audrey Taube.

Ethelyn is survived by her sons, Harold "Matt" L. Masten of Niles and Philip (Diana) Masten of Niles, daughter-in-law, Pat Masten, six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.  Ethelyn’s funeral service will be held at Monday, March 25, 2007, in the Brown Funeral Home at 2 p.m. with time of visitation two hours prior. Pastor Carl Bassett will be officiating. Ethelyn will be interred at the Silverbrook cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in Ethelyn’s memory t the charity of one’s choice.

Condolence may be left at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.Com.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Niles.

Duane E. Masten
Nov. 2, 1917-Aug. 24, 2000

Duane E. Masten, 82, of 1710 Portage Road, Niles, died Aug. 24, 2000, in Lakeland Medical Center, Niles, of natural causes. He was born November 2, 1917. He wife Anna Delphine "Dolly" (Gillette) on November 8, 1992.

Survivors include a son, Pete D. (Patty) Masten of Niles; grandsons, Shane T. (Gina) Masten of Niels, Paul H. (Beverly) Baldwin III of Kalamazoo, and great-grandson, Paul H. Bladwin IV, of Kalamazoo. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 28 in Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, where friends may call from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday.  Full military Rites at the graveside will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Marjorie G. Martin
Jan. 4, 1930-March 5, 2006

Marjorie G. Martin, 76, formerly of Niles, died March 5, 2006 in Devon Gables Nursing Home, Tucson, Ariz., of an illness.  She was born Jan. 4, 1930. Survivors include her husband, Jack; two sons, Kenneth of Overland Park, Kan., and Ronald of Tucson; and a sister, Betty Siri of Ocala, Fla. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Silverbrook Cemetery. There is no visitation. Halbritter Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Mrs. Jeanette (Keller) Martin, 98, of East Bertrand Road, Niles, Mich., died following a brief illness at 7 a.m. Friday, Aug. 13,  2004, West Woods of Niles.

She was born on Dec. 20, 1905, in Bertrand Township, Mich., to Lawrence M. and Bessie (Reynolds) Keller Sr., and had lived in this area most of her life. She graduated from Dowagiac (Michigan) High School and attended Teacher's Normal School.

She taught school in Cass County, Mich., and then was employed by the United States Department of Labor for more than 20 years, retiring in 1977.

Mrs. Martin served on several Niles Township boards including the Charter Commission of 1968. She also served the community by volunteering with the service leagues. She enjoyed reading, especially current events, and completing crossword puzzles. She loved her family, studied its history, and enjoyed caring for the current generations.

On Dec. 31, 1938, in South Bend, Ind., she was married to Raymond Irving Martin, who preceded her in death on Jan. 23, 1980. She was also preceded in death by two sisters, Dorothy Dreher in 2001 and Kathryn Barnhard in 2000; and by four brothers, Harry Keller in 2000, Gene Keller in 1997, John Keller in 1999 and Lawrence Keller Jr. in 1998.

Surviving family includes her sons, James K. Martin of Indianapolis, Ind., and William I. Martin of Columbia City, Ind.; a grandson, Christopher D. Martin; her sister, Virginia McCarthy of Benton Harbor, Mich.; and by many nieces and nephews including Marcia Brubaker of Niles, who provided much of Jeanette's care.

Funeral services for Jeanette Keller Martin will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 16, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman of First Presbyterian Church, Niles, officiating. Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today in the funeral home.