Linda Faye Darnell
Nov. 29, 1948-June 12, 1966

Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 13, 1966; page 1, microfilm, Niles District Library

 SMASHUP KILLS NILES GIRL, 17

 Linda Darnell Dies After Indiana Crash

 MISHAWAKA - A Thursday Niles High School graduate was killed in an early Sunday accident that ripped her auto apart.

 Linda Darnell, 17, of 1402 Regent St., died at St. Joseph Hospital here about three hours after the mishap on New Road about nine miles south of Mishawaka.

 TWO PASSENGERS in the auto remain in area hospitals today:

 Gene Bella, 19, of 1559 S. 11th St., “fairly good” condition at the Mishawaka hospital with arm and body cuts and bruises.

 William Cox, 19, of 1529 Country Club Drive, “satisfactory” condition at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, with cuts, bruises and severe upper lip cut.

 St. Joseph County sheriff deputies said Miss Darnell died at 4:56 a.m. Sunday of severe internal and external injuries.

 An auto operated by Miss Darnell was traveling west on New Road about 1:50 a.m. Sunday and attempted to pass another westbound car, the deputies said.

 Facing an eastbound auto, Miss Darnell swerved her car to the right and it went out of control, skidding some 230 feet, the deputies reported.

 THE CAR crashed into a tree stump and flipped over, ripping apart, the deputies added.   The auto Miss Darnell was driving was owned by Robert Cox, 1829 County Club Drive, according to the deputies report.

 A blue-eyed blonde, Miss Darnell was among the entrants in this year’s Miss Niles contest.  She received her diploma in Thursday night Niles High School graduation ceremonies.  She was born in Niles in November, 1948, and was a life-time resident of the Niles community.

 SURVIVING in addition to her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Bell, of Niles, are a sister, Mrs. Charlene Kelems, Visalia, Calif.; two brothers Charles Darnell, Niles, and Robert Darnell, Lansing; and grandparents and Henry Charles Darnell, both of Bald Knob, Ark.

 Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Tuesday in the Pifer Funeral Home.  The Rev. Gary Hickok, associate pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

 Friends are being received at the funeral home.

Dewey Cox
Oct. 9, 1898-June 25, 1973

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 26, 1973; page 2, col. 1, microfilm, Niles District Library

NILES – Dewey Cox, 74, of 416 S. Fifth St., died at 1:25 a.m. Monday, Hines, Ill., after an illness of many years.

A retired employee of the Berrien County Road Commission, Mr. Cox was born Oct. 9, 1898, in Cass County, Ind., and had lived here since 1929, coming from LaPorte.   On April 29, 1939, in Goshen, Ind., he married the former Pauline J. Johnston, who survives.

He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans.’

Surviving is a brother, Brian of LaPorte, Ind.

Grave side committal services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Silverbrook Cemetery, with military rites conducted by LaRue Messenger Post 26 of the American Legion.

Friends may call after 7 tonight at the Pifer Funeral Home.

Robert A. Thompson
May 15, 1887-July 4, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 5, 1952; page 2, col. 5, microfilm, Niles District Library

Cassopolis, July 5 – Robert Thompson, of Diamond lake, Cassopolis, died at 10 p.m. Friday in Billings hospital, Chicago, after a short illness.

Surviving are his mother, Mrs. A.E. Thompson, of Sebring, Fla.; his wife, Marguerite; one daughter, Mrs. Charles Rettich, of Kansas City, Mo., and two sisters, Mrs. E. C. Brimmer, of Washington D.C., and Mrs. Basil Hobbs, of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Thompson was born in Cleveland, Oh., but his birth date is unknown.  He was the retired manager of the Fruit Belt Rural Electrification Administration in Cassopolis.

The body is at the Pifer funeral home. Private services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Trinity Episcopal church, with the Rev. John G. Carlton as officiant.  Burial place has not been decided.

Nancy G. Pierce
July 24, 1916-Feb. 6, 1997

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Monday, February 10, 1997, Niles District Library biographical files

Funeral services for Nancy G. Pierce, 80, of 515 Hawthorne Lane, Niles, will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the First Presbyterian Church by the Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs. Pierce died at 7:45 p.m. Thursday at Regency Place Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, South Bend, Ind., following an extended illness.

She was born July 24, 1916 in Niles and was a lifetime resident.

On Oct. 14, 1939 in Niles, she married Charles S. Pierce, who preceded her in death March 24, 1973.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and its choir, the Pawating Hospital Auxiliary, and was a Bridge enthusiast.

Survivors include, a daughter, Catherine Marshall of Glendale, Ariz., a son Robert C. Pierce of Ann Arbor; five grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Lester W. Russell
Aug 28, 1905-Sept. 20, 1989

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Friday, September 22, 1989, page 2

Lester W. Russell, 84, of 1011 Cass St., Niles, died at 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday in his home following a brief illness.

Mr. Russell was a retired employee of the City of Niles Department of Public Works. He was born on Aug. 28, 1905 in Baroda and has lived in the Niles area all his life. On November 11, 1928, Mr. Russell married Irene L. Young in LaPorte, In, who preceded him in death on July 6, 1980.

Survivors include three daughters, Janet Walters of Mishawaka, In., Phyllis Kater of Three Rivers and Marjorie Mercia of Niles; eight grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; one sister Louise Randt of Lansing; and three brothers Louis Russell of Hastings, Alve Russell of Baroda, and Nelson Russell of Stevensville.

Services are at 11 a.m. Monday at Halbritter Funeral Home with Rev. Morton J. Hempel of the Church of God Full Gospel officiating. Burial is at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Niles Community Library.

James W. Sarley
April 17, 1916-Feb. 9, 1997

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Monday, February 10, 1997, Niles District Library biographical files

Funeral services for James W. Sarley, 80, formerly of 955 Tomahawk Lane, Niles, will be held 11 a.m. Thursday at Halbritter Funeral Home by the Rev. Nolan R. Williams of Wesley United Methodist church.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mr. Sarley died at 3:30 a.m. Sunday at Riveridge Manor following an extended illness.

He was born April 17, 1916 in Chicago, Ill. He moved to Niles from there in 1932.

On April 3, 1947 in Niles, he married Aldona Algmin, who preceded him in death June 16, 1977.

Sarley was a member of the St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4, F.&A.M., Saladin Temple, Niles Shrine club and the Royal Order of Jesters. He was an avid golfer and bowler.

He was the owner of Sarley Heating and Air Conditioning and retired in 1978.

Survivors include, a daughter, Karen L. Sarley of Eureka, Calif.; a son, Robert E. Sarley of Niles; a daughter-in-law, Marge Merica of Niles; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; a sister, Virginia Sarley of Eureka, Calif.; two brothers, Warren “Bud” Sarley of Rochester, N.Y. and Willard Sarley of San Francisco, Calif.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriner's Hospital for Children, Chicago Unit, or the Niles Community Schools Sarley Family Scholarship Fund.