Edward H. Hunter
Dec. 26, 1886-July 11, 1965

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 12 1965, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Edward H. Hunter, 78, of 1010 Cedar St., died at 9:40 p.m., Sunday at Pawating Hospital, after an illness that had lasted several months.

Surviving is a sister, Irma F. Hunter, of Niles.

Mr. Hunter was born in Chicago Dec. 26, 1886, and came to Niles in 1898. He was the retired owner of the Hunter Brothers Co., and a 50-year member of the St. Joseph Valley Lodge 4, F. & A.M.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home by the Rev. John P. MacLachlan. Burial will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery, where graveside rites will be performed by the St. Joseph Valley Lodge.

Sarah E. Babcock
Jan. 16, 1876-July 5, 1965

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 6, 1965, page 15, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Sarah E. Babcock, 89, of 2638 Lake Shore Drive, died at 6 p.m. Monday in the Beckwith Nursing Home.

Mrs. Babcock was born in Sodus Township Jan. 16, 1876, and came to live in Niles in 1909. She had worked as a practical nurse. Her husband, Rome, died in 1924.

Survivors include a brother, Edwin Rector, of Dowagiac; a sister, Mrs. Alice Riggs, of Niles, and a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Henrietta Babcock, of Niles.

She was a member of the First Church of Christ Scientist and Rebekah Lodge.

Funeral services will be conducted at the Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home at 11 a.m. Thursday and will be conducted by Jerome Farmer. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

William W. Valentine
June 3, 1897-July 5, 1965

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 6, 1965, page 15, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Last rites for William W. Valentine, 63, of 228 N. State St., will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home by the Rev. Leon Hartwig of the Church of God in Baroda. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery..

Mr. Valentine, who died Monday, has lived in Niles since 1927. Retired from the Kawneer Company, he was a member of the Moose and the Fishing Club of America and the Double-Eight Club.

Surviving are the wife Katherine, a son, William, a daughter Mrs. Robert McKay, a brother, Raymond H., a sister, Mrs. Eva Vandenburg of Eau Claire, and three grandchildren.

Born in 1897 in Coloma, Mr. Valentine had lived in Berrien Springs before moving here.

(DOB from WWI and WWII Draft Registration on Ancestry.com)

George Raymond Polly Sr., of Niles,
April 4, 1937-Dec. 3, 2019

Niles Daily Star, Published online 8:33 am Thursday, December 5, 2019; https://www.leaderpub.com/2019/12/05/george-raymond-polly-sr-of-niles/

April 4, 1937 — Dec. 3, 2019

George Raymond Polly Sr., 82, husband, father, grandfather, fisherman and master of the home shop died peacefully at 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019, with family gathered around at Cass County Medical Center following a brief illness.

He was born on April 4, 1937, in Cherry Valley, Arkansas, to James U. and Eva K. (Hiter) Polly.

He came to Niles with his family and attended Niles Community Schools.

He was first employed at the former Michigan Mushroom plant, in Niles, and then employed for many years at the former Buchanan plant of Clark Equipment Company.

After Clark left, he began selling tools made in the U.S. at Shipshewana and other markets. He and his wife lived in the same house in Howard Township for more than 60 years.

George was a member of the United Auto Workers local union while employed at Clark’s. He enjoyed fishing area lakes and rivers and going back to Arkansas, especially for the big catfish.

At home, he maintained a great vegetable garden, kept the yard neat and attractive, and enjoyed cutting firewood. His home shop was often in carpentry mode, making bird and squirrel feeders, and repairing furniture. The shop was also well equipped with mechanic’s tools, and he was well-known for his ability to repair anything.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Eva Polly; daughters-in-law, Jennifer Polly and Mildred Polly; and George’s twin brother, Henry Polly, and an infant brother, Edward Polly.

On Aug. 25, 1956, at the First Presbyterian Church, of Niles, he married the former Mary A. Handley, who survives.

Also surviving are their sons, George (Dawn) Polly Jr. and Michael Polly Sr., both of Niles; grandchildren, Shawn (Kayla) Polly, Mike (Jessica) Polly Jr., Aaron (Kayla) Polly, Blayne (Kelly) Brady and Trent (Sara) LaMonds; great-grandchildren, Taiten, Brayden, Bentley, Bryson, Leah, Zoie, Toby, Daisy, Abigail, Zander, Tanner, Aubrey, Annabel, Kaylee, Braxton, Cooper and Drake; and George’s sister, Betty Benison, of Niles; and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for George Polly Sr. will be at 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019, at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 E. Main St., in Niles, with Pastor Gordie Fox of the First Church of Christ, Christian in Niles officiating. Committal will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Friday at the funeral home beginning at noon. Online condolences may be left at: halbritterwickens.com.

George had genuinely earned the title: “Jack of All Trades,” and had even ‘Mastered’ a few. But fixing things was mostly his way of caring for neighbors, relatives and — most importantly — his family.

Blayke Louise Simmons, of Niles
Nov. 19, 2019-Dec. 2, 2019

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:32 am Thursday, December 5, 2019

Nov. 19, 2019 — Dec. 2, 2019

Blayke Louise Simmons, 14-day-old daughter of Casey and Joe Simmons, of Niles, died at 6:10 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2, 2019, at the C. S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, of a cardiac defect which left broken hearts in all who were blessed to know her.

Her family is grateful for the heroic efforts of the best pediatric staffs in Niles, Kalamazoo and Ann Arbor who extended Blayke’s life day-by-day.

She was born on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019, at Spectrum Lakeland Hospital, in Niles, to Joseph Allen and Casandra Lynn (Purdy) Simmons.

Blayke’s mother had felt her strong movements for several months and those closest to her felt and watched that activity. She arrived with a kick and was already squeezing fingers and hands. Her cute half-smile was certainly in recognition of her mother, although others suggested that it was recognition of a healthy digestive tract.

Blayke is survived by her parents, Joe and Casey; her two-year-old sister, Harper Simmons; grandparents, Elaine and Gary Simmons and Mike and Jody Purdy, all of Niles; great-grandmother, Margaret “Peg” Cain, of Niles; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

The family of Blayke Simmons will receive relatives and friends from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 E. Main St., in Niles, and will continue with committal services at the graveside in Silverbrook Cemetery with Pastor Darrel le Roux, of Niles, Westside Seventh-day Adventist Church officiating.

Contributions in memory of Blayke may be made to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Ann Arbor, 1600 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, rmhcannarbor.org/.

Online condolences may be left at: halbritterwickens.com.

While Blayke’s brief time face to-face with the world is counted in hours and days, she will be remembered and cherished for years and years.

Charles Morton, of Niles
Dec. 13, 1939-Dec. 11, 2019

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:51 am Friday, December 13, 2019

Dec. 13, 1939 – Dec. 11, 2019

Charles D. Morton, 79, of Niles passed away Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019, at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, surrounded by his family.

In Niles, on Dec. 13, 1939, Dr. Dean and Flora (Melhon) Morton greeted Charles, their baby boy.

Chuck graduated from Niles High School, class of 1959 and went on to serve his country proudly with the U.S. Marines. Shortly after being discharged from the Marines, Chuck wed the woman who stole his heart, Joan Crowe. At a ceremony in Whitesville, Kentucky on Aug. 7, 1965, Chuck and Joan became husband and wife.

After his time spent with the Marines, Chuck worked for several local companies. He drove trucks for Simplicity Patterns, worked at Kauneer, ACCO and Gast, in Benton Harbor. Even after retirement, Chuck enjoyed working and drove cars for Tyler, in Niles, where he made many friendships.

Chuck and his beloved dog, Maxx, could often be seen at business around town. They would find a resting place and visit with shoppers who passed by. He loved his home town. He looked forward to monthly lunches with his class of ’59. Their 60th class reunion this past August was the highlight of the summer.

Chuck’s main hobby was fishing. For many years, he spent April in Venice, Florida fishing in the Intercostal Waterway six days a week. He caught many fish that were unusual to a Michigan boy. Time that he and Joan spent in Florida was also a time to reunite with family and friends. Chuck and Joan also enjoyed traveling and were able to visit Ireland, England, Scotland, Spain, Australia, New Zealand and Alaska.

He loved to spend time in his own back yard, particularly his Lily Garden. He was a common fixture in his grandchildren’s basketball and soccer games. Chuck was an avid Notre Dame fan. He watched every sport in every season. He proudly hung his ND flags for each football game, his favorite sport. He also acquired a large collection of ND memorabilia over the years.

Preceding Chuck are his parents, Dr. Dean and Flora Morton.

He will greatly missed by his wife of 54 years, Joan; his children, Dean (Leslie) Morton, of Boulder, Colorado; and his daughter, Elisabeth “Buffy” (Michael) Freudenburg, of Niles.

Chuck is also survived by his sisters, Mary (Ray) Larned, of Ferrysburg, Michigan, and Sandra (Paul) Reyberg, of Venice, Florida. Libby and Lincoln, his grandchildren and pride and joy will also be left to cherish the memories they have with their grandfather.

Family and friends are invited to gather at from 4 to 5 p.m. for a time of visitation, with services to begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, at Brown Funeral Home.

The service will conclude with full Military Honors by the U.S. Marine Corps.

A private interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery on Monday.

Those wishing to make memorial donations have been asked to continue with Chuck passion for animals and consider Berrien County Animal Shelter, 1400 S. Euclid Ave., Benton Harbor, MI 49022.

Condolences, photos, and memories can be left for Chuck’s family at BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Chuck was loved and will be fondly remembered by family and friends.