Lois Peabody, of Niles
March 8, 1925 — Jan. 2, 2017

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:23 am Wednesday, January 4, 2017

March 8, 1925 — Jan. 2, 2017

Lois Jean (née Rooks) Peabody, 91, of Niles, died Monday, Jan. 2, 2017, at West Woods of Niles of a brief illness.
Lois was born March 8, 1925, in Holland, to Albert and Maude (Miller) Rooks. Her family moved to Niles when she was 5. She attended Niles schools, and was the salutatorian of the Niles High School graduating class of 1943. Her good friend Jane Zabel Waxman was valedictorian.
On May 30, 1952, she married Arthur Lee Peabody in Niles. He preceded her in death on Jan. 30, 2007, after 55 years of marriage.
Lois retired after 23 years of service from Old Kent Bank in 1990. She was active her entire life as a member of First Presbyterian Church in Niles, serving as a trustee and deacon, singing in choirs, and as a member of various Bible study groups, and the What-So-Ever Class. She was also active in the Niles-Buchanan Meals on Wheels organization as treasurer of their board of directors, and as a meals driver. She was a member of the Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery, a former Girl Scout leader, was a tutor for the Michiana Literacy Council and volunteered at Eastside School and the Friends of Niles Community Library.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur; her parents, Maude and Albert Rooks; her brothers, Leon and Leslie Rooks; her sisters-in-law, Shirley and Hazel Rooks; and a granddaughter, Carrie Ann Tyler.

Lois is survived by her brother, Lloyd Rooks, of South Bend; her children, Virginia “Ginny” (Todd) Tyler, of Cassopolis, and Robert “Bob” (Jane) Peabody, of Scroggins, Texas; grandchildren Patrick (Monica) Tyler, of Dublin, Ohio, Daniel (Michelle) Tyler, of Chicago, Rob (Medea) Peabody, of Plano, Texas, Drew (Lindsay) Peabody, of Dallas, Joel (Allison) Peabody, of Richardson, Texas, and Laura Jane Peabody, of Seattle; and great-grandchildren Graham, Hadley, Caroline, Max and Luca Tyler, and Liam, Tate, Eloise and James Peabody, with one more on the way.
There will be no visitation or funeral service. Cremation has taken place and inurnment will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. The family will meet privately to honor Lois’ wishes, and would like to thank her neighbors on Regent Street — Martha and Tom Rockhill, Linda and Ed Gourlay, Taryn and Joe Ray, and June and Wayne Jonas — for helping her to live in her home and enjoy their families as they grew. Martha Rockhill cared for her daily.
The staff at Lakeland Niles ICU and West Woods of Niles Nursing Care Center were also extremely caring.
Contributions in memory of Lois may be made to the Foundation of First Presbyterian Church, 13 S. Fourth St., Niles, MI 49120, or to Meals on Wheels of Niles-Buchanan c/o Lakeland Hospital-Niles, 31 N. Saint Joseph Ave., Niles, MI 49120.
Arrangements were completed at Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Service in Niles.
halbritterfunerals.com.

Samuel B. Hern
1838 to Dec. 25, 1903

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 26, 1903, page 2, col. 1 (microfilm Niles District Library)

DIES XMAS NIGHT.
Poor Old Sam Hern, Former Journalist, Hands in “30.”

Sam Hern, veteran of the confederate army, journalist, printer and finally a county charge, passed away last night at the Berrien County poor farm near Berrien Springs, aged about 65 years.

The deceased was born in Virginia and served in the Confederate army during the civil war, coming to Niles in the 60's. At that time, Hern was a young man of refined manners, well educated and of fine personal appearance—qualifications which soon made him a social favorite.

Early in the 70's Hern edited the Niles Democrat with Morris Gulheen, the latter now being foreman of the St. Louis, Mo., Globe Democrat office. The Niles Democrat exerted a powerful influence upon the politics of the county. In the 80's Hern and John Lardner, now of Chicago, launched the “Expositor” at Benton Harbor, which they edited for a time finally selling out to Tom Hurley.

Upon his return to Niles, Hern, who had acquired a strong appetite for liquor, worked at the printer's trade, until a year or two ago, when he became a physical wreck. From then on, until he became a county charge, the deceased lived upon the charity of his friends.

When he accompanied Hern to the county house, W.H. Bullard, commissioner of the poor, promised him that he would see to it that his body would not be sent to Ann Arbor for dissection when he came to die, and in accordance with that promise, Mr. Bullard is circulating a subscription paper today to raise funds with which to give the deceased a decent burial.

The deceased never married and he leaves no known relatives in this part of the country.

Rebecca (Deniston) Ingersoll
April 5, 1828 to Dec. 25, 1903

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 25, 1903, page 3, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

ON CHRISTMAS DAY
Mrs. Rebecca Ingersoll Passed Away at South Bend

Rebecca Denistron Ingersoll, one of the pioneer residents of Niles, passed away on Christmas day at her home in South Bend, after a short illness with pneumonia..

Mrs. Ingersoll was born April 5, 1828, and came here with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Deniston in 1830. Where the city of Niles now is, there was at that time nothing but a dense forest and the reminiscences which Mrs. Ingersoll was wont to relate of her early life here were intensely interesting. The log cabin erected by her father was preserved for the family for many years and was but recently torn down.

Rebecca Deniston was wedded to Harmon Ingersoll and they removed from her to South Bend in 1865, where Mr. Ingersoll died in 1892. Three sons were born to them, Harmon, who passed away in 1884, Capt. Royal Ingersoll of the U.S. Navy, and Alfred of South Bend. Three sisters and one brother are also left, Mrs. Clara Brown and E. Deniston of this city and Mesdames Eason and Webber of LaPorte, Ind.

The circumstances surrounding the death of Mrs. Ingersoll are unusually sad. Only about three weeks ago Mrs. Brown went to South Bend to spend the winter with her sister and about a week after her arrival was stricken with pneumonia. Her life was despaired of for several days and just when she commenced to improve Mrs. Ingersoll became ill with the same malady and passed away with in a little more than a week.

The funeral will occur Monday morning at 11 o'clock in South Bend, after which the remains will be brought here for burial at Silver Brook cemetery.

Lydia Goens, 77
July 8, 1933 — March 4, 2011

Niles Daily Star, Published 11:44 pm Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Lydia Jeffries Goens, 77, former longtime resident of South Fourth Street, Niles, died at 4:40 a.m. Friday, March 4, 2011 at Riveridge Manor, Niles following an extended illness.

She was born July 8, 1933 in Niles to Irving and Pearl (Jones) Jeffries, and lived in Niles most of her life.

She attended the University of Detroit (Mich.) and Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind. and graduated from the University of Chicago School of Inhalation Therapy. She began her career at the former Pawating Hospital in Niles, where she served 20 years as director of respiratory therapy. She continued her career as a social worker and financial counselor, eventually retiring from what is now known as Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles.

Lydia was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, Niles and of the Psi Iota Xi sorority and the professional division of the Michigan Lung Association.

She was preceded in death by two daughters, Anne Mary Goens, who died in infancy in 1954, and Lydia Anne Goens, who died Dec. 21, 1987. She was also preceded in death by her sisters and brothers: Josephine Wharton, Charlene Wilson, Lewis Jeffries, Kensel Jeffries and Elwyn Jeffries.

Surviving family includes her son, David Lewis Goens of Niles; her grandson (Lydia Anne’s son), Levi Nicholas (Amber) Goens, whom Lydia adopted at his mother’s death; great-grandchildren, Olevia Goens and Levi Nicholia Goens, Aydin Kyles and Naiya Kyles; and many nieces and nephews.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Lydia Goens will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, March 11 at St. Mary Catholic Church with the Rev. David Otto of the parish officiating.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Lydia may be made to the Niles District Library.

Albert Eugene and Patricia Bivins, both of Niles

Albert Eugene Bivins
Aug. 14, 1936-Dec. 2017

Patricia Bivins
Nov. 5, 1952-Dec. 2017

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:22 am Monday, February 26, 2018

Albert Eugene Bivins, 81, and his daughter, Patricia Bivins, 55, both of Niles, died together at their home during the last week of Dec. 2017. Their deaths were unexpected and remain under investigation.

Albert was born on Aug. 14, 1936, in Chicago, and became the son of Essie and Ed Canon.

He was graduated from high school in Chicago and attended the Malcolm X College in Chicago. He was married in 1956 to Ruby Lee Frazier.

Albert Eugene Bivins

Patricia Bivins

Patricia was born on Nov. 5, 1962, to Albert and Ruby. Patricia was a very special child who was nourished and blossomed under the homeschooling of her parents.

Albert served a tour of duty in the U.S. Navy during peacetime, and returned to Chicago where he established two neighborhood restaurants which featured home cooking of everything from fried food to soul food. He was also employed for many years at the Pillsbury Company in Chicago.

Sadly, Ruby died far too young in 1979.

Albert always enjoyed the outdoors, and taught Patricia that same appreciation. They found their way to Michigan, settling in Niles where they fished in the Saint Joseph River and attended Friday Night Movies at Riverfront Park, shown on the outside wall of the Ready Theater. They became an important part of a wonderful neighborhood, worshipped at the Baptist Church, and Albert continued to cook fried chicken and barbeque short ribs. Patricia enjoyed shopping in the locally owned stores, and rarely missed a daily episode of the classic television show “I Dream Of Jeannie.”

Surviving family includes the other children of Al and Ruby, Cynthia Bivins of East Dundee, Illinois who traveled to visit Al and Pat, and Timmothy Bivins, Sr. of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Ruby’s other children, Berdine Frazier, Rosie Kizer, Roberta Walter, and Lillie Howell; Cynthia’s children, Shanell Hall, Kareef Leachman, Kareem Leachman, Sharnice Leachman, and Sharnae Leachman; and their children, Nakiyah, Anessa, Ta’Liyah, Ja’Niyah, Ka’Miyah, and Kaiden; and Timmothy’s children, Marie, Maria, Timmothy, Jr., Michael, Da’Shawn, Tanisha, T’ianna, Shanta, Kadisha, Capri, and Jas’Min; and a host of aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

Albert was preceded in death by his wife, and by a grandchild, Timothy Rayshawane.

In addition to her mother, Patricia was also preceded in death by siblings Albert Kizer, Ruby Bea, and Louis Kizer III.

Joint services for Albert and Patricia Bivins will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 3, 2018, at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home with the Rev. Bryant L. Bacon, Sr. of Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Niles officiating. Committal will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. Online condolences may be left at: halbritterwickens.com.

Anthony Layne Johnson-Patrick, of Buchanan
Nov. 16, 2017 — Feb. 27, 2018

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:14 am Monday, March 5, 2018

Anthony Layne Johnson-Patrick, 3 months, of Buchanan, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018, at Memorial Hospital in South Bend.

He was born on Nov. 16, 2017, to his loving parents, Patrick Kingori and Lindsey Johnson.

Anthony Layne Johnson-Patrick

In addition to his parents, Anthony is survived by his maternal grandparents, Larry and Linda Johnson; an aunt, Jamie (Runi) Balciauskas; uncle, Adam (Katie Clark) Johnson; siblings, Adeline, Lily and Lucas Gill as well as Michelle and Kate Patrick.

Anthony will also be remembered by all of his family in Kenya.

His family will host a private funeral at Brown Funeral Home in Niles with interment to follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memories and condolences may be left for his family at BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.

How very softly you tiptoed into our world. Almost silently; Only a moment you stayed. But what an imprint. Your footprints have left on our hearts.