Mr. Francis Lee Norris, of Niles
Aug. 20, 1928 — Aug. 7, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 12:21 pm Monday, August 15, 2016

Mr. Francis Lee Norris, 87, of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 5:05 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016, with family gathered around at the Wedgewood Healthcare Center in Lakeland, Florida following an extended illness.

He was born on Aug. 20, 1928, in Niles to Dick E. and Bertha J. (Knott) Norris. He was graduated from Niles High School was first employed at the former Camps Grocery in Niles while taking college courses in business administration. He served in the 1903rd Engineer Aviation Battalion of the United States Army, and was discharged as a Veteran of the Korean Conflict.

Norris

After returning from the service, Fran owned and operated the former Quality Fruit Company for many years, delivering produce to area grocers and restaurants. He then joined the Teamsters Union Local #364 and drove for the former ATL Motorfreight and its successor, ANR Motorfreight from which he retired in 1993. He continued to live in Niles, but enjoyed winters in Lakeland.

Fran was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Niles, the Loyal Order of Moose #449 in Buchanan, and the American Legion Post #26 in Niles. He volunteered with the Niles area Meals on Wheels, was an usher for the Detroit Tigers Spring Training at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, and enjoyed the fellowship of a Shuffleboard club. His greatest joy was his family.

On Jan. 9, 1954, at the First Presbyterian Church in Niles he married the former Vera Mae Rose Altergott. She was the love of his life, and they celebrated this year the remarkable 66th anniversary of their wedding.

Surviving family includes his wife, Rose Norris and their children, Gary L. (Marian LaBo) Norris, Nancy A. (Jerry Polley) Lowery, and Scott A. (Annie Young) Norris, all of Niles; grandchildren Shaun (Carly) Norris and Mikael (Kelly) Norris; great-grandchildren Marshall Wismer, Ava Hoskins, and Finn Norris; Ruth’s brothers, Rienholdt “Curly” Altergott of Buchanan, Michigan and Elmer Altergott of Niles; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and Rose’s parents, Martin and Katy Altergott; a son-in-law, Mahlon L. Lowery; and Rose’s brothers, Ruben, Fred and Larry Altergott.

Services for Francis Norris will be at 9:30 a.m. on his birthday, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of First Presbyterian Church officiating. Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and will conclude with the Full Military Honors by the United States Army Honor Guard and American Legion Post #51 of Buchanan.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 5 until 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Contributions in memory of Fran may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, or to the National Parkinson Foundation.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Catherine Elizabeth ‘Pat’ Chambers, formerly of Niles
Sept. 15, 1930 — Sept. 6, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:24 am Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Catherine Elizabeth “Pat” Chambers, 84, formerly of Niles, Michigan died on Sept. 6, 2015 in Gulfport, Mississippi. Pat, the youngest of five, was born on Sept. 15, 1930, to Ruby and George V. James in Arkansas City, Arkansas.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her brother, George R. James; her sister, Gene W. Hughes; her husbands, Keith Dwight Baird and Robert Chambers; and her son, James Earl Baird. She is survived by her sisters, Sue Painter and Doris Foster; three daughters, Carol Hand, Sue Sue Conlyn, and Liz Vegely; seven grandchildren and four (soon to be five) great-grandchildren.

Catherine Elizabeth “Pat” Chambers

Pat, being born in the south during the Great Depression, had stories to tell about floods, civil war evidence in the houses they lived in, and life in general during those times. She started college, but stopped to get married and raise a family until 1989, while taking care of her mother, she went back to school to become an LPN, working in that profession until she retired. She loved her family and many, many times went the extra mile to help them. It was a different story if you were playing against her in a game; she had a competitive side and was known to cheat at cards. However, if you held your cards so she could see them, she said it wasn’t cheating. She is loved and greatly missed by her family and friends.

Services for Pat Chambers will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016, at the Graveside in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles — next to the graves of her husband, Keith and son, James – with the Rev. Carl W. Bassett of Niles officiating.

Contributions in memory of Pat may be made to the American Heart Association at www.heart.org, the American Lung Association at www.lung.org, or to the American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Mildred Irene Taylor, of Niles
Oct. 14, 1922 — Aug. 14, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 1:01 pm Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Mildred Irene Taylor, 93, of Niles, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016, at home.

She was born on Oct. 14, 1922, in Terre Haute, Indiana to Margaret and John Prather.

Mildred is survived by her son, James Robert Brady; grandchildren, Tanya (Sean) McNelis with Jennifer (Larissa) Tripp, Janell Tripp, Leah Tripp, and Joshua McNelis; Jason Brady with Mason Brady; Lisa Brady-Fisk with Gavin Rasler, Bella Rasler, Zaine Fisk, and Lanie Fisk; and two great great grandchildren, Jayse Hoadley, Paislee Hoadley; and two sisters, Evelyn Roberts and Frances Belleu.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Daniel Taylor; parents, Margaret and John; brothers, Norman, Fred, Danny, and John Prather; sisters, Mary Phelps, Shirley Prather, Betty Prather, and Estella Shadow.

Cremation has taken place. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan. Online condolences may be made at www.hovenfunerals.com.

Vada Ward, of Niles
June 8, 1942 — Aug. 24, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:53 am Monday, August 29, 2016

Vada Ward, 74, of Niles, passed from this life on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, at Hanson Hospice Center, following a lengthy and courageous battle with a multitude of illnesses.

She was born on June 8, 1942, in Sunflower, Mississippi to the late Ward L. “Bo” and Nevada M. (Keeys) Morgan.

Vada Ward

Vada was graduated from adult education at Niles High School in May 2000. On Sept. 27, 1959, she married Walter “Buddy” Ward, Jr. Vada worked for many years at Whirlpool and several local factories. Vada was a faithful member of the Bethlehem Baptist Church in Niles and had been an usher for several years and loved going to Sunday school. She had a deep love and devotion for her family, fighting to stay alive for them and instituted her family Christmas and 4th of July gatherings. In her free time Vada enjoyed bingo, especially when her and her mother could go. Her passion was cooking for family and friends; no one left her house hungry, everyone was fed a full course meal and take-outs too!

Preceding Vada in death are her parents, and her daughter, Darlene Gaye Ward.

She is survived by her husband of over 56 years, Walter “Buddy” Ward, Jr. of Niles; three children, Arleen Faye Ward of Niles, Kenny Ward of Houston, Texas and Walter Ward, III “Junior” of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; her grandchildren, Marquis Woodruff, Walter B. Ward IV and Kendra and Nicole Haithcox; great-grandchildren, Ashtynn, Lia and Braden Woodruff; three sisters, Mae F. Jones, Martha Ann Morgan and Sandra (Richard) Nelson; two brothers, Claude L and Arthur L. Morgan, all of Niles and a host of nieces, nephews and countless other relatives and friends.

A time of visitation will be held at Brown Funeral Home from 6 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016. Funeral services will begin at noon Thursday, Sept. 1, at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church with Rev. Dennis Giden officiating. She will be interred next to her daughter at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Those wishing to leave messages or share memories may do so at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.

Donald W. Bright, Jr., of Niles
Dec. 5, 1935 — Sept. 2, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:38 am Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Donald Wesley Bright, Jr., 80, of Niles, Michigan died at 6 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, at The Chalet of Niles following an extended illness.

He was born on Dec. 5, 1935, in Niles to Donald W. and Jessie L. (Lintz) Bright, Sr. He attended Niles Community Schools and has lived in Niles all of his life – many years in the Oak Manor neighborhood. He was employed for thirty-nine years at the former Niles plant of Simplicity Pattern Company.

Donald W. Bright

Don enjoyed hunting and fishing around the area, and watching movies, especially the westerns. He and his wife enjoyed traveling, and often the destination was to visit family members.

He was first married to the former Joan Ewing, who preceded him in death in 1980. On April 4, 1987, in Leavenworth, Indiana he married the former Eva L. Wallbrown who preceded him in death on April 28, 2014. Don was also preceded in death by his twin sister, Ruth Smith who died in January of 2016, another sister, Donna Clemments who died in 1989, and by a brother, Kenneth Bright who died in a motor vehicle accident in 1950.

Surviving family includes a brother, Michael McIntire of Niles; several nieces and nephews; and a wonderful circle of neighbors and friends.

The funeral service for Donald Bright, Jr. will be at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, at the Graveside in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 until 8 p.m. on Monday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Robert Johnson, of Niles
July 27, 1931 — Sept. 4, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 7:46 am Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Robert E. Johnson, 85, of Niles, went to be with his Lord, on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph, Michigan, following an illness.

He was born on July 27, 1931, in Niles to the late Kenneth and Helen (Kane) Johnson.

Robert attended Niles Schools and was known for his abilities playing both softball and football. He continued playing softball locally for many years where he was a fantastic pitcher. Robert was a man of great faith and a charter member of Emmanuel Baptist Bible Church in Niles. Robert was passionate about helping in any capacity he could and took great pride in mowing and keeping up with the maintenance around the church. Robert also had a deep love and devotion to his family, especially his grandchildren. On Aug. 3, 1985, Robert married Vi L. Yoder at a ceremony in Niles.

Robert Johnson

He is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Shirley Gowen.

Robert is survived by his wife, Vi Johnson of Niles, his children; Larry (Theresa) Johnson of South Carolina, Vicky Johnson of Buchanan, Wanda Wogoman of Niles and Bruce (Debbie) Johnson of South Bend, six grandchildren, a host of great-grandchildren, a sister, Gloria Bennett of South Bend, two brothers, Ron (Sallie) Johnson of Niles and Jim (Debbie) Johnson of Dowagiac as well as two “adopted daughters” he considered his family, Deb Bloch and Beth Reum.

Funeral services to honor Robert will be held on Thursday, September 8, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Bible Church in Niles with Pastor Brad Lomax officiating. A time of visitation will begin one hour prior. Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in Robert’s memory to Emmanuel Baptist Bible Church, 216 Beeson Road, Niles, Michigan 49120.

Memories of Robert can be shared at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.