Obituaries

Ruby M. Williams
Dec. 7, 1922-May 5, 1972

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, May 6, 1972, page 3, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles—Mrs. Ruby M. Williams, 49, of 2558 Little St., died at 1:05 p.m. Friday in South Bend Osteopathic Hospital after an illness of 45 days.

A employe of the folding department of Simplicity Pattern Co., Mrs, Williams was born Dec. 7, 1922, in Ludlow, Ill., and had lived here since 1945, coming from Clessaning, Mich. On Dec. 31, 1945, in South Bend, she married Benjamin R. Williams, who survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Raymond E. and Jeff A., both of Niles; two daughters, Mrs. Fred Krueger and Mrs. Ben Bonfoey, both of Niles; her mother, Mrs. Delsie Cole of Niles; a brother, Donald D. Cole of Owosso, Mich.; two sisters, Mrs. Lewis Bonner of Niles and Mrs. Cal Hornus of Owosso and two grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Arlan Schlundt of St. John's United Church of Christ officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 Monday evening at the funeral home.

Elizabeth ‘Betty’ (Hammink) Andrews, of Niles
July 22, 1922 - June 25, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:29 am Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Elizabeth “Betty” (Hammink) Andrews, 93, of Niles, passed away peacefully on Saturday morning, June 25, 2016, at Chalet of Niles.

She was born on July 22, 1922, in Cleveland, Ohio to the late Harvey and Ruth (Andrews) Hammink.

On June 15, 1946 she married the late William F. Andrews at a ceremony in Bay Village, Ohio. Betty worked for many years as a clerk for the Holiday Inn of Niles. She had a strong faith and was a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Niles. She was also a member of the Phi Chi Epsilon Sorority. A true homemaker, Betty loved sewing, baking and spending time with her family.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband William Andrews in 1986 and a brother William Hammink.

Betty is survived by her daughter, Debbie (Richard) Kowalski of Niles, two grandchildren, Melissa Kowalski of Niles and Derek Kowalski of Elkhart, a sister, Jean Harris of Rocky River, Ohio, four great-grandchildren; Jaylin, Brianna, Hailey and Ahnnika.

Funeral services for Mrs. Andrews will be held at Brown Funeral Home in Niles on Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. with a time of visitation one hour prior. She will be laid to rest at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Condolences and memories of Betty may be shared with her family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.

Marna W. Barnes, of Niles
Nov. 30, 1923 — May 26, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 1:50 pm Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Marna W. Barnes, 83, of Niles, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, May 26, 2016.

Marna W. Barnes

She was born on Nov. 30, 1932, to the late Willard and Fern (VanDerbeck) Weimer. Marna graduated from Niles High School in 1950 and married Howard Byerley, who preceded her in death in 1971; from that union they raised three children. In 1972 she married Gilbert Barnes who also preceded her in death.

Marna was a member of the Die-hard Chicago Cub Fan Club since 1953; a homemaker most of her life, she will be remembered by most as a strong minded, independent women and for her pie crust.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Willard and Fern Weimer; husbands, Howard Byerley and Gilbert Barnes.

Marna is survived by her children; William (Noi) Aura, of Ojai, California, Thomas (Lisbeth) Byerley, of Dimondale, Michigan and Paul Byerley, of Greenfield, Indiana, six grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and a host of family and friends.

Memorial contributions may be made in Marna’s memory to Hospice at Home.

At Marna’s request, cremation has taken place; a private graveside service will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, at a later date.

Family and friends are invited to sign the guestbook or leave a message for Marna’s family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Niles.

Leonard Paul Brown, of Niles
Nov. 29, 1957 — Feb. 2, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:36 am Friday, June 10, 2016

Leonard Paul Brown, 57, formerly of Niles, Michigan died on Monday, Feb. 2, 2015, in Bakersfield, California of injuries suffered in an accidental fall 10 days earlier.

He was born on Nov. 29, 1957, in South Bend, Indiana and was a son of Harvey and Evelyn (Wilke) Brown. He attended Niles Community Schools, and enlisted in the United States Navy. He served during Peacetime as an electrical and mechanical repairman, and upon release from the military, settled in Bakersfield where he was employed in house construction.

Lenny liked to fish anywhere, but especially enjoyed going out on the ocean. He was a “car guy” who enjoyed stock car racing and working on cars. One of his favorites was a Tucker ‘48, on which he had performed a complete electrical restoration. Only 51 Tuckers were built, of which only 47 survive.

Surviving family includes his parents, Harvey and Evelyn Brown of Branch, Michigan; a sister, Kimberly; several aunts and uncles including Bob Elaine Alonso of Michigan City, Indiana; and many cousins.

The family of Lenny Brown is gathering at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 14, 2016, at his graveside in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles for Committal Rites, concluding with the Veteran’s Flag Presentation and “Taps.” Contributions in memory of Lenny may be made to the Donor’s Choice.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Mary Ellen (Blackmun) Crouch, of Goshen
Nov. 20, 1931 — Feb. 2, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:18 am Friday, February 5, 2016

Goshen, Ind. — Mary Ellen (Blackmun) Crouch, 84, of Goshen, Indiana, died on Feb. 2, 2016, at Greencroft Healthcare, from complications of renal cancer.

Mary Ellen (Blackmun) Crouch

Mary was born on Nov. 20, 1931, in Niles, Michigan to Ruth (Carnes) and Harold Blackmun, graduated from Niles High School, and attended Hanover College and Michigan State University, where she studied literature. On Sept. 10, 1950, she married Jack Crouch. Over the years, Mary worked as a secretary, receptionist, and as an exceedingly well-organized homemaker. She and Jack were longtime members of the First Presbyterian Church of Niles until moving to Goshen, where they joined the College Mennonite Church.

Mary enjoyed singing in the choir, reading good books, watching highly-rated films, gazing out over the lake or ocean with a cup of coffee in the morning, and deep conversations about the meaning of life. In the spirit of St. Francis, she cared for birds and other animals, and with Jack’s help, tended beautiful flowers.

Mary is survived by her husband Jack Crouch; daughters, Laurie (Crouch) Dowling of Lansing, Michigan and Marti Crouch of Bloomington; brother, Bob (Pat) Blackmun of Hilton, New York; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, and brother, Bill (Dorie) Blackmun of Niles.

A memorial service officiated by College Mennonite Church will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Feb/ 6, at the Gathering Place in Evergeen, Greencroft Goshen, with visitation there at 9 a.m. Later in the spring, there will also be a service in Niles prior to burial of the cremains at Silverbrook Cemetery, TBA.

Contributions can be made in her name to the Mennonite Central Committee, or to the Cornell Lab or Ornithology.

Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, Goshen, Indiana is assisting the family with arrangements.

Marilyn Winn Godsey, of Niles
Jan. 4, 1931 — May 10, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:14 am Monday, May 16, 2016

Marilyn Winn Godsey, 85, formerly of Niles, Michigan died at 3:35 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, 2016, with her family gathered around at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka, Indiana following a brief illness.

Godsey

She was born on Jan. 4, 1931, in Niles to Clayton U. and F. Lucille (Winn) McCoy. She was graduated from Niles High School, and earned a Bachelor’s degree in business from Indiana University at Bloomington. She was employed for many years in the executive offices of the National-Standard Corporation in Niles and in the office of McCoy Ready-Mix Concrete.

Marilyn was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Niles, of Orchard Hills Country Club in Niles and The Forest Country Club in Fort Myers, Florida, of the Niles Service League, and the Niles Garden Club. She enjoyed traveling with her husband, and had visited much of Asia including Russia, Thailand, and Hong Kong. She was both a proficient golfer and a talented pianist. But her greatest gifts were at home; cooking and caring for her family, and especially her grandchildren.

On April 8, 1952, at the First Presbyterian Church in Niles she married M. Austin Godsey with whom she celebrated last month the remarkable 64th anniversary of their wedding.

Surviving family includes her husband, Austin Godsey and their sons Mark (Gayle) Godsey of New Buffalo, Michigan and Tom (Sheryl) Godsey of Hendersonville, Tennessee; grandchildren Blake (Ilene) Godsey, Brett (Cristina) Godsey, Brandon Godsey, Cami Godsey, Ben Godsey, and Blair Godsey; and great-grandchildren Avi, Aden, and Hannah.

The family of Marilyn Godsey will gather privately at the graveside in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. Contributions in memory of Marilyn may be made to The Salvation Army of Niles. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

www.halbritterfunerals.com