Mae Bowen
Dec. 5, 1873-July 9, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 10, 1945, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Mae Bowen Dies Last Night

Funeral services will be held Wednesday for Mrs. Mae Bowen, 71, of 526 Oak street who died at 8:40 p.m. Monday in Pawating hospital.  She was the widow of Charles B. Bowen.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. in the Kiger funeral home with the Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the Methodist church, in charge. Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery.

Native of Three Rivers

Mrs. Bowen was born in Three Rivers, Dec. 5, 1873, and came to Niles from Cassopolis 35 years ago. She was married to Charles Bowen, Sept. 7, 1904, in Hastings. She was a member of the Methodist church and had been active in missionary and church work for many years.  She was one of the oldest members of the Monday reading club.

Surviving is one brother, John G. Van Norsdall of three Rivers.  Mrs. Bowen has been ill for two years and had entered Pawating hospital Oct. 17, 1944 suffering from a broken hip.

Mrs. Bowen's husband for many years operated a milling concern which was situated on Front street just north of the railroad underpass.  The mill obtained its power from a canal which ran form the Dowagiac creek to the St. Joseph river. The mill was razed in the 1920s.

John Q. Bailey
March 14, 1936-Oct. 23, 2004

Mr. John Q. Bailey, 68, beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother, who resided on LaSalle Avenue, South Bend, Ind., passed away after an illness at 4:45 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23, in the Cardinal Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

John was born on March 14, 1936, in Selmer, Tenn., to the union of Quency and Cleo (Barlow) Bailey, who both preceded him in death. He grew up in Eau Claire, Mich., where he attended Eau Claire High School and played baseball. He was honorably discharged from the United States Marines after faithfully serving his country. For many years he attended Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Niles, Mich., where he served on the deacon board. He was a laborer in factory with Clarks for many years. He was avid bowler and organized a bowling league in Benton Harbor, Mich. Coming from Niles two years ago, he moved to South Bend. He was a member of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Niles.

Leaving to cherish his loving memory are a daughter, Tracy Bailey; three sons, John Q. Bailey Jr. and William Bailey, all of Los Angeles, Calif., and Exzavor Bailey of Grand Rapids, Mich.; three stepdaughters, Betty Spates, Marry Leggett and Deborah Hill; a stepson, Anthony Hill, all of Los Angeles; 14 grandchildren; two sisters, Alvena Bailey and Delphene Bailey; three brothers, Alvin Bailey, Bennie Bailey and David Bailey, all of West Hartford, Conn.; an adopted brother, Jerry Mitchell of Berrien Springs, Mich.; two aunts, Mary Croon of Dowagiac, Mich., and Janie McMichaels of Niles; special nieces, Deborah Mackey of Detroit, Mich., Wanda (Tyrrenee) Spencer and Kim (Willie) Junes of Holland, Mich.; along with a host of other relatives and friends.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. (Michigan time) Friday, Oct. 29, in Mount Calvary Baptist Church, 601 Ferry St., Niles; visitation will occur one hour prior to services in the church.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Alford's Mortuary

(South Bend Tribune, Thursday, October 28, 2004, St. Joseph County Library free-source)

Lee A. Bachman
Aug. 20, 1890-July 8, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 9, 1945, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Set Rites Wednesday for Lee A. Bachman, Aged 44

Funeral services today were set for Wednesday at the Second baptist church for Lee Andrew Bachman, 44, rural route two, who died Sunday night at his home. Death followed an illness of six and a half years.

The body will be taken from the Pifer funeral home to the church Wednesday noon. Services will be held at 2 p.m. with Rev. R.B. Alexander in charge, and burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery.

Bachman was a native of Johnson city, Tenn.  He came to Niles from South Bend nine months ago.  He was a veteran of World War I.

Survivors, in addition to the wife, Elizabeth, are a brother, James, south Bend, and a sister, Miss Eva Bachman, Johnson City, Tenn.

Minna Edmonds
May 9, 1873-June 14, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Friday, June 15, 1945, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Hold Rites Here for Mrs. Minna Edmonds, Aged 72

Funeral services for Mrs. Minna Edmonds, 72, of Twining, Mich., who died Thursday in a hospital at Omer, will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Pifer funeral home with the Rev. Theo Eisen, pastor of the St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church, officiating.

Sister of Fred N. and Carl E. Walter and Mrs. Arthur Lillie, of Niles, Mrs. Edmonds was born here May 9, 1873, and lived at Elwood, Ind., sometime before moving to northern Michigan. Sh was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Karl Walter and was married to D.B. Edmonds in Niles, Sept. 25, 1895.

In addition to the two brothers and a sister here and her husband, she is survived by three sons, Walter of Frankfort, Ind., Paul, of AuGres, Mich., and D.B. Edmonds, Jr. of Elkhart; and another sister, Mrs. Elmer Decker, of Berrien Springs, as well as five grandchildren.

The body is expected to arrive here Saturday noon and burial will be n Silverbrook cemetery.

Clare Emery Eyles
Jan. 4, 1862-June 17, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, June 23, 1945, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Ashes of Former Niles Resident to Be Brought Here

Ashes of a former resident of Niles, Miss Clare Eyles, who was about 80 years old, will be brought here for interment according to word received today.

Miss Eyles died in Newark, N.J. Last Sunday and was cremated Tuesday.  The ashes are being sent to the Kiger funeral home but no services have been planned.

A sister of William J. Eyles, who was pastor of the first Baptist church here about 1900, who had lived here at that time. Another sister, Miss Jennie Eyles, taught in the Niles schools from 1900 to 1910.

Another sister, Miss Erminie Eyles, of Newark, survives.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 14, 1945, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Committal Rites Here for Former Resident

Committal services will be held at 4 p.m. Monday in Silverbrook cemetery for Miss Clare Emery Eyles, about 80 years old, former resident of Niles, who died June 17 in Newark, N.J.  The Rev. L. George Beacock will be in charge.

The ashes are at the Kiger funeral home. She was cremated June 19 in Newark.  Miss Eyles was a sister of William J. Eyles, who was pastor of the First Baptist church here about 1900.  She lived here at that time. A sister, Miss Jennie Eyles, taught in the Niles schools from 1900 to 1910.

Miss Erminie Eyles, of Newark, another sister, survives.

Note: DOB from US Passport Application, 1924.

Marie Gulbranson
Nov. 5, 1903-July 27, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 28, 1945, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Gulbranson, 41 Dies Friday

After several months of illness, Mrs. Marie Gulbranson, 41, of 71 North State street, died at her home at 3:45 Friday afternoon.

Born in South Bend Nov. 5, 1903, she came to Niles 39 years ago and was married to Louis Gulbranson Dec. 9, 1920.

Besides her husband, she is survived by three children, Sgt. George and Pfc. Richard, both in Germany with the United States army, and Carolyn at home.

Also surviving are a stepfather, Joseph Hibiske of Niles and the following brothers and sisters: Mrs. Willard Schroeder, of Bertrand; Mrs. Cleland Muntz, of Niles; Anna Hibiske, rural route four; Pfc Arthur Hibiske, on Okinawa; Pfc Harry Hibiske in Germany; seaman first class Edward Hibiske, in the south Pacific with the Seabees; seaman first class . . .[illegible] . . .

She was a member of the Lady Elks and Mothers of World War II.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where services will be conducted at 2 by the Rev. Fr. Jacob Gensterblum, assistant pastor of St. Mary's Catholic church.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.