Clarence “June” Finley
July 8, 1915-April 27, 2001

Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 27, 2001, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Clarence “June” Finley, a longtime resident of Niles, Michigan, passed peacefully at home among family on Easter Sunday, April 15.

Clarence was born at home on July 8, 1915, in Howard Township, Cass County, Michigan. His great grandfather, Pasqual LaRue Finley, was one of Niles' earliest settlers arriving during the 1840s.

Clarence attended a one-room schoolhouse nearby and graduated from Niles High School in 1934.

During his youth, Clarence earned the Eagle Scout award from the Boy Scouts of America.

Clarence was the 11th man in Niles to be drafted during World War II.

He was eventually promoted to 1st Lieutenant with the 94th Corps of Engineers.

After the war he worked for Clark Equipment Co., Studebaker Corp. and later retired after 19 years of service with the Michigan Department of Highway and Transportation in 1977.  Mr. Finley was one of the first equal opportunity compliance officers within the Highway Department.

Mr. Finley was also active in the Democratic Party and served as Chairman of its local chapter in the 1950s.

He was a volunteer for former Michigan Governor G. Mennen Williams, U.S. Senator Phil Hart and numerous other state and local officials.

His other affiliations include: John W. Mason Lodge #42, with which he was a Master of the 33rd Degree; Berrien Kruzers and Good Sams Camping Clubs; and a lifelong member of Franklin AME Church.

Clarence, or June as he was known by his many friends and family, enjoyed many hobbies throughout his life including hunting, fishing, creating handcrafted jewelry and camping.

His survivors include daughters Nancy (James) Waters, Muskegon; Sylvia Perkins, Haslett; sister Esther Woodford, Lansing; sister Norma (Parker) Taylor, Niles; brother Seth (Bennie Ruth) Finley, Seattle, WA; grandchildren Mark Waters, Stacie and Jchon Perkins; family of Vivian Egbert: Charles, Tyra, Edith, their children and grandchildren.

A memorial will [be] held Saturday, May 5th at 1 p.m. at the Franklin AME Church at 809 Sycamore Street, Niles, Michigan.

Visitation will begin at noon.

Grace Smith Haase
Sept. 29, 1881-July 23, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 26, 1954, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Committal rites will be held at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Silverbrook Cemetery here for Mrs. Grace Smith Haase, 72, free-lance artist who died Friday in a Chicago hospital following a brief illness.

Mrs. Haase was born Sept. 29, 1881, in Niles the daughter of Charles E. and Grace Elizabeth Gustin Smith and had lived in River Forest, Ill.  She is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Mary Louise Marshall, Tryon, N.C. , and Miss Kathryn Jean Smith, Greenvilee[sic], S.C., both of whom are well-known in Niles.

Everett W. Horner
March 15, 1903-Oct. 29, 1975

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, October 30, 1975, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES—Everett W. Horner, 72, of 2330 E. Main st., died at 12:20 p.m. Wednesday after an illness of six months.  

A member of the Modern Woodsmen and the Loyal Stars, he retired in 1962 from the New York Central Railroad as a railroad car repairman.

He was born March 15, 1903 in Niles and had lived here his lifetime.  One June 17, 1922 in Niles, he married the former Minnie B. Williams, who survives.

Also surviving are three sons, Everett Jr. of Mattawan, N.J., Charles of Niles and Michael of Dowagiac; a brother, Clarence of Niles; three sisters, Mrs. Emma Worvey and Mrs. Ruby Felhauer, both of Niles, and Mrs. Lucille Deditch of LaPorte, Ind.; 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. Mark Graham of Wesley United Methodist Church officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  

Friends are calling at the funeral home.

Frank E. Hover
Sept. 4, 1905-Aug. 30, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 1, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Frank E. Hover, 48, Niles Township fire chief since the department was organized last October, died at his home, 1439 South 13th street.  He had been ill two years.

After serving with the Niels Fire Department 15 years as a truck driver, Hover left the department Oct. 15 to organize the township force. Hover, Assistant Chief George Nieb and four other men made up the township's paid fireman complement.

Hover was on duty at headquarters station on M-40 until three weeks ago.

He was a member of the Niles Township School Board 30 years and at the time of his death was a member of Fractional No. 2 Board. He also was a member of the International Firefighters Assn.

Born in South Bend Sept. 4, 1905, he moved to the Niles area at the age of 6.

survivors are his mother, Mrs. Florence Hover of Niles; his widow, Helen Hover; two daughters, Mrs. James Nieb and Mrs. Edward Behm, both of Niles; a sons Jerry, at home; one granddaughters, Nancy J. Behm; two sisters Mrs. Marie Schrumpf and Mrs. Charles Laudenslager, both of Niles, and a brother, Nelson Hover of Niles.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home.  Services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Friday at the First Presbyterian Church by the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe.  Burial will be at Silverbrook cemetery.

All township volunteer firemen will attend the services in a body. Four city and two township firemen will serve as bearers.  Niles First Chief W.L. Zimmer said city firemen will stand by at the township fire stations to permit firemen to attend the services.

Rosa Sinkes Hoyt
Feb. 10, 1888-July 26, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 26, 1954, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Osa[sic] Sinkes Hoyt, 66, of 3115 Hoyt street, died at 8:15 a.m. today at Pawating Hospital after a 16-month illness.

Mrs. Hoyt was born in Royal, Ill.  on Feb. 10, 1888, and came to Niles from St. Joseph, Ill., 21 years ago.

Besides her husband, Anson, she is survived by six sons, Rollie of Dowagiac, Robert at home, Leon of Detroit, Charles of Niles, William of Pontiac,and Norman of Monroe; one daughter, Mrs. Donald Coffman of Fort Wayne, Ind.; and one brother, Edward Sinkes of Seymour, Ind.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home until Wednesday when services will be held at 2 p.m. at the First Church of Christ with Brother John Kinner officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Note:  Cemetery records and Death certificate give first name as Rosa so it appears at “Osa” is a newspaper typo.

Edwin Llewellyn Hunter
March 25, 1874-March 30, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 2, 1935, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

DR. E.L. HUNTER SERVICES TODAY

Niles Physician Who Died Late Saturday Buried in Silverbrook

Funeral services for Dr. E.L. Hunter, who died at his home on M-$0 four miles north of Niles late Saturday, were held at the Price and Kiger funeral home this afternoon at 2:30.  Rev. Guy W. Simon, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, officiated and burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Since coming to Niles about twelve years ago with his sister, Miss Jessie Hunter, Dr. Hunter had been associated with the Kawneer company as company physician. He was serving in that capacity when his illness in July made it necessary for him to give up his work.  Before coming to Niles, he had practiced for several years in Chicago, after his graduation from Honemann college where he also served his internship.

Surviving are one son, Thomas H. Hunter, now at Harvard university, and his sister, Miss Jessie Hunter, Niles.

Casket bearers were Lowell Chapin, Fred Eaglesfield, George Kneeshaw, F.J. Plym, Walter Milligan and William Thayer.