Obituaries

Doris J. Blackmun, formerly of Niles
Nov. 16, 1925 — Dec. 21, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:23am Monday, December 29, 2014

Doris Jean “Dorie” Blackmun, 89, of Niles, Michigan, died on Sunday, December 21, 2014 at the Cass County Medical Care Facility in Cassopolis, Michigan. She was born November 16, 1925 in Buchanan to Beryl and Margaret (Tichenor) Harrington.

Dorie worked for the former First National Bank of Niles, retiring after many years of service. She was a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church in Niles where she sang in the choir and played the organ and hand bells. She volunteered her time at Lakeland Community Hospital and with the local Meals on Wheels program.

Doris Blackmun

On January 1, 1949 in Niles, Dorie married William H. Blackmun. He preceded her death on September 1, 2008, after 59 years of marriage. Dorie was also preceded in death by a sister, Ann Prestine, and by a brother, Jack Harrington.

Surviving family includes two daughters, Linda (Tom) Frey of Sunman, Indiana, and Judie (Pat) Quinn of Lansing, Michigan; grandchildren, Taryn (Kurt) Bullis and Jill (Michael) Besley, all of Madison, Wisconsin, Stephanie Quinn of Lansing and Neil (Leandra) Quinn of Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Dorie is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Juniper Bullis, Genevieve Bullis, Eliza Besley, John Besley and Brielle Quinn.

Funeral services for Doris Jean Blackmun will be held at Noon on Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, at the First Presbyterian Church in Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of the church officiating and assisted by the Rev. Neil Quinn of Spring Valley Presbyterian Church, Roselle, Illinois. Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services. Donations in memory of Dorie may be made to the First Presbyterian Church’s Music Program.

Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, Michigan.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Eldon Robert Blackburn
Dec. 11, 1924-Jan. 2, 2015

Eldon Blackburn, 90, of Niles, passed away at Lakeland Hospital on Friday, January 2, 2015 with his family by his side.

Eldon was born on December 11, 1924 to the late George Herman and Thelma (Roy) Blackburn in Niles, Michigan. After school Eldon enlisted in the United States Army Air Corp where he proudly served his country. While in the service he served as a sharpshooter and pilot before his honorable discharge. Soon after Eldon came home he wed the love of his life, Donna Goodling at a ceremony in Merced, California. The two were married for 68 wonderful years before Donna passed in late 2012. 

Eldon was always a busy man. He was a supervisor at Clark Equipment Company in the Axle Engineering Department. Many times Eldon worked two jobs to support his family and give them the life he thought they deserved. Family was very important to Eldon and he cherished his time spent with them. He and Donna were members of First Presbyterian Church in Niles and he loved to hunt, fish, collect coins and play BINGO. If you couldn’t find Eldon and Donna at home you knew they were probably out enjoying BINGO or fishing at Bear Lake in Jones, Michigan. The two helped manage the campground there and made many life long friendships at the campground.

Eldon is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Donna; daughter, Gail Harmon; and brother Kenneth Blackburn.

He is survived by his children, Kathy (Jeff Burrows) Malone of Niles, Gary (Sandy) Blackburn of Byron Center, Michigan and Barbara Speers of Pinellas Park, Florida; grandchildren Thomas (Becky) Kessler, Wendy (Jeromy) Hanson, Amy (Brett) Nielsen, Kelly (Sara Gibson) Rakowski and Erin (Dylan) Brooker; 20 great grandchildren; one great great grandson; a brother Dwayne Blackburn of North Carolina; and a special friend Penny Hocker of Niles. 

A time of visitation will be held at Brown Funeral Home in Niles on Tuesday, January 6, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. with funeral services beginning at 11:00 a.m. 

Those wishing to make a memorial donation in Eldon’s name may do so to the Wounded Warrior Project at PO Box 758517 in Topeka, Kansas 66675 or The Foundation at First Presbyterian Church located at 13 South 4th Street in Niles. 

Published on website of Brown Funeral Home and Cremation services.

Mary Kaye Damouth 
September 26, 1942 - January 5, 2015 

Robert V. ‘Bob’ Ellis, of South Bend
Feb. 12, 1936 — Jan. 3, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:04am Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Robert Vaughn “Bob” Ellis, 78, of South Bend passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 3, 2015 at the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka. He was born February 12, 1936 in Niles, Michigan to Artie and Mildred (Poort) Ellis.

Bob retired from Tyler Refrigeration of Niles, Michigan in 1985 after 30 years of service. He was owner and operator of Ellis Furniture in Niles for 13 years of his early retirement. He was a member of many civic organizations in South Bend including the Saint Joseph Young Men’s Society, the Bowlers Country Club, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Moose Lodge, American Legion and many more. He was a devoted American and had served in the National Guard. He loved life and was always on the go. Bob was a devout Notre Dame fan attending football games there since 1963. He was an avid golfer, bowler and enjoyed playing cards. Bob and his wife proudly traveled through the capitals of all 50 states. Above all Bob was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend to all, as he cherished spending time with his family and friends.

Robert V. Ellis

On April 24, 1972, Bob married the former Ernestine Springfield and together they had celebrated 42 years of marriage. Ernestine survives with sons, Robert (Jenny), Ellis Jr. and his children, Ben, Tyrrell, Henry and Isaac Ellis; James (Sherrie) Ellis, Sr. and his children Michelle, James Jr, Lindsey, Kelly, Christopher; and Richard (Steve) Ellis; a daughter, Lois (Gregg) Longacre and her children, Christopher Eslinger and Brittany Eslinger and 12 great-grandchildren.

Bob is also survived by one brother Dan (Teresa) Ellis, one sister Edna (Steve) Burns and many loving nieces and nephews. Bob will join two older sisters who preceded him in death.

Funeral services for Bob Ellis will be held at Noon on Friday, Jan. 9, 2015 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor David Szymczak of First Church of Christ-Christian officiating. Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the funeral home from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday and one hour prior to services on Friday.

Donations in memory of Bob may be made to the American Cancer Society.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

J. Gordon Miller, formerly of Niles
Nov. 2, 1927 — Jan. 18, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:55am Wednesday, January 21, 2015

J. Gordon Miller, 87, of Mishawaka, formerly of Niles, Michigan died Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, at West Woods of Niles following a brief illness. He was born Nov. 2, 1927, in Indianapolis to John Harold and Lillian Rosamond (Bernhardt) Miller.

Gordon was previous married to Geraldine Elliott, who later died in 2009. Gordon married Rosemary (Ernst) Runyan on Feb. 8, 1986. Rosemary survives as well as Gordon’s two daughters, Kathryn (Joe Antus) Denaut of Elkhart and Linda L. Miller of Niles; one stepson, Rod (Kim) Runyan of Texas and one step-daughter, Bonnie (Dave) DeRitter of Florida.

The funeral service for J. Gordon Miller will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Rev. Cathi Huvaere of Wesley United Methodist Church officiating. Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home on Wednesday, and from 1-2 p.m. on Thursday.

Donations may be made to the veteran’s organization or animal charity of choice.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Bobbie May Bennett, of Niles
May 27, 1941 — Jan. 19, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:17am Friday, January 23, 2015

She was born on May 27, 1941 in Whiteville, Tennessee to the late Robert and Tishie M. (McNeal) Tatum.

Bobbie May Bennett

Bobbie has always had a close walk with God, becoming a member of El Canaan Missionary Baptist Church in Tennessee and attending services locally throughout her life. She married the love of her life, Cecil Bennett, on Nov. 29, 1962, in Jackson, Tennessee. Bobbie worked for many years for Simplicity Pattern as a folder. She enjoyed traveling out west to spend time with her family. She loved listening to R&B and going to the movies. Her most treasured time was spent with her family, especially her grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Herbert Tatum and two sisters, Thelma Robinson and Gwyn Hunt Bridges.

Bobbie leaves to cherish her memory her beloved husband Cecil Bennett of Niles, four daughters; Patricia Shannon of Niles, Angela Bennett of Niles, Anita Bryant of Mississippi and Cherie Bennett of Niles, a son Timothy Bennett of Niles, 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, two brothers, Leevon and Lorenzo Tatum of Las Vegas, Nevada and two sisters, Virginia (Jimmy) Bartheleny of Las Angeles, California and Gertrude Tatum of Chicago, along with countless other nieces, nephews and hearts she touched.

Funeral services will be Monday, Jan. 26, 2015, at noon at Brown Funeral Home with a time of visitation beginning at 11 a.m. An interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Those wishing to leave a message for the family or upload a photo of Bobbie may do so on our website at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or on our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/BrownFuneralHomeNiles.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles