Obituaries

Donald P. Yeager
Dec. 15, 1957-Feb. 21, 1958

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 22, 1958, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

INFANT DIES

DOWAGIAC—Donald P. Yeager, two-month 0old son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Yeager, Twin Lakes, died at his home Friday night.

The child was born December 15, 1957, in South Bend.

Surviving are his parents; a sister, Lena, at home; his paternal grandmother, Mrs. William Yeager, Niles; his maternal grandparents, Mr and Mrs. Alvah Squires, Dowagiac' and his great grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. James Clark, Niles.

Funeral services will be held today at 9 a.m. In the McLauchlin Funeral Home, Dowagiac. The Rev. William P. O'Leary will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Leslie M. Hahn
Aug. 20, 1926-March 5, 1991

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 6, 1991, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

A Saturday funeral service is pending for Leslie M. Hahn, 64, of 2568 Prospect Drive, Niles.

Mrs. Hahn died at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at Pawating Hospital following an extended illness.

Arrangements are being completed at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 7, 1991, page 1, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Prominent Niles civic leader dies

Funeral services for prominent Niles civic leader Leslie M. Hahn, 64, of 2568 Prospect Point Drive, Niles, are Saturday at 10 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Niles by the Rev. Clayton D. Fairo.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs. Hahn died Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. at Pawating Hospital in Niles following an extended illness from kidney failure.

She is survived by her husband, Maurice S. Hahn, to whom she was married Aug. 22, 1948, in Hammond, Ind.

Mrs. Hahn was a member and past president of the Niles Garden Club, where she co-chaired the “Welcome to Niles” project in Donovan Smith Memorial Park.  She was a member of First Presbyterian Church and was past president of its Foundation, Women's  Association and Morning Circle.

Mrs. Hahn was a trustee of the Niles Community Schools Board of Education and from 1968 to 1980 and served as its president.

In addition, Mrs. Hahn was a member and past president of the American Association of University Women and was featured as the 1989 Woman of the Year in the Niles Daily Star Horizons edition. She was a member and past president of the Cosmopolitan Club and was a member and past president of the Barron Lake Association.  For five years, Mrs. Hahn co-edited the Barron Lake newsletter.

She received her A.B. Degree from the University of Michigan and her M.A. Degree from Western Michigan University.  

Mrs. Hahn was born Aug. 20, 1926, in Hammond, Ind., and had lived in Niles since 1950, moving here from  Ann Arbor.

Other survivors include her daughters, Glen Ellen Cope of Austin, Texas, and Cara H. Murray of Ann Arbor; a son, William M. Hahn of Mundelein, Ill.; five grandchildren; and a brother, Paul B. McVay of Fort Worth, Texas.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. Friday at Halbritter Funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Foundation of First Presbyterian Church.

Fay S. Babbitt 
Feb. 9, 1895-July 1, 1968

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 2, 1968, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Fay S. Babbitt, 73, of 3116 N. 5th St., died in her home Monday.

A lifetime resident of this area, Mrs. Babbitt was born in Niles on Feb. 9, 1895. On Aug. 7, 1924, she married John Babbitt, who died Oct. 12, 1966.

She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Milo Reutz, a sister, Mrs. Dwight Benson, both of Niles; and two grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home with the Rev. Thomas O. Gore, pastor of the Curate Trinity Episcopal Church, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m. today.

Upon family request, all memorials may be give to charities of personal choice.

Mirto E. “Slim” Bigsby
March 15, 1883-Aug. 18, 1968

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 19, 1968, page 10, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mirto E. “Slim' Bigsby, 85, Salinas, Calif., died a 7 a.m. yesterday in Pawating Hospital where he had been a patient for the past 90 days.

Mr. Bigsby was born March 16, 1883 in St. Ignace, Mich. He moved from Niles to California 15 years ago. During his lifetime, he was a member of the Presbyterian Church, Salinas, Calif.; Niles Shrine, Saladin Temple, St. Joseph Lodge No. 4 F. & A.M., Madona White Shrine, O.E.S., Niles Lions, Niles Elks, F.O.P.  and the founder of the Bigsby Moving and Storage. He was married to Mrs. Ruth Bigsby who survives.

Other survivors include two sons, Floyd and George both of Niles; four brothers, Floyd of British Columbia, Charles of Shreveport,La., Claud of Ionia, and Clare of Sanford, Mich.; a sister, Mrs. Viola Stewart of St. Louis, Mich.; and seven grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held in the Pifer Funeral Home at 2 p.m. Tuesday with the Rev. Kenneth Carey, pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home.

Leona Mae Burkhead
June 3, 1923-March 4, 1991

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 6, 1991, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Leona Mae Burkhead, 67, of 1017 Edwards St., Niles, will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home by the Rev. Neil Hampton of Grace Baptist Church, South Bend, Ind.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs. Burkhead died at 7:10 p.m. Monday at St. Joseph Medical center, South Bend, Ind., following a long illness.

She was born June 3, 1923, in Goshen, Ind.  A homemaker, she moved to his area in 1962.

On Nov. 10, 1951, in Angola, Ind., she married Chauncey F. Burkhead, who preceded her in death on Nov. 7, 1982.

Survivors include five daughters, Janet Aronson  of Topeka, Ind., Ramona Burch of Union, Michele Burkhead and Helen Miller, both of Niles, and Sandra Mahler of Howe, Ind.; four sons, Walter Burkhead of Lagrange, Ind., Thomas Bowels of Howe, Ind., Larry LeCount of Goshen, Ind.; two brothers, Russell Penrose of Dunlap, Ind., and B. Melton Penrose of Elkhart, Ind.; 33 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren. A son, David Burkhead preceded her in death in September 1990.

Visitation will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Mattie Bell Chapman
June 5, 1900-Aug. 18, 1968

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 19, 1968, page 10, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Mattie Bell Chapman, 68, 2249 Reum Road, died at 2:15 a.m. Yesterday in Pawating Hospital after a two year illness.

Mrs. Chapman was born June 5, 1900, in Cass County. She married the late Mr. William Chapman and resided in this area all of her life.  Mr. Chapman died Oct. 16, 1961. Mrs. Chapman is survived by a daughter, Wilma Ruth Chapman who is at home.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Pifer Funeral Home with Rev. Kenneth Carey, pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 tonight.