Obituaries

Tennessee Carolina Smith
Feb. 9, 1862-April 13, 1934

Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 13, 1934, page 1, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Tennessee Smith Dies; Funeral Monday

Mrs. Tennessee Carolina Smith, 72, died at 2:30 o'clock this morning at her home, 118 Elm street. She was born Feb. 9, 1962 at Summitville, Tenn.

Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Beulah Campbell, Mrs. Blanche Mitchell and Mrs. Sidney Stone, all of Niles; two brothers, Greenfield Fletcher, Niles,and one in Tennessee; five sisters, Mrs. Frank McLaughlin, Niles, the others in Tennessee; and seven grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon at the Price and Kiger funeral home with the Rev. G.W. Simon officiating. The body will remain at the home until time for the services. Interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Harriet Turner
May 24, 1852-Feb. 27, 1913

Niles Daily Sun, Thursday, February 27, 1913 page 1, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

VICTIM OF PNEUMONIA

Mrs. Harriett Turner died today, Native of England

Mrs. Harriett Turner, wife of John Turner, died today about 1:30 o'clock at their home, 310 Ninth street after five weeks illness with pneumonia and chronic bronchitis.

Mrs. Turner, who is an English woman, was 52 years of age. She is survived by her husband and four children of whim, Mrs. James Hargreaves and Edwin Buckle reside in Niles and two are in England.

Mrs. Turner carried a policy in the Metropolitan Life Insurance company.

The funeral arrangements have not been made.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, February 27, 1913 page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH OF MRS. TURNER

Mrs. John M. Turner, aged 62, residing at 310 north Tenth street, died this afternoon at 2 o'clock from pneumonia. She had been in ill health two years, but not seriously so until the past five weeks. She was married about ten years ago in England. Her maiden name was Miss Harriet Spirit and was united in marriage before to James Buckle. He passed away abut 18 years ago.

She is survived by a husband and four children, two sons, Edwin Turner in Niles, and Thomas Buckle in England, and two daughters, Mrs. Harriet Hargreaves of Niles, and Mrs. Florence Remsey of England; also, one brother, Fred Spirit of England.

Funeral arrangements not completed. 

Addie B. York
Oct. 7, 1891-April 13, 1934

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 14, 1934, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. George York, 42, Dies; Funeral Monday

Mrs. George York, 42, 316 North Eighth street, died t her home at 5:30 o'clock Friday afternoon after an illness of a year.  She was born Oct. 7, 1891, in Wisconsin.

Surviving are a husband, George; six sons, Lawrence, Edesel, Russell, Donald, Alvin and Chester, all at home; a sister, Mrs. George Pryor, Peru, ind.; and two brothers, Jessie Burns, Peru, and Willie Burns, living in Wisconsin.

Funeral services will be held at the Troost and Turner funeral home at 3 o'clock Monday afternoon with the Rev. M.R. Everett, pastor of the Evangelical church, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Reuben S. Harrell
June 27, 1870-March 12, 1962

Niles Daily Star, March 12, 1962, p. 2; submitted by Betty Frank, family member

Rueben S. Harrell, 91, 1202 Herbert St., died at 8 a. m. today in Berrien County Hospital, where he had been a patient for the last 12 days. He was born June 27, 1870, in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and came here from Summittsville, Tenn., in 1929.

Mr. Harrell was a former school teacher. He was a member of First Church of Christ. His wife, Octia, died Oct 29, 1948.

Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. William Lowe, Niles; six sons; Luther, James, and Roy Harrell, all of Niles, Dewey Harrell, Big Rapids, Charles Harrell, Jackson, and Lonnie Harrell, Lawton; 30 grandchildren and 56 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 1 p. m. Wednesday in the Kiger Funeral Home with Rev. Edward Schantz of the First Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Octia Harrell
Aug. 20, 1879-Oct. 29, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, October 30, 1948, page 2; submitted by Betty Frank, family member

Mrs. Octia Harrell, 69 Mrs. Octia Harrell, 96 of 507 ½ Woodruff Street, died at 4:20 p.m. Friday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Rauzy Lowe, Herbert Street. She had been ill several years. She was born Aug. 20, 1879, in McMennville, Tenn., and came here from Morrison, Tenn., in 1929. She was married to Ruben Harrell Oct. 11, 1897, in McMennville. Besides her husband, she is survived by seven children. Mrs. Lowe, Luther, James, Roy and Lonnie Harrell, all of Niles; Dewey Harrell, Big Rapids, and Charles of Jackson. Also surviving are two brothers, James Tallman, Tennessee, and Charles Tallman, Texas; a sister, Mrs. Maggie Wooten, Hillsboro, Tenn.; 25 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Friends are being received at the Kiger Funeral Home, where services will be held at 2 p.m. ___________Donald Ford, pastor of the First Church of Christ, of which she was a member, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Frederick H. Kiger
Nov. 23, 1905-May 2, 1995

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 3, 1995, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Fred H. Kiger, 89, of 1451 Bronson Way, Kalamazoo, died at 9:05 p.m.  Tuesday, at Bronson Place Care Center in Kalamazoo, following on extended illness.  

Mr. Kiger was founder of the former Kiger Funeral Home.

Arrangements are being completed by Halbritter Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 4, 1995, page 2, col. 4-7, microfilm Niles District Library

Frederick H. Kiger
1905-1995
former owner of Kiger Funeral Home

Funeral services for Frederick H. Kiger, 89, of 1451 Bronson Way, Kalamazoo, formerly of 2825 Copp Rd., Niles, will be Friday at 11 a.m. At Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles, by the Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman of First Presbyterian Church of Niles.

Burial ill follow in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Mr. Kiger died at 9:05 p.m. Tuesday, at Bronson Place care center, Oshtemo Township, following a brief illness.

He was born Nov. 23, 1905, in Warren County, Ind., and had lived in Niles from 1926 until moving to Kalamazoo in August 1989.

On June 24, 1934, at Lake Forest, Ill. He married the former Grace Louella Simmonds, who survives.

Mr. Kiger was former owner of Kiger Funeral Home in Niles. 

He was formerly a partner of Price and Kiger Funeral Home at 330 N. Fourth St. in Niles.  In March 1945, he moved to 615 E. Main St. and owned the Kiger Funeral Home, then entered into partnership with Ted L. Halbritter as Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home. In the mid-sixties, the business was acquired by Ted L. Halbritter.

Mr. Kiger was a graduate of Niles High School in Niles, and a 1926 graduated of Askins School of Mortuary Science in Indianapolis.

He was a 50-year member of First Presbyterian Church in Niles; a life member of St. Joseph Valley Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons and P.P.O. Elks Lodge No. 1322; a former Rotarian,and member of the Fraternal Order of Police.

Other survivors include two daughters, Kay Kiger Petruska of Kalamazoo, and Wendy Kiger and son-in-law William Boughton, of Sebring, Fla.; three grandchildren, Nicholas Kiger Petruska of Kalamazoo, Amy Kathryn Petruska of Lansing, and Kristin Dorothy Kiehn of New York city, and a great-grandchild, Corey Dylan Petruska of Arlington, Va. Preceding him in death were his parents, and brothers, Cecil, Arthur and Hugh.

Friends may call Thursday from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer's Association or Bronson Place Care Center Activity Fund, 1451 Bronson Way, Kalamazoo, MI 49009-8914.