Obituaries

Margaret Yeitter
June 22, 1898-Sept. 23, 1982

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, September 23, 1982, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Margaret Yeitter, 84, of 2330 E. Main, lot 71, Niles, died at 6:15 a.m. At Pawating Hospital following a lengthy illness.

She was born June 22, 1898 in Yale, Mich. She married Edward J. Yeitter, Oct. 26, 1967 in Port Huron. He survives.

Surviving are her husband; a daughter, Mrs. Michael (Marjorie) Jazvac of Niles; a brother, Joseph Herren, of Goodells, Mich.; five step-grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held Friday at 2:30 p.m. at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. The Rev. Kenneth L. Pierpont of the Fulkerson Park Baptist Church, Niles, will officiate.  Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday.

Memorials may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service.

William Wallace Serviss
June 5, 1833-March 4, 1896

Niles Weekly Mirror, Wednesday, March 11, 1896, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

MUSTERED OUT

William Wallace Serviss Passed Away Wednesday Morning

William Wallace Serviss, an old and well-known resident of Niles, died Wednesday morning at his home, corner of Ferry and Fourteenth streets, aged 62 years.

Deceased was born in Little Falls, Herkimer county, New York, June 5, 1833, and has resided in Niles a number of years, commanding at all times the respect of numerous friends as an honest, upright and successful citizen.

Mr. Serviss was a union soldier, enlisting in an unassigned company in this state during the civil war.  He was a member of Anchor lodge, A.O. U. W., and of Frank Graves Post, No. 64, G.A.R.

A widow and three children are left. Mrs. Wm., Burt, Fred and Herbert Serviss.  The funeral will take place from the late residence Saturday afternoon, at 2 o'clock.

Gary Blake Bankston
April. 14, 1961-Oct. 28, 1962

Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 29, 1962, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services will be conducted for Gary Blake Bankston, one year, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gary Bankston, 1387 Zilke St., who died at 9:15 a.m. Sunday in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, at 10 am. Tuesday in the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. Floyd Wheatley, pastor of the General Baptist Church, Niles-Buchanan Road, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

He was born April 14, 1961.

Besides his parents, survivors include his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bankston, Niles, and Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Carpenter, Dowagiac.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

Katherine Momany
1886-Dec. 1, 1933

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 2, 1933, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Momany Dies Friday Afternoon

Mrs. Katherine Momany, wife of Fred Momany, 1122 North Front street, died Friday afternoon, at the county infirmary, after a lingering illness.

Mrs. Momany was born in Chicago, and was 47 years old at the time of her death.  She was married November 1, 1924. Surviving are Mr. Momany and one daughter, Susanna, who lives in Chicago, with the mother's cousin.

Funeral services will be held at Rutherford chapel Monday morning at 10:30 o'clock. Burial will follow in Silverbrook cemetery.

Sarah F. Oliphant 
July 10, 1839-November 30, 1914

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 30, 1914, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Sarah F. Oliphant, a Woman of Sterling Qualities, Goes to Her Reward

Mrs. Sarah F. Oliphant, known and consequently loved by all the older residents of Niles passed away this morning at her home in Chicago, infirmities of old age and the natural breaking down of the body after three score years of useful living, being the cause of death. The body will be brought to Niles for burial, although no definite time is stated.

The deceased was aged about 75 years, and was a woman of sterling Christian character. Her mind was filled with lofty thoughts, and charity and kindness for others.  For years, she was a resident of this city and also lived on what is now the D.F. Palmquist farm on the Barren lake road. She was always an active worker in the Presbyterian church, for many years having a class in the Sunday school. Hers was a Christianity which was lived daily and which was keenly felt by her acquaintances and her womanliness was her chief characteristic. There are no relatives, but there remain a host of friends to regret her loss.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 2, 1914, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

The body of Mrs. Sarah F. Oliphant arrived from Chicago this afternoon and was taken to Silver Brook cemetery, where Rev. Wright held commitment services.

 Note: DOB and maiden name from Illinois Deaths

Frances Elizabeth Richardson
Sept. 24, 1868-Feb. 17, 1934

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 17, 1934, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Richardson Dies at Pawating Hospital

Mrs. Frances Elizabeth Richardson, 66, 1346 Ferry street, died at 2 o'clock this morning in Pawating hospital.  On February 9 she underwent an appendix operation but death was due to a heart attack.

She had lived in Niles for 17 years and was born at St. Catherine, Canada, on Sept. 25, 1868, coming to Michigan at the age of 11 years.  Had Mrs. Richardson lived 10 days longer, Mr. and Mrs. Richardson would have observed their forty-seventh wedding anniversary.

Besides her husband,James L. Richardson, she is survived by six daughters, . . .[illegible]. . . Mrs. Albert Krassow, Mrs. George Worm, Mrs. George Nevill, all of Niles, and Mrs. Frank Reading, Gary, Ind., and Mrs. Andas Durflinger, Watervliet; two sons, Arden Richardson, Buchanan, and Charles Richardson, Niles; a sister, Mrs. Hudson Kirk, Niles; three brothers, James Clark, St. Joseph, and Walter Clark, Benton Harbor, and 14 grandchildren.

Two daughters preceded her in death, Mable Richardson, who died in 1926, and Elizabeth Ruth Richardson, who died 42 years ago at the age of 10 months.

Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon at the Rutherford funeral home with the Rev. R.E. Meader in charge. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. The body will remain at the home of a daughter, Mrs. A.N. Cochrane, 121 South St. Joseph avenue, until 10 o'clock Monday morning.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 19, 1934, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

RICHARDSON RITES TODAY

Funeral services for Mrs. Frances Elizabeth Richardson, 1346 Ferry street, who died Friday morning in Pawating hospital, were held at 2 o'clock this afternoon at the Rutherford funeral home.  The Rev. R.E. Meader was in charge of the service.  Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.