Obituaries

Martha Eunice Bryant
Aug. 5, 1895-July 4, 1980

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 5, 1980, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Martha Eunice Bryant, 84, formerly of 1450 Jerome St., Niles, died at 4:05 p.m. Friday at Berrien General Hospital, Berrien Center, following an extended illness.

She was born Aug. 5, 1895 in Kankakee, Ill., and had lived here since 1916, coming from Illinois.

On April 2, 1921 in Niles, she married Wiley N. Bryant, who died Feb. 26, 1964.

Survivors include six sons, Arthur Line of Niles, Lawrence Bryant of Niles, Lemuel Bryant of Nunica, Mich., Edward Bryant of Grand Haven and Wiley Jr. of Grand Haven,and Harry L. Bryant of Muskegon; three daughters, Mrs. Clara Light of Grand Rapids, Mrs. Shirley Lee of South Bend, and Mrs. Frances Keene of Jackson; a brother, George Stack of South Bend; 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 4 p.m. Monday.

Mabel Cody
Aug. 26, 1882-April 11, 1959

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 22, 1959, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Pifer Funeral Home for Mrs. Mabel Cody, 76, formerly of Niles, who died on April 11 in Long Beach, Calif. The Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the First Methodist Church, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs. Cody was born Aug. 26, 1882, in Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada, and was a member of Eastern Star, the White Shrine and the Idies of Temple, all in California.

Surviving are: two sons, Cmdr. Duane Cody, in Germany, and Harold Cody, of Long Beach, Calif., and several nieces and nephews in Niles. Her husband, Loren, preceded her in death a number of years ago.

Friends may call at the funeral home.

Mary Ann Crago
Feb. 23, 1959-April 29, 1959

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 29, 1959, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Infant Found Dead in Crib
Respiratory Ailment Believed to Be Cause

MARY ANN Crago, two months old, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Crago, of 1405 1/2 North Fifth Street, was found dead in her crib by her mother at 6:18 a.m. today.

The girl had been suffering from a respiratory ailment most of her life, according to her physician, Dr. Robert L. Landgraf. Dr. Landgraf said an autopsy would be performed today to determine the exact cause of death, if the parents agreed.

Mrs. Crago told Niles Police Mary Ann was breathing when she found her. Police, called by Mrs. Crago, brought the Niels Fire Department's resuscitator.

Efforts to revive the girl were futile.

* * *

THE GIRL was pronounced dead by Dr. Landgraf a short time later. Dr. Landgraf said the girl had been dead about an hour.

The doctor said he had been attempting to have the baby admitted to the University Medical Center, Ann Arbor, for treatment of the respiratory ailment.

He said the baby had suffered no unusual effects from her ailment before today.

* * *

MARY ANN was born in South Bend on Feb. 23. She is survived by her parents; her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Crago, of St. Joseph, Mrs. Grace Crago, of Roanoke, Ind.; and Mr. and Mrs. William Poole, of Cromwell, Ky.; and two sisters, Elizabeth Marie and Phyllis Lee, both at home.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, at the Pifer Funeral Home, the Rev. H. Allen Maxwell, pastor of the Holy Trinity Church, officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home beginning Thursday.

Emma Messner
Aug. 6, 1906-July 28, 1978

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 31, 1978, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Emma R. Messner, 71, of 728 Broadway, died at 10:50 p.m. Friday at Pawating Hospital, following a brief illness.

A member of the DAV Auxiliary, she was a retired employee of Berrien General Hospital. Mrs. Messner was born Aug. 6, 106 in Valparaiso, Ind., and had lived her lifetime in the area.

On Aug. 24, 1921 in Valparaiso, she married Elvin Mark Messner, who died July 9, 1957.

Survivors include three sons, Lewis E. and Robert W., both of Niles, and Donald L. of Benton Harbor; two brothers, Jerry Meadows of Valparaiso, Ind., and Thomas Meadows of Green Valley, Ill.; a sister, Mrs. Agnes Hopper of Portage, Ind.; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Gordon Everett of the Wesley United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 4 p.m .today. Memorials may be made to the Open Door Residences, Inc.

James Lee Palmer
1924-April 7, 1959

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 8, 1959, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

James Lee Palmer, 35, of 878 Carberry Road, died at 10:50 p.m Tuesday in Pawating Hospital where he had been a patient since March 24. He had been ill for the past two months.

Mr. Palmer was born in 1924 in Round Pound, Ark., and had lived in Niles for the past 21 years.

Surviving are: his parents, Mr.and Mrs. Haskin Palmer, of Niles; four brothers, Sylvester Palmer, Benton Harbor, Rubert Palmer, of Niles, Eugene Palmer in California, and Haskin Palmer, of Coloma, and four sisters, Mrs. Izola Reynolds, of Flint, Mrs. Ardessie Foster, of Detroit, and Mrs. Iola Riley and Mrs. Magnolia Murphy, both of Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Mount Olive Baptist Church here with the pastor, the Rev. E.J. Jones, officiating. Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home beginning Thursday evening.

Garth W. Westfall
Dec. 21, 1915-July 3, 1980

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 5, 1980, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Garth W. Westfall, 65, of 955 Ruth Layne, died at 2:15 p.m. Thursday at St.Joseph Hospital, South Bend, following an extended illness.

A Niles High School graduate and veteran of the U.S. Navy in World War II, he was a retired Bendix Corporation employee.

Mr. Westfall was born Dec. 21, 1915 in Edwardsburg, and had lived his lifetime in the area.

On June 8, 1940 in Niles, he married Elouise Squier, who survives.

Also surviving are a son, Gerald W.S. of Niles; two brothers, Earl and Leo, both of Edwardsburg; a sister, Mrs. Mable Todd of Three Rivers; a granddaughter, Melissa and a grandson Andrew G. Westfall.

Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Monday at Silverbrook Cemetery with the Rev. Aronold O. Shaap of Edwardsburg officiating. Full military rites will be conducted by the Niles American Legion Post 26.

There will be no visitation. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the Michigan Lung Association.