Obituaries

We now have over 7,000 obituaries collected about the interred here at Silverbrook Cemetery.

The obituaries are transcribed by the volunteers of the Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery from various sources.  If you see an opportunity for an addition or a correction, please email our obituary editor at obits@friendsofsilverbrook.org.

Bloodgood, Grace C.

Grace C. Bloodgood
Dec. 28, 1888-Dec. 30, 1942


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 30, 1942, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library


GRACE BLOODGOOD TAKEN BY DEATH

 

Mrs. Grace C. Bloodgood, 54, of Barron lake, died this morning at 6:15 in Pawating hospital after an illness of 10 days.

A resident of the Barron lake community 10 years, she came here from Harvey, Ill., where she was married July 6, 1906, to Vivian C. Bloodgood, who survives. She was born Dec. 28, 1888, in Saginaw.

Surviving with her husband are two daughters, Mrs. Carl Hossfeld, Niles, and Mrs. Alex Clark, Harvey; two sisters, Mrs. Elsie Bauer, Thornton, Ill., and Mrs. Ethel Jaquays, Kalamazoo; a brother, Joseph Mann, Flint; a cousin, Mrs. Lillie Stubbs, Barron lake,and five grandchildren. She was a member of the Barron lake Neighbor club.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home. The Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster, pastor of the Methodist church, will officiate at the funeral at 2  Saturday afternoon. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Bruce, Adelma

Adelma Bruce
Jan. 26, 1906-Aug. 5, 1989


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 8, 1989, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Adelma Bruce, 83, 1329 Oak St., Niles, died Saturday at 8:20 a.m. at Pawating Hospital in Niles.

She was born Jan. 26, 1906, in Jefferson City, Mo. She married James Bruce, who preceded her in death on July 17, 1961.

Mrs. Bruce was a member of the Niles-Buchanan Senior Citizens Center.  She lived in Berrien County most of her lifetime and was a homemaker.

Survivors include a nephew, William Schmidt, of Rolling Meadows,  Ill.

Services are Thursday at 11 a.m. at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home by the Rev. Clayton Fairo, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Niles.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call one hour before the service on Thursday.

Memorials may be sent to the Niles-Buchanan Senior Citizens Center.

 

Bybee, Scott Allen

Scott Allen Bybee
June 20, 1960-Feb. 20, 1991

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, June 20, 1991, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Memorial services for Scott Allen Bybee, 30, of 506 Linwood, Buffalo, N.Y., will be 4 p.m. Saturday at First Church of Christ Christian by the Rev. Russell Ross, pastor.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mr. Bybee died Feb. 20 at Niagara Falls, N.Y, the result of a drowning.

He was born June 20, 1960, in Niles, and lived in Buffalo, N.Y. since 1988.

Mr. Bybee was a manager of a Mortgage Co., Buffalo, N.Y.

He was a 1978 graduate of Niles High School and a 1983 graduate of Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas.

Survivors include maternal grandparents, Wiley and Edith Mae Wallace of Winter Park, Fla.; paternal grandparents, Edith Mae Bybee of Niles; two sisters, Kim Harris and Cindy Morgan, both of Niles and a brother, Shane Bybee of Niles.

There will be no visitation.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Church of Christ Christian.

Arrangements handled by the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.

 

Coffey, Janet E.

Janet E. Coffey
April 19, 1933-Feb. 11, 2006


Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 13, 2006, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library


Janet E. Coffey, 72, of Rebeca[sic] Lane, Niles, died suddenly of natural causes, at 8:30 am. on Saturday, Feb. 11, at her home.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at Halbritter Funeral Home, in Niles, with Pastor Barbara Wirt of Westminster Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, in Niles.

Family will receive friends on Tuesday, Feb. 14, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Funeral Home.

On April 19, 1933,in Plainwell, she was born to Charles B. Crane and Frances M. Boulter and lived in Niles since 1956, coming from Plainwell. She graduated from Plainwell High School, the class of 1951.

After many years of service, she retired from Simplicity Pattern Company. She was a very active member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, where she served as Deacon and in the Good Grief Group, volunteered at Love Inc. and at Meals on Wheels and was devoted to her family, friends and to strangers.

In Plainwell, she married Dewey O. Coffey, who preceded her in death on May 13, 1981.

Her surviving family includes her sister, Delores L. Cosgrove, of South end, Ind.; her nephews, David (Deena) Cosgrove, of Granger, Ind. and Terry (Holly) Cosgrove, of Montross, Va.; her niece. Susan (Thomas) Collier, of Indianapolis, Ind. and six great-nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions, in her memory, may be made to the Berrien County Animal Shelter.

Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

 

 

 

Colcord, Mable (Eckler)

Mable Colcord
Aug. 23, 1928-Aug. 6, 1989

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 8, 1989, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mable (Eckler) Colcord, 60, of 2330 E. Main St., Niles, died Sunday at 1:40 a.m. at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, Ind.

She was a member of LaRue Messenger Post 26 of the American Legion, Niles.

She was born Aug.23, 1928, in Niles. She married Okel C. Colcord. He died April 3, 1969.

Surviving are two daughters, Linda Stanage of Niles and Rose Ann Scarberry of Columbus; three sons, Terry Colcord of Niles, Thomas Colcord of Gahanna, Ohio, and James Colcord of Elkville, Ill.; two sisters, Rose Burtzlaff and Mary Clubb of Niles; four sons, Clarence, Walter and William Eckler of Niles and Robert Eckler of Jackson; 14 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

Services are noon Tuesday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home with Chaplain James North.  Burial is at Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call between 2 and 4 p.m. and 6 and 8 p.m. today.  Contributions may be made to the American Lung Association.

 

Deyo, Mary (Moore)

Mary Moore Deyo
Aug. 8, 1956-May 26, 1993

Niles Daily Star, Friday, May 28, 1993, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Mary Moore Deyo, 36, 2955 Ridge Drive, Buchanan, are scheduled for 10 am. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. James Goodbow, pastor at First Presbyterian, officiating.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery. Deyo died at 9:40 p.m. Wednesday at Pawating Hospital, following a lengthy illness.

Born Aug. 8, 1956, in Grand Rapids, she moved to the Buchanan area in November, 1990, coming from Atlanta.

She was a student at Southwestern Michigan College.

Survivors include her parents Alva Lynn and Mary Moore; a son, Dane Colin Deyo at home and a brother, Lawrence D. Moore of Niles.

Friends may call from 6 pm. to 8 p.m. Friday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Southwestern Michgian College Art Department.

Dickeson, Charles A.

Charles A. Dickeson
Jan. 18, 1879-Nov. 29, 1942


Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 30, 1942, page 1, col. 8, cont. page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

CHARLES DICKESON KILLED, THREE HURT IN CASS CRACKUP

 

Icy roads were blamed today for the death of Charles A. Dickeson, 64, of 309 North Fifteenth street, who was killed Sunday afternoon at 2:15 when the Sedan in which he rode on M-60, east of Cassopolis, skidded and crashed against an oncoming vehicle.

Dickeson, who suffered a skull fracture, died intsantly[sic] in the crash, which sent his wife, daughter and grandchildren to Pawating hospital.

The car, driven by Mr. Dickeson's daughter, Mrs. Harvey Krueger, 220 1/2 North Fifteenth street, was approaching Cassopolis when the rear wheels slid off the round on a long curve near the Geneva school two miles east of Cassoplis[sic]. As Mrs. Krueger attempted to drive back on the pavement the vehicle skidded into the path of an eastbound car driven by Vinet E. Boyle, Milford, Mich.

Wife Injured

Mrs. Mary Dickeson, 59, wife of the crash victim, suffered a fracture of the right knee and a severe laceration of the right ear. Her condition was considered serious in Pawating hospital today.

Other occupants of the Krueger car injured in the accident were Cecelia Libey, 14, and her brother, Ernest, both of 309 North Fifteenth street. Extent of the Libey girl's injuries, in addition to bruises and shock, was not known today. her brother was undergoing x-ray examinations in Pawating.

Leaves Hospital

Mrs. Krueger suffered a knee injury by was released from the hospital after treatment Sunday. Occupants of the Boyle car, the driver's wife, Mrs. Celia Boyle, and his son, Martin, escaped with cuts and bruises.

Mr Dickeson, employed 18 years by the Original Cabinet corporation, was a native of New York state.

Surviving with his widow are four daughters, Mrs. Krueger, Mrs.  . . .[illegible]. .. Young, Detroit; two sons, Bernard E. Dickeson and Wilbur L. Dickeson, both of Niles; a brother, Williams Dickeson, Niles and two sisters, . .[illegible] . . Gertrude Dickeson, both of Ohio.

Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral home. Requiem high mass will be observed Wednesday morning at 10 in St. Mary's church, of which Mr. Dickeson was a member. Burial will be in Silverbrook.