Obituaries

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.

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.

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.

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.

Barbara L. Ditson
May 14, 1932-May 11, 1993

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 12, 1993, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Barbara L. Ditson, 60 3806 Hoyt Drive, Niles, died Tuesday, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in South Bend at 5:01 a.m.

Arrangements are pending at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 13, 1993, page 2, col. 7-8, microfilm Niles District Library

Barbara L. Ditson
1932-1993
Niles homemaker

Funeral services for Barbara L. Ditson, 60, of 2806 Hoyt Drive, Niles, are scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Halbritter Funeral Home  with the Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg officiating.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Ditson died at 5:01 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph's Medical Center in South Bend following an extended illness.

Born May 14, 1932, in Berwyn, Neb., she had lived in this area since 1955, coming from Broken Bow, Neb.

On May 27, 1951, in Broken Bow, she married Wayne A. Ditson, who survives.

She was a homemaker and was a member of T.O.P.S. in Niles.

Survivors include two sons, Kevin L. Ditson of Granger, Ind., and Lonnie D. Ditson of Niles; three grandchildren; five sisters, Georgia Angeloff of Palmetto, Fla., Evyline Feeny of Niles, Delores McMahon of San Diego, Gloria Lunn of Caspian, Mich.,and Pat Ditson of Wausaukee, Wisc., and five brothers, Michael Vinnedge of Wausaukee, Thomas Vinnedge of Winslow, Ind., David Vinnedge of Person, Wisc., Charles Vinnedge of Prinston, Ind., and Daniel Vinnedge of Person. A sister, Janet Vinnedge and a brother John Vinnedge preceded her in death.

Friends may call from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.

Eric Doty
Feb. 26, 1929-June 26, 1991

Niles Daily Star, Friday, June 28, 1991, page 2, col. 6-8, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Mr. Eric Doty, 62, of 1638 Taft St., Niles, will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Mount Zion Church of God in Christ, Buchanan by the Pastor Hayes Taylor, pastor.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mr. Doty died at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at his home.

He was born Feb. 26, 1929, in Greenwood, Miss., and lived in this area since 1955.

Mr. Doty worked in the RV transportation industry.

He was a member of the Mount Zion Church of God in Christ, Buchanan. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.

On Aug. 22, 1986, in Niles, he married Pam Bradshaw, who survives.

Other survivors include two sons, Alfred Doty and Eric Wilson, both of Chicago, Ill.; four daughters, Karla Doty, Nann Doty, and Kyle Doty, all of South Bend, Ind., and Cascell Doty of Niles; one step-daugther, Keri Davis of South Bend, Ind.; and four grandchildren.

Visitation will be 2 p.m. and wake services at 7 p.m. Monday.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home, Inc., 2618 West John Beers Rd., Stevensville.