Obituaries

Margaret Anna (Conrad) Beardslee, 103
March 10, 1910-April 2, 2013

Niles Daily Star, Published 3:53pm Thursday, April 4, 2013

Margaret Anna (Conrad) Beardslee, 103, of Apple Valley, Minn., and previously of Niles, passed away Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at St. Joseph Hospital in St. Paul, Minn.

Margaret was born on March 10, 1910 to the late William J. and Margaret (Nieb) Conrad in Buchanan, Mich.

After completing high school Margaret went on to work for Simplicity Pattern Company as a secretary in their corporate offices. On May 9, 1937 Margaret wed the love of her life, Howard E. Beardslee. Together they raised two daughters.  She was a lifelong member of the Community Grange in Niles where she played the piano for over 70 years.

She is preceded in death by her parents William and Margaret, her husband Howard and her sister Mabel Sumption.

Margaret is survived by her two daughters Mary (Art) Gilmore of Cool Valley, Ill., and Kathryn (Arnold) Proff of Apple Valley, Minn., six grandchildren Phil Gilmore, Ruth Ann (Tom Burke) Gilmore, Jennifer Gilmore, Tom Gilmore, Mark (Anne Marie) Proff and Cynthia (Jeff) Wood and several great grandchildren.

A time of visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 from 6-8 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home in Niles where her funeral service will also be held on Wednesday at 11 a.m. with a time of visitation one-hour prior.  Margaret will be laid to rest next to her husband at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home of Niles.

Lori Ashawn Thames, 32
Nov. 25, 1983-March 22, 2013

Niles Daily Star, Published 5:47pm Thursday, April 4, 2013

Lori Ashawn Thames, 32, of Niles, Mich., died at 1:05 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles, unexpectedly, but of natural causes.

Thames

She was born on February 7, 1981 in Flint, Mich., to Floyd Robert and Lorraine (Jackson) Thames.  She was graduated from Andrews Academy in Berrien Springs, Mich., and has lived here most of her life.  She was currently employed by Corvilla, Inc.

Lori was a member of the Niles Westside Seventh-day Adventist Church.  She enjoyed travelling and participating in mission work, both internationally and domestically.

Surviving family includes her mother, Lorraine Thames of Niles; father Floyd Thames of Flint, Michigan; sisters, Alicia (& John) Harris of Atlanta, Georgia and Andrea (& Terry) Curtis of Niles; nieces and nephew, Aubrion, Amber, and John, Jr.; grandfather Ishmon Jackson, aunt Alvina Grant, and uncle LuJuan Jackson, all of Flint, and many cousins.

The funeral service for Lori Thames will be at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 7, 2013 at Niles Westside Seventh-day Adventist Church, with The Rev. Darrell le Roux of the church officiating.  Committal will be on Monday, privately at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 10 a.m. on Sunday at the church.  Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Pauline T. Brown
April 13, 1918-April 2, 2013

Niles Daily Star, Published 12:33pm Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Pauline T. Brown, 94, of Niles, Mich., died at 5:07 a.m. on Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at Riveridge Manor in Niles following a brief illness.

Brown

She was born on April 13, 1918 in Hinton, W.V., to Robert Lee and Sarah Elizabeth (Wiseman) Thompson.  She came to the Oak Manor neighborhood of Niles in 1951, and was a department manager at the former Parmalee’s department store in Niles.  She was also employed at the former Rowley’s Family Shoe Store in Niles, and at the lady’s departments of the former MiLady, L.S.Ayers, and other department stores where she specialized in high fashion clothing.  She retired to Florida in 1967 and returned to Niles in 1998.

Pauline was a member of First Baptist Church in Niles.  She enjoyed golfing, including time spent with her husband who was a U. S. Amateur champion.

She was first married to Charles Wiseman.  On June 14, 1975 in West Palm Beach, Florida she married J. Wolcott Brown, who preceded her in death in 1991.  She was also preceded in death by a son, Harold Edward “Eddie” Wiseman in 1994, and by sisters, Thelma Meador and Orpha Toutloff, and brothers Carl Thompson, Herbert William Thompson, and infant Frank Emmett Thompson, and a son-in-law, Pierce “Skeet” Williams on March 20, 2011.

Surviving family includes her son, Wesley Lane (& Gloria) Wiseman of Kankakee, Ill., and daughter, Doretta Williams of Niles; seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; and Pauline’s brother, Earl Thompson of Niles and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Pauline T. Brown will be at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 5, 2013 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Jim Wing of First Baptist Church officiating.  Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the funeral home beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday.  Contributions in memory of Pauline may be made to the First Baptist Church.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Charlotte Marie Hess (Schweinzger) Southworth, 85
Oct. 23, 1927- April 22, 2013

Niles Daily Star, Published online 4:30pm Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Charlotte Marie Hess (Schweinzger) Southworth, 85, of Niles, Mich., died on Monday, April 22, 2013 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles. She was born Oct. 23, 1927 in Harbor Beach, Mich., to Oscar and Alberta Hess. She moved to Niles at an early age, graduated from Niles High School in 1945, attended Michigan State, and married Jack Schweinzger, with whom she had three children. On July 27, 1974, Charlotte married E. Allen Southworth, who survives.

Southworth

Charlotte graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and taught in the Niles and Buchanan schools for 18 years, retiring upon her marriage to Al in 1974. She was a member of Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Niles for many years and was currently a member of Wesley United Methodist Church. She was a dedicated Michigan State University fan and was known to wear her favorite Spartan sweatshirt on game days. Charlotte was a talented craftswoman and dedicated much time to hand-quilting, rug hooking, felt crafts and penny stitching. She enjoyed traveling, antiquing, gardening, mushroom hunting and garage “sailing.”

Surviving family includes her children; Eric (and Jane)Schweinzger of Grand Rapids, Lynn Schweinzger of Niles and Sara (Daryll) Atkinson of Manor, Texas, husband Al Southworth of Niles and his children; Genna (and David Fredrickson) Southworth of Ashland, Oregon and Mike (and Sherri) Southworth of Crown Point, Ind. She took great joy in her nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, step-daughter Debbie Southworth, brother Dean Hess and a nephew; Jeff Hess.

Funeral services for Charlotte Marie (Schweinzger) Southworth will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 27, 2013 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles with Rev. Cathi Huvaere of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles officiating. Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2013 at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Donations in memory of Charlotte may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Elvira M. Tarbox
June 29, 1829-Feb. 11, 1919

Niles Daily Sun, Wednesday, February 12, 1919, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. ELVIRA TARBOX DEAD; AGE OF 89 YEARS

Was the Mother of the Late Mrs. W.W. Dresden of West Niles.

Mrs. Elvira Tarbox, widow of J.B. Tarbox, and mother of the late Mrs. W.W. Dresden, passed peacefully away Tuesday afternoon about 4:30 o'clock at the Dresden home, Castle Rest, after a prolonged illness from diabetes.

The death of Mrs. Tarbox brought to a close a long life of usefulness, she having attained the age of 89 years. She had resided in Niles for about 19 years and until her health become[sic] impaired, she delighted to extend the hospitality of Castle Rest and was much beloved by the many who enjoyed the pleasure of her acquaintance and of her friendship.

Mrs. Tarbox was born in Pensylvania[sic], June 29, 1829.

The only surviving relatives beside Mr. Dresden are Mrs. John Allan Grier, a granddaughter, and Dresden Grier, a great granddaughter, of Detroit.

The funeral services will be held from Castle Rest Friday morning at 10 o'clock and will be strictly private. Friends are requested to omit flowers. Rev. Peatross will conduct the service of the Episcopal church. The body will be laid to rest in Silver Brook cemetery.

Niles Daily Sun, Wednesday, February 12, 1919, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mr. and Mrs. John Allan Grier and daughter Dresden arrived from Detroit today and Mrs. Saffron from Chicago, in response to the message announcing the death of Mrs. Tarbox.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, February 12, 1919, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH OF MRS. TARBOX

Mrs. Elvira Tarbox died yesterday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at Castle Rest. She was born June 29, 1829 in Pennsylvania.

She was the mother of the late Mrs. W.W. Dresden.

Private funeral services will be held Friday morning at 10 o'clock from the residence, St. Joseph avenue.  No flowers.  Rev. Peatross of Trinity church will officiate.  Interment in the Dresden family lot at Silver Brook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, February 14, 1919, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Mrs. Elvira Tarbox were held this morning at 10 o'clock from the residence in St. Joe avenue, Rev. Peatross of Trinity church officiating. Interment occurred in Silver Brook cemetery.

Joel Barter Tarbox
Jan. 21, 1824-April 18, 1903

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 20, 1903, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH OF J.B. TARBOX

Prominent Resident of Onarga, Ill., Passes Away

J.B. Tarbox, a prominent resident of Onarga, Ill., and father of Mrs. W.W. Dresden, of this city, passed peacefully away at Onarga on last Saturday, aged 79 years, 2 months and 28 days.  Typhoid malaria is ascribed as the cause of his demise.

The remains arrived here this morning, accompanied by the wife of the deceased and Mr. and Mrs. E.D. Durham, of Onarga, and were deposited in the vault at Silver Brook, pending future burial.

Mr. Durham left for home this afternoon, and Mrs. Durham will remain for a few days' visit.

It may be that a private vault will be erected to contain the remains.  As Mrs. Dresden will make Niles her future home, she will own a beautiful burial lot in Silver Brook

Funeral services for her father were held at Onarga.

Had Mr. Tarbox lived until next August, he and Mrs. Tarbox would have been 55 years married. He had been a resident of Illinois for 35 years.

Mrs. Dresden is the only child of the deceased.  Mrs. Tarbox will be the guest of her daughter at "Castle Rest" for a few days.

Niles Republican, Thursday, April 23, 1903, page 5, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

News of the Week: MONDAY .

The remains of the late Mr. Tarbox of Chicago, father of Mrs. W.W. Dresden, of his city, were interred today in the vault in Silver Brook cemetery. Mrs. Dresden will erect a private vault.