Obituaries

Frederick S. Cowles
1856-Feb. 4, 1919

Niles Daily Sun, Thursday, Feb. 6, 1919, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

FORMER NILES RESIDENT DEAD

The body of Frederick S. Cowles, a former resident of Niles, will be brought here tomorrow from Chicago via the Michigan Central at 1 o'clock and will be taken directly to Silver Brook cemetery for burial in the family lot. Mr. Cowles is the father of Lieutenant Fred F. Cowles, now in France with the 131st Infantry, formerly the 1st infantry, 1, N.G.  He died Tuesday. Besides his son Fred, Mrs. Cowles is survived by a brother, W.J. Cowles, who will accompany the body to Niles.

Gilbert Cox
Feb. 13, 1918-Jan. 30, 1919

Niles Daily Sun, Friday, January 31, 1919, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

CHILD DIES FROM POISON

Infant Son of Edward C. Cox Ate Colored Crayons--Other Children Very Ill.

Gilbert Cox, born Feb. 13, 1918, son of Mr. and Mrs. E.Claude Cox of Vernon Heights, died about 5 o'clock last evening as the result of poisoning from eating colored crayons.  His sister, aged 4 years, is also ill and for a time her life was despaired of, but today she is improved.  A cousin of the children, little daughter of Charles Johnson, 702 Maple street, who visited them Sunday, also became very ill from the same cause.

The Cox baby ate a piece of brown crayon on Tuesday and became ill Tuesday night, but was better on Wednesday. On Thursday he suddenly was stricken with violent spasms and died within a few hours. The mother of the child saw him with a crayon in his mouth and took it from him, but not before he had eaten part of it.

An investigation will be made as to kind of poisoning in the crayon.

Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Johnson of Buchanan, grandparents of the children, stopped at the Cox homes yesterday afternoon while en route to southern Indiana on a visit, and finding the children so ill, they remained here.

The funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon with burial in Silver Brook cemetery.

(DOB/DOD from Michigan Death Record; cause of death poisoning by "cold tar product")

Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 31, 1919, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

The six months old son of  Edward C. Cox died yesterday at 5 o'clock after a short illness. The funeral will take place tomorrow at 2 o'clock from the residence, and interment will occur in Silver Brook cemetery.

Morton P. ‘Duke’ Devine
June 21, 1922-June 5, 2000

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 6, 2000, page 2

Funeral services for Morton P. “Duke” Devine, 77, of 4080 Delespine Road, Cocoa, Fla., formerly of Buchanan, will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, Niles.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Devine died on Monday at his home, due to natural causes.  He was born on June 21, 1922 in Cleaton, Ky.

In 1952, he married Muriel Rose Decker in Chicago, who died in 1980.  In 1981, he later married Adelaide Hickey in Buchanan, who survives.

He is also survived by his five daughters, Mary L. Heimberger of Niles, Mary Joann Drogus of Dowagiac, Olive Marie Williams of South Bend, Ind., Charlotte Diane Jackson of Niles, Sherrie Lynn Morris, Bridgeport, Va.; four sons, George Albert Devine of Niles, Shelby Gene Devine of Haughton, La., Samuel T. Devine of Bridgeport, Va., Richard James Devine of Arizona; brother Samuel Devine of Benton Harbor; 23 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren.  Mr. Devine was a World War II veteran.  He was a member of Disabled American Veterans – Niles Post; he enjoyed fishing, shooting pool, cards and antiques; affiliated with Emmanuel Baptist Church, Niles.  He was employed as a tool and die maker.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home on Thursday.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of choice.

Alma B. Farris*
Sept. 6, 1903-June 6, 1972

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 6, 1972, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Alma B. Farris, 68, of 1011 Herbert St., was dead on arrival at Pawating Hospital at 6:55 a.m. today. Death was attributed to natural causes.

Mrs. Farris was born Sept. 6, 1903, in Arkansas. She moved here in 1946 from Coloma. She married Joseph Farris, who died in 1962. She was a member of the Niles Church of God.

Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Norma Garner and Mrs. Ileana Hunt, both of Niles; a brother, Emmanuel Billingsley of California; two sisters, Mrs. Gladys Graham of Arkansas and Mrs. Lora Blakburn of Flint, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. C.E. Schoolie and the Rev. L.I. Ricketts officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 tonight at the funeral home.

*Last name is spelled Farries in the Silverbrook cemetery record and in the Social Security Death Index.  It is spelled Farris in the obituary above and on the Michigan Death Record.)

Hannah Fye
Dec. 4, 1862-April 18, 1903

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

The funeral of the late Mrs.Henry Fye will be held at the home, corner of Oak and Ninth streets, tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock.  Rev. C.J. DeCoux of Trinity church will conduct the services. Burial at Silver Brook cemetery.

Note: DOB-DOD and maiden name from Michigan Death Record

Mary E. Holmes
March 13, 1902-July 12, 2002

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday,  July 16, 2002,  page 2.

A memorial service for Mary E. Holmes, 100, of South Lincoln Avenue, Niles will be Saturday, July 20 at 2 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church in Niles.

Holmes died of natural causes July 12 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Ind.

Survivors include one son, Thomas Rex Holmes of Norristown, Pa.  Arrangements are being handled by the American Cremation and Burial Society, 2313 E. Edison Road, South Bend, Ind. 46615.

Note: DOB from Social Security Death Index