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.

Bryant, Wiley N.

Wiley N. Bryant
Dec. 23, 1878-Apr. 26, 1964


Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 27, 1964, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library


Funeral services for Wiley N. Bryant, 85, of 1450 Jerome St., will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the First Methodist Church. The Rev. Kenneth Kline, assistant pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

He died at 8:30 a.m. Sunday in his home, following a three-year-illness.

Mr. Bryant, a retired stationary fireman with Buchanan Steel Products Company, was born Dec. 23, 1878, in Manchester, Tenn.  He came to Niles from that city in 1916.

Survivors include his widow, Eunice; seven sons, Lemuel, Wiley, Jr., and Edwards, all of Grand Haven; Lawrence Bryant and Arthur Line, both of Niles, Harry L., Muskegon, and Alex, Los Angeles, Calif.; three daughters, Mrs. Eugene Light and Mrs. James Layton, both of Niles; and Mrs. Clarance Keene, Jackson; 19 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

 

 

Butt, Phillip

Phillip Butt
March 15, 1895-Feb. 18, 1974

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 19, 1974, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

EDWARDSBURG--Phillip Butt, 78, died at 3:30 p.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital, Niles, after a brief illness.

A retired Bendix Corp employe, Mr. Butt was born March 16, 1895, in Wabash, Ind., and had lived here for 15 years, coming from the Barron Lake area. On March 16, 1951, in Niles, he married the former Tennis Mae Miller, who survives. He was a member of the veterans of Foreign Wars, South Bend.

Also surviving, (in addition to his wife), are a son, Phillip L. of Niles; a step-daughter, Mrs. Erma Jean Taylor of Portland, Ore.; a brother, Albert of Peru, Ind., 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home at Niles, with the Rev. Jack E. VanArsdall of the Three Oaks Church of Christ officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niels.

Friends may call after 7 tonight at the funeral chapel.

 

 

 

Clark, Agnes

Agnes Clark
Feb. 18, 1875-April 30, 1964


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, April 30, 1964, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library


Miss Agnes Clark, 90, of 713 Sycamore St., died today in Berrien General Hospital, Berrien Center, following an extended illness.

Miss Clark, a retired South Bend department store clerk, was born Feb. 18, 1874, in Hamilton, Ont., Canada. She came to Niles from South Bend 27 years ago.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. John MacLachlan, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.



Niles Daily Star, Friday, May 1, 1964, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library


The Niles Tent Hive No. 39, Maccabees, will meet at the Pifer Funeral Home at 1:45 p.m. Saturday for the funeral of Agnes Clark.

Cruse, William S.

William Cruse
Aug. 24, 1881-June 18, 1964


Niles Daily Star, Friday, June 19, 1964, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

William S. Cruse, 82, of 314 W. Main St., died at 11:01 p.m. Thursday in Pawating Hospital, where he had been admitted three hours earlier.

Mr. Cruse was born Aug. 24, 1881, in Chicago. He came to Niles from there 18 years ago.

Surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Ada Berry, Niles, and Mrs. Margaret Sourile, Chicago.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home.  Dr. Maurice McKean, pastor of the First Methodist Church, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the funeral home after 7 p.m. Saturday.

 

Deutsch, George

George Deutsch
Nov. 22, 1849-Nov. 13, 1902


Niles Republican, Thursday, November 20, 1902, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

THE HAND OF DEATH

REMOVED THREE PROMINENT NILES CITIZENS TODAY

George Deuth[sic] Died Suddenly

Henry Weaver and H.D. Gallup Passed Away


From Thursday's Sun

. . .

George Deutsch, one of the best known citizens of Niles, died suddenly shortly before 12 o'clock today at his home on St. Joseph avenue in West Niles. The cause of his death was a cancerous growth on one of his legs which had gradually undermined his constitution.

Mr. Deutsch's death was entirely unexpected. A week ago he went to Ann Arbor where an examination of his leg was made, and the physicians there informed him that to save his life the amputation of his leg was absolutely necessary. He decided to come home for a short rest and then return to Ann Arbor and submit to the operation. Complications  set in however, and he suddenly became worse this morning, until death relieved his sufferings.

Mr. Deutsch was 52 years of age and had been a resident of Niles for many years.  He leaves two daughters Miss Elizabeth, of Chicago, and Mrs. Addie Bradbury of Springfield, Ohio. He also leaves one brother and six sisters.

For a number of years the deceased has conducted a blacksmith shop in Niles and he enjoyed a wide acquaintence and had a large number of friends, who are grieved to learn of his sudden death.

The funeral of Mr. Deutsch will occur Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from his late residence, Rev. DeCoux officiating.

Mr. Deutsch was a member of Niles Tent, No. 99, K.O.T.M., and carried $2,000 insurance.


Niles Republican, Thursday, November 20, 1902, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library


The funeral of the late George A. Deutsch was held yesterday at 2:30 at his home on St. Joseph Ave., the Rev. O.J. DeCoux officiating. Two hymns were sung by a quartette composed of Mr. and Mrs. John Hamilton and Mrs. Mary Porter and Wm. East. Those present from out of town were Mrs. Martha Milliard and son Joseph, of Chicago, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bradbury, of Springfield, O., Mr. and Mrs. Dave Reid of Chicago, and Mr. and Mrs. Perkins of South Bend.

Earl, George W.

George W. Earl
Feb. 22, 1882-May 20, 1964


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 21, 1964, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library


George W. Earl, 82, of 221 Bond St., died at 8:49 a.m. Wednesday in Pawating Hospital, where he had been a patient a day.

Mr. Earl, who retired in 1963 after 50 years' service as a post office employe, was born Feb. 22, 1882, on the site of the present Kiger Funeral Home. His wife, the former Harriet G. Hinderer, died May 21, 1957.

Surviving are a brother, Theodore, Indianapolis, Ind.; and three sisters, Mrs. Elva Williams, Mrs. Bess Augustine, and Mrs. Dorothy Smith, all of Niles.

He was a member of the First Methodist Church, and a life member of St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4, Free and Accepted Masons.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Kiger Funeral Home. Dr. Maurice McKean, pastor of his church, will officiate. Masonic graveside rites will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

 

Edwards, Mamie Ray

Mamie Edwards
Feb. 12, 1887-Feb. 16, 1974


Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 18, 1974, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Mamie Ray Edwards, 87, of 2363 E. US-12, died at 10:25 p.m. Saturday in Memorial Hospital, South end after an illness of two months.

Born Feb. 12, 1887, in Jennings County, Ind., Mrs. Edwards had lived here since 1950, coming from Pittsborro, Ind. On July 13, 1910, in Hendricks County, Ind., she married Amos B. Edwards, who preceded her in death.

Mrs. Edwards was a member of the Rosewarne Bible Church.

Surviving are a son, Dr. Charles H. Edwards of Danville, Ill., a stepson, Edwin Edwards of Seattle, Wash.; two daughters, Mrs. Marylou Marsh of Niles, and Mrs. Margaret Shearer of Salt Lake City, Utah; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Lillian Freeland of Indianapolis, Ind.; a sister, Mrs. Myrtle Faye McCauley of Brownsburg, Ind.; 12 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Pifer chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. David Jenkins of Bertrand Bible Church officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. today at the funeral chapel.