Obituaries

Bessie E. Steimley
Oct. 26, 1885-Jan. 24, 1954

Niles Daily, Monday, January 25, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Bessie E. Steimley, 68, of 612 North Twelfth street, died at 5 a.m. Sunday at her home.

Mrs. Steimley was born Oct. 26, 1885, in Dowagiac and came to Niles from there 35 years ago. She was a member of the First Methodist Church here and the Philathea class and treasurer of the Woman's Society of Christian Service.

Surviving are: her husband, Frank E.; two sisters, Mrs. Thelma Gerold, Calumet City, Ill., and Mrs. Lulu Carr, Henderson, Nev., and a brother, Earl Clendenen, Dowagiac.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Kiger Funeral Home with the Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the First Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

All members of the Philathea class at the Methodist Church are asked to meet at the Kiger Funeral Home at 1:30 p.m Tuesday to attend the rites for Mrs. Steimley.

Charles R. Studley
May 15, 1886-Nov. 24, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 24, 1952, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Charles R. Studley, 252 Bronson avenue, Benton Harbor, formerly of Niles, died at 4 a.m. today in Berrien Center. He is survived by one sister, Mrs. Emma Knott, Niles.

Studley was born on May 15, 1886, in Mishawaka, Ind.,and had lived in Benton Harbor for the past 11 years.  He was a night watchman at the Benton Harbor Fruit Market and was a member of the American Legion Post in that city.

Friends may call after 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be conducted at 3:30 p.m.  Wednesday by the Rev. L. George Beacock, Methodist pastor. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Edward Clyde Sutter
Sept. 28, 1893-Nov. 30, 1954

Niles Daily, Wednesday, December 1, 1954, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Edward Clyde Sutter, 61, died suddenly at 11:04 p.m. Tuesday at his home, 1342 Hickory street. He was an employe of the Tyler Fixture Corp.

Born Sept. 28, 1893 at Logansport, Ind., he came to Niles in 1927. He was a member of St. Joseph Valley Lodge, F. & AM, and the Niles Aerie of FO Eagles.

Survivors are his widow, Lucy; a daughter, Mrs. H.K. Smith of Niles; two granddaughters and a brother, Olen Sutter of Lafayette, Ind.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home where the Rev. L. George Beacock will conduct services at 2 p.m. Friday. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Winifred Ann Swarthout
April 27, 1906-Dec. 17, 1997

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, December 18,1997, page 2, col. 3-5, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Winifred Ann Swarthout, 91, Fountainview Retirement Village, Buchanan, formerly of 611 Topinabee Road, Niles, are Friday at 1:30 p.m., at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, Niles. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Mrs. Swarthout died Wednesday at 3:56 a.m., at Lakeland Medical Center, Niles, of natural causes.

She was born April 27, 1906, in Auburn.

On July 24, 1928, in Bay City, she married Earl J. Swarthout, who preceded her in death July 3, 1981.

Mrs. Swarthout was a retired independent school photographer. She was a member of the What So Ever Class of the First Presbyterian Church, Niles, where she was a member; former president of Electrostatic Manufacturing Co., Niles; former owner-operator of Ready Beauty Shop and Oak Street Beauty Shop, both in Niles.

Survivors include a son, E. Jack Swarthout of Paris, Ill.; two grandchildren; a sister, Emily Bast of Manitowoc, Wis., and a brother, Clarence F. Doty of Beaverton.

Friends may call today from 2 until 4 pm. and 6 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Effie J. Sweet
Dec. 27 1883-Feb. 17, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, February 17, 1954, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Effie J. Sweet, who made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Kenneth Taylor, rural route six, South Bend, died at 12:50 a.m. today in the Taylor home. She had been in ill health for three years.

Surviving are her husband, Carl W. Sweet, of Niles; three daughters, Mrs. Taylor, of South Bend, Mrs. Avery Stone, of Niles, and Mrs. Howard Edwards, of LaGrange, Ill.; one son, Edward Sweet, of Reed City; five grandchildren, and one sister, Mrs. Edwin Lambert, of Gary, Ind.

Mrs. Sweet was born on Dec. 27, 1883, in Michigan City, Ind., and had lived in Niles for 31 years.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, with the Rev. L. George Beacock, Methodist pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Ashley Kelly Zacharski
Jan. 18, 1990-Jan. 18, 1990

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, January 20, 1990, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

A family graveside service for Ashley Kelly Zacharski, the daughter of Gerard "Gerry" Zacharski and Sharon Kelly, 132 Beeson Road, Niles, are Tuesday at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles by the Rev. Steven Howarth of Edwardsburg Presbyterian Church.

The infant was stillborn at birth Thursday at 3:01 a.m. at Elkhart General Hospital, Elkhart, Ind.

Survivors include her parents; maternal grandmother, Mary Kelly of Clarklake; and paternal grandparents Marjorie and Joseph Zacharski of Port Saint Lucie, Fla.

There will be no visitation. Halbritter Funeral Home of Niles was in charge of arrangements.

Friends may send memorial contributions to the March of Dimes Southern Tier Chapter, 415 West Maple, Kalamazoo, MI 49001.