Obituaries

Frank Brown
Dec. 18, 1893-May 12, 1981

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 14, 1981, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Frank Brown, 87, of 2788 Detroit Rd., Niles, died at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Pawating Hospital.

Brown, a retired railroad worker, was born Dec. 18, 1893, in Mississippi. A widower, he lived in the Niles area for over 50 years after moving from Chicago.

Brown is survived by a brother, Mr. Charlie Bibbs of Hampton, Va. and a sister, Mrs. Annie Mays of Niles.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. W.L. Daniels of Mt. Calvary officiating. Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery.

A wake will be held from 7 p.m to 9 p.m Friday at Mt. Calvary.  Arrangements are being handled by Hoven Funeral Home in Buchanan.

Infant Clark
July 17, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 17, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

The infant son of Mr.and Mrs. Amil Clark, rural route five, was dead at birth this morning at Pawating hospital. Surviving, in addition to the parents, are two brothers, John and Robert, and a sister, Sandre, all at home. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Pifer funeral home. Interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Dewey O. Coffey
Oct. 14, 1925-May 13, 1981

Niles Daily Star, Friday, May 15, 1981, page 2 col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Dewey Coffey, 55, formerly of Niles, died at 6 a.m. Wednesday in Waxachachie, Texas following a lengthy illness.

He had been employed as a programmer-analyst for Tyler Refrigeration. He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army.

He was married in 1957 in Plainwell to Janet Crane, who survives.

Also surviving is his mother, Mrs. Madeline Coffey of Mecosta.

He was a member of the Eaton Rapids Masonic Lodge.

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Pifer-Smtih Funeral Home in Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 18, 1981, page 2 col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Dewey O. Coffey, 55, of 2435 Rebecca Lane, Niles, died Wednesday at 6 a.m. at Waxachachie, Texas after a short illness.

A programmer analyst with Tyler Refrigeration Co. in Waxachachie, Coffey was a member of Eaton Rapids Lodge No. 63 F & AM. He was born Oct. 14, 1925 in Eaton Rapids. On Feb. 16, 1957, in Plainwell, he married Janet Crane, who survives.

Also surviving is his mother, Mrs. Madeline Coffey of Mecosta.

Services will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. David Henderson of Westminster United Presbyterian Church officiating.  Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 1 p.m. Sunday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Michigan Heart Fund.

Henrietta Joyce Coffinger
April 13, 1934-July 25, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 26, 1948, page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

3 KILLED IN COUNTY CRASHES

Niles Girl One of Two Victims of US-112 Smash

Cassopolis and Three Oaks Young Men Also Victim of Car Crack-Ups

Three persons were counted dead today in Berrien county traffic mishaps that boosted this county's toll of highway dead to 27.

Two persons, including a young Niles woman, were killed Sunday night in a two-car collision one half mile east of the city limits on US-112. A Three Oaks man was killed when a car in which he was riding struck a tree.

Two Escape Death in Fire

Two other persons escaped a flaming death as they crawled from their overturned car north of Niles on M-40 last night, shortly before the car burst into flames. [See story elsewhere on the page.]

The accident dead are:

Henrietta Joyce Coffinger, 14-year-old daughter of Mr.and Mrs. Frank Coffinger of 627 South Fifth street, Niles.

Arthur J. Eaglesbarger, 20, Cassopolis.

William Eugen Cramer, 27, son of Mr.and Mrs. Clarence Cramer of rural route one, Three Oaks.

Miss Coffinger and Eaglebarger were passengers in a car driven by Hayes W. Smith, 715 Bryant strteet, Niles, which was hit and virtually telescoped by an automobile driven by James William Peak, 1702 Emerson street, South Bend.  Charles Layman, 35, 514 Noline street, South Bend, was a passenger in the Peak vehicle.

Slippery Road Blamed

The accident occured[sic] shortly before 8 p.m. last night. Police said Smith stated a car stopped in front of him, When he applied the brakes, his vehicle skidded across the road in the path of the oncoming vehicle. It has been raining about 15 minutes before the mishap.  The front of the Peak car smashed through the right side of the Hayes auto, throwing the occupants out the left door, officers said.

Miss Coffinger died at 8:45 p.m. after being admitted to Pawating hospital. Eaglebarger was believed to have been killed almost instantly. Smith and Peak both suffered severe lacerations on the face and head. Layman suffered a fractured left arrm, possible jaw fracture and other injuries. All were given a good chance to recover.

Coroner Louis Kerlikowske stated an inquest would be held.

Ninth Grade Student

Born April 13, 1934, in Niles, Miss Coffinger had spent her entire life here. She would have entered the ninth grade at Central high school this fall.

Besides her parents, she is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Doroth Nichols, Niles, Mrs. Annabelle Curtis, Pokagon, and June Coffinger, at home; and six brothers, George Eau Claire, Henry, Benaana, and Frank Thomas, Paul,and Russell, all at home.

Friends will be received at the Kiger funeral home. Services will be held at 2 p.m. . Wednesday at the St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church, of which she was a member. The Rev. Theo Eisen, retired pastor, will officiate,and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 29, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

COFFINGER RITES HELD

Girl friends of Henrietta Joyce Coffinger, 14, acted as pallbearers at last rites conducted for her yesterday in St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church. Interment was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Pallbearers were Patsy Lou Monahon, Lois Kather, Alice Reed, Vivian Geishirt, Jane Rhodes and Beverly Gray. Flower girls were Marilyn Grabner and Verna Geishirt.

Miss Coffinger lost her life in a highway accident last Sunday.

Catherine Corey
Dec. 25, 1872-July 5, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 6, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Catherine Corey, 1535 Hickory street, died at 1 p.m Monday in Pawating hospital, following an illness of five days. She leaves two sons, Frank and Clarence, of Niles and four grandchildren.

Mrs. Corey was born on Dec. 25, 1872, in Germany, and had lived here for the past 65 years.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home. Services will be performed at 9 a.m. by the Rev. Leo Zavatsky at St. Mary's Catholic church. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

The decedent was a member of St. Mary's Rosary society, and members are requested to meet at the Funeral home at 8:30 p.m. tonight for the rosary service.

Irene Craig
March 21, 1913-July 1948

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 10, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Irene Craig, 35, wife of Claude Craig, 515 1/2 Howard street died at Docter's hospital, Benton Harbor, a few hours after entrance. She had been ill for about one month. Born in McPherson, Kansas, March 21, 1913, she moved to Niles 10 years ago making her home with her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Owen, Niles. On June 30 1946, she married Claude Craig in the First Methodist church of Niles. She was a member of the Methodist church of McPherson. Surviving, in addition to her husband and aunt and uncle here, are her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Morrow, McPherson; six brothers, Robert and Everett, Bakerfield, Cal.; James, Texas; Byron and William, of McPherson; and Leray, Indianapolis, Ind.; and five sisters, Betty Morrow, Wyoming; Mrs. Vesta Pugh, Cortez, Colo; Roberta Morrow, Bakersfield; Mrs. Orville Batesel, Wichita, Kansas; and Virgiletta, Boston, Mass. Funeral services will be held at the Kiger funeral home at 2 p.m. Tuesday; the Rev. L.George Beacock, pastor of the First Methodist church will officiate. Interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery.