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.

Goodsell, Floyd M.

Floyd M. Goodsell
November 20, 1889-November 16, 1944


FORMER RESIDENT DIES AT DOWAGIAC


Floyd M. Goodsell, 54, of Dowagiac, until seven years ago a resident of Niles, died Thursday night at 9:15 in the Lee Memorial hospital from a heart ailment.

He was born in Fort Wayne, Ind., Nov. 20, 1889, a son of George and Lydia Goodsell.  He moved to Niles with his parents while a small boy, and spent most of his life here.

In partnership with his brother, Howard Goodsell, with whom he also lived, he operated an electric shop in Dowagiac. He was a member fo the Elks lodge of Dowagiac, and a prominent fisherman.

Survivers[sic] are a sister, Mrs. Sadie Sweet, Chicago; a brother, Howard Goodsell, Dowagiac; three nephews, George and Henry Goodsell, Niles, and Pvt, Robert Goodsell, in Persia, and a niece, Pvt. Barbara Goodsell, Washington, D.C.

After Saturday night, friends may call at the McLaughlin funeral home where services will be conducted at 2:30 Monday.  Burial will be in the Silverbrook cemetery, Niles.


(Source: Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 17, 1944, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library)

Goodsell Burial Made at Silverbrook

Christian Science services were held today for Floyd M. Goodsell, 54, of Dowagiac, formerly of Niles, who died Thursday.  Rites were conducted at the McLauchlin funeral home with Mrs. Betty Patch as reader. Interment was made in the Silverbrook cemetery, Niles.  His niece, Pfc. Barbara Goodsell of Washington, D.C. was expected to arrive in time for the services today.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 20, 1944, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library)

Crews, Mary L.

Mary L. Crews
1897-May 29, 1947


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 29, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mary Crews Dies Today

 

Mary L. Crews, 49, died at 5:30 a.m. today in Pawating hospital where she had been a patient but a few hours. She was a resident of Howard street.

. . .[illegible]. ..died Dec. 19, 1942. She is survived by two sisters who live in Chicago.

Funeral arrangements are pending arrival of the sisters. The body is at the Pifer funeral home.


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, May 31, 1947, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library


Service Today

 

Funeral services were held this afternoon at Silverbrook cemetery for Mrs. Mary L. Crews, 810 Howard street, who died Thursday at Pawating hospital.

The Rev. L. George Beacock, of the First Methodist church, officiated. Survivors include two sisters, Mrs. Virgil Wright, and Miss Nellie Long, both of Chicago, and one brother, Harry Long, Los Angeles, Calif.

 

Davidson, John

John Davidson
1851-March 1, 1933


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 1, 1933, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library


Death of John Davison

 

Word was received last evening by Harry Mansfield of the death of John Davison, 82, a former resident of Niles, in the home of his niece, Mrs. Deana Collins Bates, in Minneapolis, Minn.  The body will be brought to Niles tomorrow on the Michigan Central train due from Chicago at 11:10 and will be taken to the Rutherford Funeral Home where a funeral service will be conducted at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. The Rev. G.W. Simon, pastor of the Presbyterian church will officiate. Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery. Mr. Davison was born in Niles. His father erected the building now occupied by the Babcock tea room and the Tynan Hat shop  at Third and Main street. The father was a pioneer resident of Niles. The son, born in the house his father had erected, engaged in the marble cutting business in partnership with Mrs. Bates' father. Mr. Davison had several sisters, all of whom are deceased but whose names are well remembered in Niles as Mrs. Fanny Scott, Mrs. Laura Hinton, Mrs. Joseph Brochaw and Miss Hattie Davison, the latter having been killed in an accident. Mrs. Hinton's body was brought to Niles for burial two years ago. Members of . .[illegible] . .will act as pallbearers at the service for Mr. Davison.

 

Note: In Silverbrook burial listing as "Davidson", obit and Minnesota Death record say Davison

 

Doane, Katherine E.

Katherine Doane
Aug. 15, 1863-April 16, 1947


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 16, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library


Mrs. Katherine E. Doane, 83, mother of Mrs. Eugene Huntley, rural route one, Niles, and Harold H. Doane, Cassopolis, died at 4 a.m. today in Ann Arbor where she was visiting a daughter, Mrs. Walter Drury. She was ill since early January.

Last rites will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday in the Kiger funeral home with the Rev. L. George Beacock officiating. Interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Mrs. Doane spent most of her life in Cass county and the Niles community with exception of a few winters in Ann Arbor visiting her daughter.

She was born in Howard township, Cass county, Aug. 15, 1863.  Mrs. Doane was a member of the Methodist church.

Surviving besides the three children are eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.  Her husband, Herbert, died in 1921.

 

Etzcorn, George J.

George J. Etzcorn
April 15, 1891-Jan. 23, 1978


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, January 24, 1978, page 2, col. 7-8, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--George J. Etzcorn, 86, 1646 Hickory St., died at 12:21 p.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital following a brief illness.

A retired employee of the New York Central Railroad, he was a member of the Veterans of World War I, having served with the U.S. Marine Corps, the American Legion Post 26 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Born April 15, 1891 in Niles, he was a lifetime resident of the area. He married Helen M. Wallace on March 8, 1925, in Dowagiac. She died Feb. 3, 1975.

He is survived by his sons Robert G. and Lyle P. Etzcorn, both of Niles, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Arnold Schaap of Edwardsburg officiating. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

 

Burrus, Lillian

Lillian Burrus
1880-April 25, 1932


Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 25, 1932, page 4, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library


MRS. FRANK BURNNS

 

Mrs. Lillian Burnns, 51, wife of Frank Burnns, died this morning at 4:40 in Pinehurst sanatorium at Oshtemo. The body was brought to the Troost and Augustine chapel, and the funeral services will be held there on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30. The Rev. Robert Meader, pastor of the Methodist church,will officiate. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery. Mrs. Burnns is survived by her husband, four children, her mother, Mrs. John Burk of Dowagiac,and a brother, William Barber, of Dowagiac. The children are Mrs. Doris Jones, Mrs. Lucille Gault and William Frederick Burnns, of Niles, and Mrs. Alice Batchellor, of Otsego. Mrs. Burris had been in the sanatorium since last May. The family has lived in Niles for ten years. Mr. Burnns is employed at the William Meyers farm and makes his home there.

Note:  Info from death record, gravemarker, and cemetery records indicate that the family name is repeatedly misspelled in this obituary.

 

Burdue, Almond Joel

Almond Joel Burdue
Oct. 24, 1908-Jan. 7, 1978

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 9, 1978, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES-- Almond Joel Burdue, 69, of 2662 Smith St., died at 9:45 p.m. Saturday at Pawating Hospital, following an illness of four months.

A retired electrician with the National-Standard Co., Mr. Burdue was born Oct. 24, 1908 in South Dakota, and had lived in Niles for many years.

On June 1, 1929, in Niles, he married Gladys O. Corwien, who survives.

Also surviving are his step-mother, Minnie Burdue of Niles; two sons, Jerry and Melvin, both of Niles; two daughters, Mrs. Joyce Dumond and Mrs. Joella Good, both of Niles; a half-brother, Eugene Burdue of Niles; three sisters, Mrs. Daisy Webster of Niles, Mrs. Dorothy Ruyan of Mishawaka, Ind., and Mrs. Alice Ray of Greentown,Ind.; two half-sisters, Mrs. Peggy Waldon and Mrs. Mary Krysiak, both of Niles; and 10 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the New Apostalic[sic] Church, of which he was a member. Evangelist Ernest Lindstedt will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. today at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the New Apostolic Church.