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.

Holt, Ronald Lee

Ronald Lee Holt
June 28, 1953


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, July 1, 1953, page 2, col 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Committal services were held at 11 a.m. Monday at Silverbrook Cemetery for Ronald Lee Holt, who was still-born on Sunday at Pawating Hospital.

Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Francis Holt, 3033 Adams road; his grandmother, Mrs. Gusta Lewis, Niles, and a grandfather, Luemmer Holt, Shoals, Ind.

The Rev. M.D. Elson, pastor of the Church of God, officiated at the committal service.

 

Hunt, George E. A.

George E.A. Hunt
April 12, 1874-June 30, 1953


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, July 1, 1953, page 2, col 3, microfilm Niles District Library

George E.A. Hunt, 1902 Pucker street, died at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday as the result of a heart attack.

He is survived by his wife, Nora E. Hunt; two sons, George L. of Niles, and William L. Hunt, of Akron, O., one daughter, Mrs. Ethel E. Bowlsby, of Salem, Ore.,and one sister, Mrs. Bessie Disher, Akron, O.

Hunt was born on April 12, 1874, in Mansfield, O., and came here from Akron about eight years ago. He was retired.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, with the Rev. M.D. Elston, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

Johnson, Maurice S.

Maurice S. Johnson
Nov. 20, 1897-July 7, 1953


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, July 8, 1953, page 2, col., 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Maurice S. Johnson, 55,  1525 Cherry street, died Tuesday night at Hines Veterans Hospital, Hines, Ill., after an extended illness.  Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 9, 1953, page 2, col., 2, microfilm Niles District Library


Maurice S. Johnson, 1525 Cherry street, died at 8:20 p.m. on July 7 at Hines Memorial Hospital, Hines, Ill. He had been ill since January.

Surviving are his widow, Mable; a son, Raymond Johnson, who is serving with the Armed Forces in Germany; one grandchild, and one sister, Mrs. Carl Schweikert, Allegan.

Johnson was born on Nov. 20, 1897, in Hillards, Mich., and came here from Allegan in 1946. He was assistant to the supervisor of school janitors here.

Johnson was a veteran of World War I. Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday with the Rev. G.A. Steeby, pastor of the First Evangelical United Brethren Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, and a military committal service will be conducted by the American Legion Post.

 

Matthews, William H.

William H. Matthews
March 18, 1868-July 1, 1953


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 2, 1953, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

William H. Matthews, 85, well-known Niles area farmer and holder of extensive properties in Berrien County and other sections of the country, died Wednesday evening at Pawating Hospital. He had been ill about one month.

Matthews was born March 18, 1868, in Jackson, Mich., and came to the Niles area at an early age. His first wife, Mary, died in August, 1947. His second wife, Edith, survives.

Surviving along with the widow are one daughter, Mrs. Ethel Warda, Niles; one sister, Mrs. Mattie L. Brand, Finley, Ohio; one brother, Edward D. Matthews, Canton, Miss.; and one grandson.

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

 

McLochlin, Mary Elizabeth Murphy (Meredith)

Mary Elizabeth Murphy McLochlin
Dec. 3, 1857-May 20, 1932


Niles Daily Star, Friday, May 20, 1932, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. MARY McLOCHLIN DIES AT M-40 RESIDENCE

Passes Away After Long Illness Following Operation in December

 

Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Murphy McLochlin, wife of William McLochlin, died this morning at 9:15 in their home three miles north of Niles on M-40.  Mrs. McLochlin had an operation last December in the Lee Sanitarium in Dowagiac, and since that time she has been confined to her room. Mrs. McLochlin is remembered in Niles as Mrs. Peter W. Murphy.

Mrs. McLochlin was born in Dover, Delaware, on Dec. 3, 1857.  Her maiden name was Mary Elizabeth Meredith.  She came to Michigan with her parents when she was a little girl and always since resided in the vicinity of Niles.  She was married to Mr. Murphy who died on the day the Armistice of the World war was signed.  Of the four children born to them, three survive their mother. They are Frank Murphy of Flint, Mrs. Maude Showers, of Niles, and Mrs. R.D. Fackert of Edinburgh, Ind.  A daughter, Mrs. Oscar Eackert, of Chicago, died in May, 1930.  Five grandchildren also survive, besides the husband and two brothers, John Meredith of South Bend, and Levy H. Meredith of Hobart, Okla.

The body is at the Troost and Augustine undertaking rooms and friends may call there to view it. The plans for the funeral are not completed but the services will be held on Monday afternoon in the Troost and Augustine chapel. Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 23, 1932, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

FUNERALS


Funeral services for Mrs. William E. McLochlin were held this afternoon. The Rev. Robert Meader, pastor of the Methodist church, and the Rev. G.W. Webbink, pastor of St. John's church and a former neighbor of the deceased, conducted the services.  The pallbearers were Frank Bair, Charles Umholtz, John H. Huff, D.D. Waltz; S. G. Deam and Harry Barman.  Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery. Among those from out of the city who attended the services were Mrs. McLochlin's daughter, Mrs. R.D. Brown of Edinburgh, Ind.; Frank Murphy, a son, and his wife, of Flint; Miss Zifforah Fackert, a granddaughter; and her father, Oscar Fackert of Chicago; Mrs. Frances Murphy Anderson, a granddaughter, and her mother, Mrs. Violet Newlin, of Chicago, and Miss Bertha McLochlin, a daughter of Mr. McLochlin,and Mrs. Brosher, of Logansport, Ind.

Mecham, Milo R.

Milo R. Mecham
1888-May 23, 1932


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 24, 1932, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

MILO R. MECHAM, 44, DIES AT FATHER'S HOME

Passes Away Late Last Evening At 317 Broadway After Few Days Illness

 

Milo R. Mecham, 44, died last evening at 11:40 in the home of his father, J.G. Mecham, 317 Broadway. He had been in ill health three years and unable to engage in business but his last illness was of but a few days' duration.  Mr. Mecham for[sic] born in Colorado, in 1888. He is survived by his father, J.G. Mecham, of Niles, and by two sisters, Miss Nina Mecham of San Diego, Calif., and Mrs. Charles Collins of Los Angeles, Calif.

The body is at the Rutherford funeral home. The funeral services will be held in the chapel of the funeral home tomorrow afternoon at 2:30. The Rev. G.W. Simon, pastor of the Presbyterian church, will officiate. Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mr. Mecham was a step-son of Berrien County School Commissioner, Jennie Mecham.

 

Miller, Caroline

Caroline Miller
1880-May 12, 1932


Niles Daily Star, Friday, May 13, 1932, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Caroline Miller, wife of George F. Miller, died last evening at 5 o'clock of apoplexy  in their home two miles northeast of Pokagon. The body was taken to the Russel undertaking rooms in South Bend, and while the funeral arrangements are not completed, the services will be held there on Monday. Burial will be made in a South Bend cemetery. Mrs. Miller was 52 years old. She is survived by her husband, two children and brothers and sisters.  She formerly lived near South Bend.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 16, 1932, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Mrs. Caroline Miller, wife of George Miller of Pokagon township, who died on Thursday evening in her home were held in South Bend this afternoon. The body will be brought to Niles for burial in Silverbrook cemetery.