Clara L. Worvey, 88
Sept. 5, 1923 — Dec. 11, 2011

Niles Daily Star, Published online  9:00pm Monday, December 12, 2011

Clara L. Worvey, 88, of Cassopolis, died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011, at her residence. She was born Sept. 5, 1923, in Niles to Floyd and Mary (Jones) Williams. She married Billy Worvey on May 30, 1940, in Niles. He preceded her in death on Feb. 20, 2006. She was also preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Vivian Kinyon and Patricia Matthews; and one brother, Robert L. Williams.
She was a member of Bitley-Brohman Sportsman’s Club, Bitley and VFW Auxiliary William E. Lozier Post #10704, Cassopolis.
Clara is survived by two daughters, Mary (Vern) PeGan of Cassopolis and Cathy (Irving) VanLew of Mesa, Ariz.; one son, William Worvey of Cassopolis; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and one great, great-grandson.
The family will observe a private service. Inurnment will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Connelly Chapel, Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis. Online condolences may be sent c/o: wagnercares.com.

Marguerite Bjorkley, 93
Jan. 31, 1919-March 13, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published online 11:09pm Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Marquerite Rayburn (Marg) Bjorkley, 93, passed away in Niles following an illness.

She was born in Niles to James Ernest Rayburn and Clyda Mary Blackburn, who had migrated to Niles from McMinnville, Tenn. Marg was predeceased by her parents and her two brothers, James (Jim) Edmond and John Nathan (Nate) Rayburn.

At age 24, Marge met and married the love of her life, Herman C. (Hermie) Schweitzer.

They enjoyed a life of marital bliss until his sudden death in 1964. More than 20 years later, Marg retired from Sears when she married Ingvald (Skip) Bjorkley, who passed away in 2003. Marg loved Niles and its people, and she embraced the small-town atmosphere that Niles provided during her entire lifetime.

Marg will be remembered for her sweetness, culinary skills and ironic humor in the face of the many adversities that she bravely endured.

Although she never had children, Marg nurtured many young people, providing them with encouragement and her personal tidbits of wisdom for a happy life.

Survivors include a nephew, James Patrick Rayburn (Eileen); two nieces, Mary Rayburn Kennedy (Rick) and Laura Rayburn Mashburn (Bobby); three great-nephews and three great-nieces, all of Georgia.

Per Marg’s wishes, interment was a private graveside service March 14 at Silverbrook Cemetery, where she resides next to her beloved, Hermie.

The eulogy was courtesy of a loved paternal cousin, the Rev. John Kenton Rayburn of Granger.

Family and friends of Marguerite are invited to reunite and celebrate her life Friday, April 6, at 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express on South 11th Street in Niles.

Eladia Rodriguez, 74
Feb. 28, 1937 — Jan. 31, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published online 9:32pm Thursday, February 2, 2012

Eladia Rodriguez, 74, of Hickory Street, Niles, died Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, at her home.

She was born Feb. 28, 1937, in Puerto Rico to Confesor and Maria (Garay) Segarra. Moving from Puerto Rico to the United States, Eladia spent her youth living in New York and New Jersey. She returned to Puerto Rico, where she met and married her husband, Lorimer Rodriguez.

Eladia returned to the area with her husband and they were married for more than 50 years.

Surviving with her husband is their son, Luis Rodriguez of Buchanan; daughters, Iris (Brian) Reith of Niles and Doriz (Damian) Curry of Traverse City, Mich.; grandchildren, Anna and Ciara Curry, Emily and Alyssa Rehmel, Collette and Lindsea Rodriguez, Chelsea York, Kelsey and Kaitlyn Moore, Michael Starrett; and great-grandchild, Cameron Starrett.

She was preceded in death by her son, Lorimer Rodriguez Jr.; daughter, Mary Rodriguez; and grandson, Dane Angel Dorstewitz. Eladia loved caring for her children and grandchildren and enjoyed cooking for her family.

Funeral services will be private. Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, is assisting with arrangements.

Lillie Dash
1856-Jan. 9, 1929

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 10, 1929, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Death of Mrs. Charles Dash

Mrs. Lillie Dash, 72, wife of Charles Dash, Fourteenth street and Silver Brook avenue, died at 5:30 last evening from complications developing from influenza.  Mr. and Mrs. Dash moved to Niles about two years ago from Frederick, Wis.  Mrs. Dash had been ill for about six weeks prior to her death. She is survived by her husband and by seven sons from two marriages.  The sons are Roy, Charles and Ralph Dash, George, Frank, Austin and Claude Cole. All live in Niles except Roy who is a resident of Frederick, Wis. The following brothers and sisters also survive: Ellis Wood, Muskegon, Frank Wood and Mrs. Laura Palmer, of Soring Valley, Wis., Mrs. Myrtle Croisant, of Cloverton, Wis. The funeral services will be held Saturday morning at 10 o'clock at the Troost and Augustine chapel. Rev. E.O Saunders, pastor of the Pentecostal church, will officiate. Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, January 12, 1929, page 4, col. 1, micofilm Niles District Library

Funeral Mrs. Dash

Funeral services for Mrs. Lillian Dash, wife of Charles Dash were held this morning. rev. O.E. Saunders, pastor of the Pentecostal church officiated.  Burial took place in Silver Brook cemetery. Mrs. Dash died on Wednesday evening at her home, 1360 Silverbrook avenue.

Marion J. Baxter Edwards
Feb. 22, 1848-Jan. 8, 1929

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, January 9, 1929, page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH CLOSES LONG LIFE OF INVALIDISM

Mrs. Marion Edwards Dies at Broadway Home Tuesday Afternoon

Mrs. Marion J. Baxter Edwards died on Tuesday afternoon at 4 o'clock at her home, 516 Broadway, after many years of invalidism.

The funeral services will be held on Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the home. Rev. G.W. Simon, pastor of the Presbyterian church will officiate. Burial will be made in the family lot in Silver Brook cemetery.

Mrs. Edwards was born on Feb. 22, 1848 in Sycamore, N.Y., a daughter of Bentley and Mary Baxter. She came to Michigan with her parents when she was seven years of age, the family having settled in Sumnerville where she grew to womanhood.  She was married to William Edwards on January 1, 1868. They moved to Missouri where they lived for eight years and then returned to Michigan  to the old Lewis Edwards farm where they lived for three years, afterward buying a farm near the Michigan Central railroad terminal where they spent most of their married life. In 1906, they moved to Niles where they lived until their deaths.  Mr. Edwards died in 1916.

Although an invalid for thirteen years, she was of a cheerful and kindly disposition under the care of her daughter, Clara, during these years.

She was a member of the Niles Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, for twenty-four years and also was a member of the Presbyterian church.

She leaves to mourn her loss, two sons and three daughters, Frank B. Edwards, Dowagiac; Geo N. Edwards, Niles; Ella Leach, Manton, Mich.; Addie Burkett of Benton Harbor, and Clara Jewell of Niles.  Also two brothers, Judge Chas. Baxter, of Los Angeles, Calif., and Judge George N. Baxter, of Washington, D.C.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 11, 1929, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

FUNERAL OF MRS. EDWARDS

Funeral services were held this afternoon at the home, 516 Broadway, for Mrs. Marion Baxter Edwards. Rev. G.W. Simon, pastor, of the Presbyterian church of which Mrs. Edwards had been a member for many years, officiated. Richard Gray sang. Burial was made in the family lot in Silver Brook cemetery.  Mr. and Mrs. John Burkett, of Benton Harbor, and Mrs. Boyd Gardner, of Rochester, Minn., were among those from out of the city  who attended the services. Mrs. Burkett is a daughter, and Mrs. Gardner, a niece of Mrs. Edwards.

Samuel L. Johnson
1840-Jan. 7, 1929

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 7, 1929, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH TAKES ANOTHER VETERAN OF CIVIL WAR

Samuel L. Johnson, 88, Dies This Morning at Union Place Residence

Samuel L. Johnson, 88, who had for several years been one of the few surviving veterans of the Civil war, in Niles, died this morning at 9:15 at his home, 527 Union place.  Mr. Johnson died from a second stroke of paralysis. He became ill last evening, and, this morning, it was decided to take him to the  hospital but he died just as the ambulance arrived.

Mr. Johnson was born on a farm north of Niles not far from the Johnson cemetery on the Niles-St. Joseph road, and named for the family of which he is a member. He had spent his entire life in Berrien county except during the time he served in the  war. He engaged in farming for a number of years in Oronoko township and reared his family there.  At the age of 21 years, he enlisted with Co. E. 12th infantry, or on Oct. 10, 1861. He was mustered into service on Jan. 8, 1862. During the war he was on duty from January to April in 1864 with the 11th Ohio Battalion. He was discharged at DeVall's Bluff, Ark., on Jan. 7, 1865.

Mr. Johnson built the house in which he died 30 years ago and has since lived there.  For a number of years he was engaged as watchman at the Big Four crossing on Main street until ill health prevented. Mr. Johnson was twice married. His second wife, who was formerly Mrs. Ida Bridge, of Elkhart, Ind., and to whom he was married 15 years ago, survives him. Besides the widow, he is survived by one son, Arthur Johnson, of St. Joseph, and one brother, James Johnson, of Niles, and two grandchildren; Mrs. Harold Spaulding and Harry Inglewright, of Berrien Springs. Mrs. M.S. Brickel and Mrs. Bernard Deegan, of Niles, are nieces.

The funeral plans are not completed but the services will be held, probably, on Wednesday afternoon in the home. Burial will be made in the family lot in Silver Brook cemetery.