Clare B. Harrison
1883-Nov. 23, 1975

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 24, 1975, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles--Mrs. Clare B. Harrison, 251 Cass St., died at 7:45 a.m. Sunday at Pawating Hospital following an extended illness. A retired employe of the Masonic Service Assn., she had lived in this area all her life. She was a member of Trinity Episcopal; Church. Her husband, Merrill, died in 1932.

Surviving are two nephews, Frank and Rex Barron, and a niece, Mrs. Robert Long, all of Niles.

Graveside services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Silverbrook Cemetery by the Very Rev. Vincent J. Anderson, pastor of Trinity Episcopal.  Arrangements were made by the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Jane Ann Harrison
1797-May 26, 1875

Niles Democrat, Saturday, June 5, 1875, page 3, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

DIED

MRS. JANE ANN HARRISON, widow of the late John Harrison, at the residence of Henry Rounds, in this city, May 26, aged 78 years.

She was a native of the Isle of Man, and came to America in 1828, and to Niles in 1869.  Mrs. H. had been a consistant[sic] member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for 60 years. During her long and industrious life she had acquired a large fund of general knowledge which her retentive memory held in store, and enabled her to use, for the edification of her friends and the benefit of the community.  She leaves a son and four daughters.

Raleigh ‘RyRy’ Franco, 4
May 25, 2007 — March 9, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:55pm Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Raleigh Franco

Raleigh Ashlyn Franco, 4, of Niles, passed away peacefully at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, with her family by her side, on Friday, March 9, 2012. Raleigh “Ry Ry” was born to Xavier and NaShawn Franco on May 25, 2007, in Niles.

She was a preschool student of Tri-County Head Start, where she loved to color and paint pictures of her family and friends. She was well-known for her beautiful smile and warm personality, but many close to “Ry Ry” knew her best by her love for music, singing and dancing. She truly loved hanging out at her “Gama” Linda’s hair salon, where she was often pampered with manicures and pedicures.

Above all, she was daddy’s little girl.

Preceding Raleigh were her great-great-grandparents, James and Tillie Anderson, and great-grandparents, Willie Travier, Pauline Coleman Travier, Betty J. Kirkendoll, Maurice Ulysses Miller; and her grandmother, Deborah Denise Travier–Franco.

She is survived by her great-great-grandmother; Audell Miller of Chicago; great-grandparents, Fannie Davis Miller of Niles, Perry Gene Kirkendoll of Elkhart; her grandparents, Eucebio “Jimmy” and Linda Evelyn Franco, Rodney and Linda Kirkendoll of Niles; and her parents, Xavier and NaShawn Franco of Niles. She is also survived by a sister, Kennedi Kimyia Franco, of Niles; close uncle, Rodney Rene Kirkendoll Jr.; and close aunt, Kyla Renese Kirkendoll, of Niles; and a host uncles, aunts, cousins and family friends.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 17, at 10 a.m. at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Niles with Pastor James Hightower, of Benton Harbor, officiating. A time for visitation will begin one hour prior.

An interment will follow the service at Silverbrook Cemetery, in Niles.

Donations can be made to the Raleigh A. Franco Memorial Fund at Fifth Third Bank.

Gail Harmon, 61
Jan. 13, 1951 — March 13, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published 11:04pm Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Harmon

Gail Lynn Harmon, age 61, of Mannix Street, Niles, died Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles following a brief illness.

She was born Jan. 13, 1951, in Niles to Eldon Robert and Donna Jean (Goodling) Blackburn whom survive.

Gail graduated from Niles High School in 1969 and was the office manager for the Vital Records Department of the Berrien County Clerk’s Office.

She was a very giving person and loved to spend time with her family, friends and her dog Cooper. She enjoyed flower gardening and was known to have a “green thumb.”

Gail is also survived by her daughter, Kelly Rakowski; granddaughter, Kaylen; and special loved one, Sara Gibson; brother, Gary (Sandy) Blackburn; sister, Kathy (Jeff) Malone, all of Niles, and sister, Barb Speers of Pinellas Park, Fla.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 16, at First Presbyterian Church in Niles with Pastor Ray Fulbright of the church officiating.

Relatives and friends may call from noon until the time of service. Interment will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Contributions in memory of Gail Harmon may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Joyce M. Graham, 89
November 10, 1922 — March 15, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published 6:06pm Sunday, March 18, 2012

Joyce M. Graham, 89, of Niles, died at 3:13 a.m. Thursday, March 15, 2012, at Lakeland Specialty Hospital, Berrien Center, Michigan following an extended illness.
She was born on Nov. 10, 1922, in Michigan Center, Michigan to John C. and Lola B. (Mount) Graham. She graduated from Niles High School and lived here all of her life.
She was retired from the Kawneer Corporation after many years of service in the accounting department.
Miss Graham enjoyed playing golf and bowling on area leagues and had won several tournaments. She also enjoyed reading fiction and mysteries and was a fan of the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago Bears.
She was preceded in death by her parents and by a brother, Bruce Graham, and a sister, Marjorie Graham.
Surviving family includes her brother, Ross (and Wanda) Graham of Niles; nephews, Malcolm (and Karin) Graham and David (and Kathryn) Graham, and a niece, Julie Graham.
Services for Joyce M. Graham will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 21, 2012, at the Trinity Episcopal Church, Niles with the Reverend James Slack of the church officiating. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
Contributions in memory of Joyce may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

William A. Hecker, 64
November 21, 1947 — March 15, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published online 6:10pm Sunday, March 18, 2012

William Hecker, 64, of South Bend, Ind., and formerly of Niles, died Thursday, March 15, 2012, at his home, unexpectedly, but of natural causes.
He was born on Nov.  21, 1947, in Niles to William and Helen (Cody) Hecker. He graduated from Niles High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in history from Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo). He retired from Brandywine Public Schools, Niles following many years of teaching. Bill enjoyed teaching. He also enjoyed collecting antiques, reading about history and studying genealogy. He had a special fondness for pets, especially the larger dog breeds.
He is survived by several cousins, including Bonnie (and  Kent) Ramsey of South Bend; a life-long friend, Mike Drennan of Niles and all of Mike’s family including his son, Matt; and Bill’s companion, Greg Martin of South Bend.
Services for Bill Hecker will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 22, 2012, at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles with Pastor Kenneth Peterson of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, South Bend officiating.
Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. The family will receive relatives and friends at the funeral home beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday. Contributions in memory of Bill may be made to Pet Refuge.