Robert L. Tyler
Jan 20, 1908-Oct. 14, 1991

Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 14, 1991, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Arrangements pending at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home for Robert L. Tyler, Sr., 83, of Niles, died at 5:40 a.m. today at Healthwin Hospital, South Bend, Ind., following a several month illness.

Mr. Tyler was the former President of Tyler Refrigeration Corp.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, October 15, 1991, page 1, col. 7-8, cont. page 2, col. 4-8, microfilm Niles District Library

Tyler dead at 83

By David Keim

staff writer

NILES--Niles has lost an important community leader, a man respected in business and admired for his service to his town.

Robert L. Tyler Sr., former president of Tyler Refrigeration Corp., died Monday at 5:40 a.m. He was 83.

Mrs. Tyler resided in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., and died at Healthwin Hospital in South Bend, Ind., after an illness of several months.

"If there's any one man that this town owes something to, it's Bob Tyler," said William Gallagher, who worked under Tyler for 10 years in the 1950s and 1960s before Tyler helped him start his own company.

"You wouldn't have a YMCA if there wasn't Bob Tyler," Gallagher said.

"His church (First Presbyterian) wouldn't have the chapel. .

"Bob was probably one of the most humane (men), but he was so inspiring." Gallagher continued. "He was a people person. He drove his company with people. He knew that for that company to grow he had to have loyal people. If you were loyal to him and the company, he was loyal to you."

Tyler took over as president in 1946 upon the sudden death of his brother, Jerry Tyler, the company's founder. He retired in 1969.

Tyler was instrumental in helping to raise the money that helped create the Niles-Buchanan YMCA, and served Niles with the Cancer Drive, United Fund and Jerry Tyler Foundation as well. He was a state director of the YMCA and director of the Niles-Buchanan YMCA.

"He was probably one of the greatest people I've known in my life." said Niles Mayor Larry Clymer, who worked in sales for Tyler Refrigeration for 30 years.

"He was very community-oriented and encouraged his people to do the same . .

"He was a stern taskmaster but he was one you could go in to and counsel with on personal problems as well as business problems," Clymer said, adding "He was exactly what we talk about today (as what a leader) should be."

Clymer  said "in one hand (he) carried a big stick in the other (he) carried his heart."

A World War II veteran, Tyler received the Legion of Merit and was a major in the U.S. Army. He was a member of LaRue Messenger American Legion Post No. 26 in Niles.

He was an athlete, and his love of sports and military background aided his business life, Gallagher said.

"When Bob had to assume the presidency of that company ..he began to put a team together. He became our coach you might say.

"He made district managers out of us. He put us through training . .You knew every part of the plant before you went out in the field."

Still, if a problem came up, his employees felt free to call at any time, on weekends, at night, Gallagher said.

"Bob had a weakness, if anything, (in that) in management he was too kind to his people," he added.

Roger Barr, who still works at Tyler as model shop manager, said of Tyler "He was an inspiration to all the people around here. He was a good man. He was a real genuine person. You could talk to him and he would understand things.

"Today you don't get that in business," Barr said.

Tyler was born on Jan. 20, 1908 in Three Rivers and moved to Niles from Glen Ellyn, Ill., in 1945.

That year he became vice president and sales manager of Tyler Fixture Corporation, and the next year was named president.

Tyler's work with the firm began in 1928, when he worked as field salesman.

Mr. Tyler is survived by wife Zelda Bolster Tyler, whom he married on June 20, 1975; sons Thomas L. Tyler of Huntington, Ind. and Taylor "Tim" Tyler of Niles; 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

A third son, Robert L. Tyler Jr., died on March 18, 1975.

Tyler's first wife, Dorotha Taylor Tyler, died in Feb. 1966. They were married on June 28, 1928. Tyler's second wife, Mariette Guy Tyler died Jan. 14, 1975. They were married Nov. 11, 1966.

The Rev. Clayton Fairo, minister at First Presbyterian Church in Niles, will officate funeral services.

Services are Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the church, with burial at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Visitation is one hour before services at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the foundation of the First Presbyterian Church and the Niles YMCA.

Stephen N. Tyler
Dec. 20, 1955-Nov. 15, 1971

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, November 16, 1971, page 2, col 1, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Word has been received of the death of Steven Tyler, 16, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Tyler, 1001 Weesaw Rd.

University of Michigan Hospital officials report that he died there Monday. He had been suffering from leukemia.

Tyler was a junior at Niles High School.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 17, 1971, page 1, col 7-8, microfilm Niles District Library

NHS students honor leukemia victim

NILES-Stephen N. Tyler was devoted to the improvement of his school--Niles High School--and himself. He worked hard at both, even while leukemia was taking  his life.

The Niles High School junior died from the disease Monday. On Tuesday, his fellow students showed their appreciation for his unselfish efforts by contributing $300 to the Niles-Buchanan YMCA in Tyler's name.

The contributions were a near spontaneous reaction to announcement of his death. He was active and well-liked. He was co-chairman of the auditorium programs, helped develop the new Student Day, was the school newspaper's sports editor and was a member of the French club.

While a student at Ballard Junior High, he was an all-around athlete, lettering in football, basketball and track, each of the three years he was at Ballard.

Last year he received a minor letter in football at Niles senior high and was on the varsity track squad.

He was active in student government and maintained an "A" average academically.  Outside of school, he was a member of the Senior High Youth Fellowship, the Westminster Church Choir, and the First Presbyterian Church.

He battled his fatal disease for 18 months, but lost at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor.

Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Tyler, 1001 Weesaw Rd., his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Tyler, Sr., of Niles and Mr. and Mrs. Neil B. Meriwether of Galesburg, Ill., a brother, Terence, at home, and a sister, Jennifer, also at home.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in the First Presbyterian Church of Niles with the Rev. John R. Wyngarden and the Rev. Donald E. Gordon officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

The family request that memorials be made to the Niles-Buchanan YMCA Memorial Fund.

Dr. William I. Tyler
1865-March 17, 1927

Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 18, 1927, page 1, col. 8, cont. page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

DR. W.I. TYLER IS STRICKEN BY HEART ATTACK AT SAN DIEGO

Prominent Niles Physician Dies Suddenly While on Vacation on Coast

SERVED NILES SCHOOLS

Was Prominent Member of Board of Education for Several Years

Dr. William I. Tyler, for many years a prominent Niles physician died last evening at 5:15 in the Maryland hotel in San Diego, Cal. according to word received this morning from Mrs. Tyler by their daughter, Mrs. Lewis Krell.

. . [illegible] last Monday by her mother in which she stated that the doctor's condition showed a pronounced improvement and that she and the doctor would leave San Diego next Wednesday for Niles if his condition continued to show the same improvement.  The announcement of his death therefore came as a shock to the relatives and close friends of the family, as well as to many in this community by whom he was beloved as a family physician for many years.

Mrs. Tyler accompanied by Mrs. D.S. Scoffern will leave San Diego, tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock with the body for Niles, and it is expected they will arrive in Niles about noon on Tuesday. Until they reach Niles, or until further word is received from Mrs. Tyler, no plans for the funeral will be made.

Mr. Tyler's death is attributed to cardiac asthma. With Mrs. Tyler he left Niles on January 30 for San Diego. The announcement that they were to go west brought many demands for services upon the doctor before his departure and the trip greatly exhausted him. Upon reaching California, where they were met by Mr. and Mrs. D.S. Scoffern of Niles, a physician was called who admitted Dr. Tyler to a hospital to recuperate and Dr. Tyler, accordingly, spent three weeks in a hospital. He was then able to to the the hotel and apparently had been slowly regaining his health, until yesterday when he was stricken suddenly.

William I. Tyler was about 62 years of age. He was born on a farm near Portland, Mich. He was educated in the schools of Portland, and after teaching in the public schools for several years entered University of Michigan and was graduated from the Homeopathic School of Medicine in 1891.  He came to Niles immediately after his graduation and for two years was a partner in the practice of medicine with Dr. A.O. Ullery. He then began to practice for himself independently and had a successful career. Mrs. Tyler, whose maiden name was Zuell Preston, of Wilmington, Del., came to Niles as a bride soon after the doctor was established in his practice, the romance which culminated in their marriage having begun when the were both students at University of Michigan.  Two children were born to them, one of whom, Mrs. Arvella Tyler Austin, died in 1918 during the epidemic of influenza. The other daughter, Mrs. Mignonne Tyler Krell survives her father. One brother, Otis Tyler, resides in Portland, Ore.

Dr. Tyler, throughout his residence in Niles was active in many community enterprises and activities. Throughout his residence here he was a faithful member of the First Baptist church and was a trustee of the church at the time of his death. He was true to his convictions. . .[illegible]. .. board of education reveals a record of work well and faithfully performed. He was a member of the Niles Rotary club and was a member of the Berrien County Medical association.

Dr. Tyler had served as member of the Niles board of eduction continuously for 28 years until last January when he resigned in view of the trip which he planned to take to California and was anxious that his place should be filled on the  board as he was not a candidate for re-election as a trustee. He was elected a trustee in 1899 succeeding Cyrus B. Groat who had resigned. He served for several years as president of the board, and later was elected treasurer, a position which he filled when he tendered his resignation. When he became a member of the board of education the old central school was standing and he was among the most active of Niles citizens in the effort to secure the new high school building to replace the old central which had become an antiquated building and failed utterly to meet the demands of a growing city. During the years he served on the board he had the satisfaction of seeing several new ward school buildings added to the system and the teaching staff tripled.

Zuel Preston Tyler
1866-Oct. 28,1931

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, October 28, 1931, page 1, col. 4-5, cont. page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Important Person in Civic Work Here

Death of Mrs. Zuel P. Tyler Removes

Was Widow of Dr. W.I. Tyler

and Had Accomplished Much

Here in Club, Church and Civic Work

Mrs. Zuel Preston Tyler, widow of Dr. William I. Tyler, died at 9:30 last evening in her home, 307 Sycamore street, after a month of illness. For several days her death had not been unexpected.

The death of Mrs. Tyler removes one of the most prominent women of the community who accomplished much through her contributions to its cultural, social, church and welfare activities. Coming to Niles as a bride in 1892, Mrs. Tyler at once identified herself with several groups, including the First Baptist church and the Ladies' Historical society and throughout the years, had maintained her interest in these organizations by active work. As the social and civic life of the developed she identified herself with other activities [in which] she had an interest and she contributed no small part to the success of their enterprises.

Mrs. Tyler's maiden name was Zuel Preston, a daughter of Seymour and Mary Preston. She was born in Wilmington, Del. After being graduated from a high school in Wilmington she attended a boarding school in Millersville, Md. She continued her education at the University of Michigan. While attending the University of Michigan she was pledged to the Pi Beta Phi sorority. A campus romance resulted in her marriage to Dr. Tyler soon after both were graduated from the University of Michigan.

Dr. Tyler came to Niles immediately after being graduated from the School of Medicine in the University of Michigan, and as soon as he had established his office he went to Wilmington, where he was married to Miss Preston.

Two daughters were born to Dr.and Mrs. Tyler, one of whom, Mrs. Mignonne Tyler Krell, wife of Lewis B. Krell, of Niles, survive her mother. The other daughter, Mrs. Mary Arvella Tyler Austin, died in 1918 during the nation wide epidemic of influenza. Dr. Tyler [died in] San Diego, Calif., where he and Mrs. Tyler had gone to spend the winter on account of his ill health. Besides her daughter, Mrs. Tyler is survived by two brothers, who are Carl Preston of Wilmington, Delaware, and Veryl Preston of New York City.

Mrs. Tyler was a member of the Ladies Historical society, one of the oldest literary clubs in the city in point of organization date. For twenty years she was the teacher of the Otherdom class, a class of young women in the First Baptist Sunday school and was regarded highly as a leader and friend by her class. She was a charter member of the Niles chapter of the American Association of University Women. She was an active member of the Woman's Progressive league, the local federation of literary clubs and independent women, an organization which she aided in perfecting. During the world war Mrs. Tyler lent herself untiringly to the work of the Red Cross, assisting in knitting and all other work of the Niles Chapter as a leader of groups of volunteer workers and had continued her membership in that organization.

Mrs.Tyler had given valuable service to the city as a member of the Niles library board. She was one of the group that obtained the Carnegie library for Niles. As a member of the Niles Welfare Fund board, one of the most recent organizations in Niles for civic welfare work, she was already engaged in plans to help solve the problems of the unemployed and needy which confront the community at large.

As a social leader, a teacher, a member of the various organizations of the Baptist church, which included the Baptist Woman's Union and the Ladies Aid society, or as a member of the groups interested in cultural pursuits or welfare projects, Mrs. Tyler exerted a wide and gracious influence and her death is mourned by many in addition to the relatives and groups of intimate friends. As the wife of a member of the Niles Board of Education for many years, matters of concern to the public schools of the City and educational enterprises generally were of deep interest to her.

The funeral services will be held on Saturday afternoon in the home. The Rev. G.W. Simon, pastor of the Presbyterian church, will officiate, in the absence of a pastor of the Baptist church. Burial will be made in the family lot in Silver Brook cemetery.

Leon Rooks
July 9, 1909-June 7, 1933

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, June 8, 1933, page 1, col. 6, continued page 7, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Leon Rooks Drowned in Indian Lake Tragedy

Seized With Muscle Cramps

While Retrieving Water Ball;

Myler, Niles Baseball Star,

Attempts to Rescue Friend

Seized with muscle cramps while retrieving a waterball for a couple that could not swim, Leon Rooks, 24, son of A.C. Rooks, proprietor of the Niles Creamery drowned last evening in Indian lake. His wife witnessed the tragedy.

Dorsey Myler, pitcher for the Niles Blues baseball team and employed by the Niles Creamery, attempted to rescue Rooks but became exhausted and had let go of Rooks to save himself.  Although Rooks was under water only five minutes and was alive when brought to shore efforts to resusciate[sic] him failed.

The tragedy took place at Forest Beach resort, where Rooks and Myler and their wives had gone to spend the evening. They arrived at 8 o'clock and the drowning occurred a few minutes later.  It was the first time this season that Myler had been swimming.  Rooks had been swimming Sunday. Accompanying the couple was Miss Margaret Conrad, sister of Mrs. Rooks, and the small half-sister and half-brother of the victim and a small neighbor girl.

Another party of a half dozen persons, including several men, was in the lake in shallow water playing with a big waterball when the Rooks-Myler party of eight arrived.  The ball was thrown too high to be caught and it landed about 400 feet out in deep water.

A member of the party playing the ball asked Rooks to retrieve it, as none of the party could swim. An athlete and a strong swimmer, Rooks went after the ball.  He was seen to be in trouble immediately after getting hold of the ball. He called for help. Myler swam to the rescue and started helping Rooks to shore. Almost immediately Rooks collapsed and grasped Myler's arm. By the time Myler fought himself free he was exhausted. He managed to reach shallow water and was assisted to shore.

Myler helped to man a rowboat that was brought from a nearby point and pointed out the spot where Rooks went down. A swimmer who had been summoned from a cottage dived from the boat and brought up Rooks on the first try from 10 feet of water.

RESUSCIATION[sic] FAILS

Resusciation[sic] efforts were begun immediately and continued for an hour. Within a short time a pulmotor was brought from a nearby resort and a doctor arrived within a half hour from Dowagiac. The physician stated that the atheltic[sic] muscle rigidity prevented respiratory action being restored. At one time during the hour that the efforts to revive Rooks were continued he appeared to be reviving. Color came into his face for a few moments. After an hour the physician pronounced Rooks beyond help.

Leon Rooks came to Niles when his father bought the creamery from Charles Roskay three and a half years ago, and had been employed by this father. He was born July 9, 1909, at Martin, Mich., but had lived in Holland about 10 years before coming to Niles.

Leon Rooks was married on March 14, 1932, to Mabel Conrad, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William J. Conrad of Sumnerville.  She had graduated from Niles high school with the class of 1931, ten months before her marriage. The party had stopped at the Conrad farm while en route to Indian Lake from Niles.  Since their marriage the younger Mr. and Mrs. Rooks had resided at 231 North Thirteenth street. A.C. Rooks, his father, resides at 1422 Cedar Street. Mr. and Mrs. Myler reside at 1619 Hickory street.

Surviving, beside the widow, are the father and a step-mother, an elder brother Leslie, the half-sister and half-brother, Lois G. and Lloyd Paul. The body was brought to the Rutherford funeral home in Niles.

Funeral services will be conducted at 3 o'clock Saturday in the First Presbyterian church by the Rev. Guy W. Simon. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

The Journal-Era (Berrien Springs, Mich.), Thursday, June 15, 1933, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Leon Rooks, 24, Niles, drowned in Indian lake last Wednesday night, when he was seized with muscle cramps after retrieving a water ball from deep water for a couple that could not swim.  D. Myler, of Niles, attempted to rescue young Rooks but became exhausted and had to let go of Rooks to save himself. Although Rooks was under water but five minutes and was alive when brought to shore efforts to resuscitate him failed. His wife witnessed the tragedy. The drowning victim was a son of A.C. Rooks, proprietor of the Niles Creamery.

Maude A. Rooks
Oct. 3, 1886-July 23, 1955

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 23, 1955, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Maude A. Rooks, 68, of 1303 Barron Lake Road, died at 7:35 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital following an illness of about one and a half weeks.

Mrs Rooks was born Oct. 3, 1886, in Mendon, Mich., and came to Niles from Holland, Mich., about 25 years ago. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star and the First Presbyterian Church.

Surviving are: her husband, Albert; two sons, Leslie Rooks, of Niles and Lloyd Rooks, of South Bend; a daughter, Mrs. Arthur Peabody, of Niles; two grandchildren and a brother, Bert Miller, of Cassopolis.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home with Dr. T.M. Greenhoe, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home.