Obituaries

William Chapman
Sept. 11, 1879-Oct. 16, 1961

Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 16, 1961, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

William Chapman, 82, 2249 Reum Road, died at 5:50 a.m.  today in Pawating Hosital[sic], where he had been admitted a few hours before. He had been in failing health for one year.

Mr. Chapman was born Sept. 11, 1879, in Galien and had moved to Niles 40 years ago.

Surviving are: his widow, Mattie Belle;a daughter, Miss Wilma Ruth Chapman, at home, and two brothers, Arthur Chapman, Galien, and Roy Chapman, 2249 Reum Road.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in the Pifer Funeral home, with Dr. Maurice McKean, pastor of the First Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m. today.

Samuel Thomson
Nov. 3, 1885-Oct. 9, 1961

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, October 10, 1961, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Samuel Thomson, 76, 1657 Thomson Rd., died at 12:30 a.m. Tuesday in Pawating Hospital after six months of illness.

Mr. Thomson was born Nov. 3, 1885, in Milton Township, and lived his lifetime in the same house. On Nov. 3, 1953, he was married to Mary Gaby in Niles. He was formerly a supervisor of Milton Township, a member of the Cass County Welfare Board for 12 years, president of the Cass County Co-ops, a life member of the Farm Bureau, and elder and lifetime member of the First Presbyterian Church. He was a retired farmer.

Surviving besides his wife, is a sister, Miss Josephine Thomson of Niles.

Friends may call at the Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home and funeral services will be held in the First Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m. Thursday with the Rev. John P. MacLachlan officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Gorton F. Price
April 10, 1897-Oct. 9, 1961

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, October 10, 1961, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

ADRIAN--Gorton F. Price, 64, formerly of Niles, died at 6:30 a.m. Monday in his home here.

Mr. Prince was born in Niles, April 10, 1897, and was married there to Marian Wright, June 3, 1917. He moved from Niles to Huntington Woods, then to Adrian 12 years ago. He was president and founder of Primore Sales Inc., of Adrian, a former member of the Elks Lodge of Niles, and of the St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4 F and AM. He was a graduate of Niles High School and University of Michigan School of Architecture.

Surviving besides his wife are a daughter, Mrs. John Parsons, and a son, Robert Price, both of Adrian, and four grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in the  Everiss Funeral Home, Adrian. Committal services will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles at 4 p.m., with Dr. Maurice McKean, pastor of the First Methodist Church of Niles, officiating.

Elva Pears Cronk
July 3, 1892-Oct. 8, 1961

Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 9, 1961, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Elva Pear Cronk, 69, 111 Grant St., mother of Niles Police Chief Arthur N. Pears, died at 6:30 p.m. Sunday in her home following an illness of one year.

Mrs. Cronk was born July 3, 1892, in Milton Township, Cass County, and spent her lifetime in and around this community. She was married to Arthur Pears in Niles in 1910. He died in 1923.  She married Carroll Cronk in Niles in 1925. He died in 1942.

She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, the Order of Eastern Star and the Rebekah Lodge, of which she was a past noble grand.

Surviving in addition to her son are: a daughter, Mrs. Frederick F. Fisher, 217 N. Lincoln Ave.; four grandchildren, and two sisters, Mrs.Howard R. Johnson, 106 Grant St., and Mrs. Alex A. Henderson, 513 Broadway.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the First Presbyterian Church with the pastor, the Rev. John P. MacLachlan, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the Kiger and Halbritter Funeral Home. Members of the Rebekah Lodge will meet at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday at the church to attend services.

Barbara J. Mitchell
May 29, 1926-Oct. 7, 1961

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, October 7, 1961, page 2, col, 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Barbara J. Mitchell, 35, 617 S. Lincoln Ave., died at 2:10 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital.  She had been in ill health for the past year.

She was born May 29, 1926, in Niles, and had lived here all her life.

Survivors include her mother, Mrs. Gladys Pagels; her husband, Gerold S. Mitchell; two sons, Steven and Gregory, both at home, and three sisters, Mrs. William Coquillard, 1063 Huntly Rd., Mrs. Richard Houk, 1734 Regent st., and Mrs. Ronald Low, 6106 Bell Rd.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home from 7 p.m. today to Monday noon.  Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the New Apostolic Church, with the Rev. George Meisinger officiating.

Ronald Allen Marshall
Dec. 17, 1961-Dec. 30, 1961

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, January 2, 1962, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services were held at 3:30 p.m. today in the Pifer Funeral Home for Ronald Allen Marshall, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Marshall, 515 Howard St., who died at 4:45 p.m. Saturday in Pawating Hospital. Burial was in Silverbrook Cemetery.

The infant was born prematurely Dec. 17 in Pawating Hospital. Surviving besides the parents are: a sister, Vickey Sue, at home, and the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Marshall, 515 Howard St., and Mr.and Mrs. Claude Gibbs, 1243 Carberry Road.