Mary E. Krysiak
July 26, 1927-Dec. 10, 1986

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 10, 1986, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mary E. Krysiak, 59,  1059 Almaugus Drive, Niles, died at 4:45 am. today at Pawating Hosptial.

She was born July 26, 1927 in Niles and was a lifetime area resident. She was retired from Simplicity Pattern Co.

On June 25, 1949 in Niles, she married Robert Krysiak who died Sept. 1, 1980.

Surviving are three daughters, Linda Soper, Terri Winslow and Penny Hopper, all of Niles; one brother, Gene Burdue of Niles; one sister, Peggy Waldron of Niles; and eight grandchildren.

Services are at 10 a.m. Saturday at Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call 2 to 4 pm. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Leoma James
Sept. 2, 1917-Dec. 25, 1986

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 27, 1986, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

Leoma James, 69, 1124 N. Ninth St., Niles, died at 3 a.m. Thursday at University Hospital, Ann Arbor.

She was a member of Mt. Calvery Missionary Baptist Church, Niles.

Born Sept. 2, 1917 in Osceola, Ark., she lived in this area since 1954, coming from Osceola.

In 1945 she maried[sic] Willie James, who survives.

Also surviving are eight sons, Joe James of Niles, Willie James Jr., of Des Moines, Iowa, Henry Anderson of Kentucky, Rev. Ebenezer Spencer of Bangor, Willie Spencer of South Bend, Ind., and John Charles and Charlie James, all of Seattle; four daughters, Lucinda Patrick and Pauline Clemmer, both of Niles, Hattie Kelly of Buchanan and Ruthie James of Flint; 38 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Services are 1 p.m. Monday at Mt. Calvary, with Rev. W.L. Daniel of that church officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

There will be a wake from 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the church.

Arrangements were handled by Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan.

Willie Jordan Prichett
July 30, 1932-Dec. 24, 1986

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 27, 1986, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

Willie Jordan Prichett, 54, 1632 Michigan St., Niles, died at 3:34 a.m. Friday at Pawating Hospital following a three year illness.

He retired in 1983 as a machinest[sic] with National-Standard Co., and was a member of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, the Prince Hall Lodge in Chicago and the Voice of Paradise Singers. He also was a trustee of the church board and an Army veteran of the Korean War.

Born July 30, 1932 in Poplar Bluff, Mo., he lived in this area since 1966, coming from Chicago.

On June 26, 1965 in Niles he married Tommie J. Worsham, who survives.

Also surviving are four sons, Tyrus L. Prichett of Niles, Willie Prichett of Chicago, Keith Prichett of Aberdeen, Md., and Tommy Prichett of Arkansas; three daughters, Tracey Prichett of Niles, Tonya Prichett of Milwaukee and Tammy L. Searcy of Elkhart, Ond.; two sisters, Lillian Lane of Chicago and Dixie Caine of San Diego; and five grandchildren.

Services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at Mt. Olive, with Rev. Fletcher McAfee of that church officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. Tuesday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, where a wake will take place from 7 to 8 that night.

Marilyn June Hoese
Jan. 17, 1941-Dec. 21, 1986

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 23, 1986, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Marilyn June Hoese, 45, 1631 Silverbrook Ave., died at 9:45 p.m. Sunday at Memorial Hospital of South Bend, Ind., following an extended illness.

She was born Jan. 17, 1941, in South Bend, and lived in Niles since 1965, coming from South Bend.

On Aug. 3, 1963, in South Bend, she married Robert E. Hoese, who survives.

Also surviving are a son, Robert B. Hoese of Niles; a daughter, Pamala Sue Anglin of Niles; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Emery Hegedus of South Bend; a sister, Karen Young-White of Aurora, Colo.; and two grandchildren.

Services are 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles with Rev. Morton Hempel of Church of God Full Gospel officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Charles James Yeager
Nov. 12, 1969-Dec. 28, 1986

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 30, 1986, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Charles James Yeager, 17, 2810 Wynn Road, died Sunday from injuries he suffered in a car accident on US-33 South in Niles.
He was born Nov. 12, 1969, in Niles, and lived his entire life in the area. He was employed by Roger's Trash Service.
Survivors include his foster parents, Mr.and Mrs. Richard Treiber of Niles; a brother, Joseph Richard Yeager of Niles; and a sister, Cindy Lunck of Niles.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Friday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles, with Rev. Morton Hempel of Church of Christ Full Gospel officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.
Friends may call between 7 and 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

William L. Shafer
March 24, 1874-Aug. 24, 1957

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 26, 1957, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

William L. Shafer Dies

William L. Shafer, 83, founder of the United States Chamber of Commerce and secretary for years of the Niles Chamber of Commerce, died at 2 p.m. Saturday in Pawating Hospital, where he had been ill for a week.

Long active in chamber work, Mr. Shafer was secretary during his life on the Roanoke, Va., Elkhart, Ind., [illegible] and Michigan City, Ind., C of C.s. He served in Niles from 1930 to 1937, during the time that the Simplicity Pattern Co. and the [illegible].

In 1910, he was instrumental in founding the United States C. of C. in Grand Rapids, Mich. Before his Chamber of Commerce work, Mr. Shafer was editor of the "World" newspaper in Roanoke, Va.  He was most recently employed by Simplicity Pattern Co., working there for 12 years until his retirement in 1954.

He lived at 121 South Third Street with his wife Ida M. Shafer, who survives. Also surviving are a niece, Mrs. Mary Shafer, [illegible], O., and two nephews, Clarence and Chester Shafer, Springfield, O.

Mr. Shafer was born in Covington, O., on March 24, 1874.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home, where services are planned at 2 p.m., Tuesday.  Mrs. Phyllis Castle, reader of the Niles Christian Science Church, will conduct the services, and Masonic rites will be performed at graveside at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mr. Shafer was a member of St. Joseph Valley Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons; St. Joseph Valley  Chapter No. 2, Royal and Select Masons; Niles Commandery No. 12, Knights Templar; Saladin Temple of Grand Rapids; and the Shrine.