Obituaries

We now have over 7,000 obituaries collected about the interred here at Silverbrook Cemetery.

The obituaries are transcribed by the volunteers of the Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery from various sources.  If you see an opportunity for an addition or a correction, please email our obituary editor at obits@friendsofsilverbrook.org.

Huntly, Grace Doane

Grace Doane Huntly
May 14, 1884-Dec. 29, 1969


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 31, 1969, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Grace Doane Huntly, 85, of St. Cloud, Fla., a native of the Niles area, died Monday afternoon at Orange Hospital, Orlando, Fla., after an illness of several months.

Born May 14, 1884, in Howard Township, Cass County, Mrs. Huntly had lived in St. Cloud since 1957 coming from Howard Township. Her husband, Eugene, died Sept. 20, 1954. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and the Order of Eastern Star.

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Dorothy  Taylor, Detorit, and Mrs. Ealine Cornack, Lansing; a sister,Mrs. Walter R. Drury, Ann Arbor, four grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Friends may call after noon Friday at the funeral home.

Memorial rites will be administered at 8 p.m. Friday by members of the Eastern Star.

 

Huntly, Eugene R.

Eugene R. Huntly
July 6, 1880-Sept. 20, 1954


Niles Daily Star, Monday, September 20, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Eugene R. Huntly, 74, of 1127 Huntly road, died at 9:15 o'clock this morning at Pawating Hospital after an illness of one day. He was a retired farmer.

He was a member of Masonic and Order of Eastern Star lodges.

Born in Howard Township, Cass County, July 6, 1880, he lived his entire life in the Niles area.  He married Grace E. Doane June 27, 1906, in Niles. She survives.

Other survivors are two daughters, Mrs. Fred C. Taylor of Detroit, and Mrs. John F. Bowen, Lansing; four grandchildren; two brothers, Winfred W. Huntly, Roswell, N.M., and Clarence G. Huntly, Cincinnatus, N.Y.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home where the Rev. L. George Beacock will conduct services at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.  Masonic graveside services will be conducted.

 

Huntley, Gordon G.

Gordon G. Huntley
April 19, 1850-Nov. 14, 1908


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, November 14, 1908, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

GORDON HUNTLEY DROPS DEAD

HIS SUDDEN DEMISE GREAT SHOCK TO FAMILY

EXPIRES WHILE READING PAPER

Was A Well Known Former Agriculturist and A Man Who Had Many Warm Friends

 

Gordon G. Huntley dropped dead at 1 o'clock this afternoon at his home on south Fourth street.  He was sitting in a chair reading a paper when without any warning death came.

Mr. Huntly recently recovered from a siege of typhoid fever which left him in a weakened condition but no such serious effects were expected

Funeral announcement later.

SKETCH OF HIS LIFE

Gordon Huntly was born in Howard township, Cass county, on the 19th of April 1850. In his childhood he attended the district schools of Niles township.  Sept. 23, 1879, he married Miss Annie Reese. He and his wife became the parents of four children: Eugene R., Winifred W., M. Louisa, and Clarence G.

Politically a democrat, Mr. Huntly has filled various official positions. He was school inspector, afterward township clerk for two years, treasurer for two years, and supervisor for seven years.  He has also served as school director. Socially, he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being identified with Berrien County Lodge No. 6; he also affiliated with Niles Tent No. 99, K.O.T.M. as a farmer and stock-raiser, he was energetic and enterprising, and displayed in all his dealings the possession of sound common sense and strict probity.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 16, 1908, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

The funeral of the late Gordon G. Huntley will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock at the home on south Fourth street, Rev. H.C. Trabert of the Baptist church officiating. Burial at Silver Brook cemetery.





Babbitt, Hugh Merlin

Dr. Hugh Merlin Babbitt
April 29, 1892-Sept. 29, 1954


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 29, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Dr. Hugh Merlin Babbitt, 62, of 113 Hamilton street, Dowagiac, brother of John M. Babbitt, Niles, died at 7:10 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital, where he had been a patient one day. He had been ill a year.

Babbitt was born April 29, 1893, in Clinton, Ia., and moved to Dowagiac 37 years ago.  A doctor of osteopathy, he also had lived in Buchanan for four years and in Niles one year.  He was a member of the Holy Maternity Catholic Church in Dowagiac, the Elks Lodge in Dowagiac, the American Osteopathic Association and the Michigan  State Osteopathic Association.

Besides his brother in Niles, he is survived by another brother, L. Webster Babbitt, of South Bend.

Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. Friday in St. Mary's Catholic Church here with the Rev. Cletus M. Rose officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  The Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Thursday in the Kiger Funeral Home here, where friends may call after 7 p.m. today.

 

 

Holloway, Homer E.

Homer E. Holloway
Dec. 21, 1871-Oct. 4, 1954


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, October 5, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library


Homer E. Holloway, 16 North Eleventh street, died at 7:30 p.m. Monday in his home. He had been ill the past three years.

Surviving are his wife, Nellie, one sister, Mrs. Elmira Nichols of Morris, Ill., and one brother, Walter Holloway, of LaPorte, Ind.  Holloway was born on Dec. 21, 1871, in Rolling Prairie, Ind., and came here from Michigan City, Ind., in 1918.

He was a retired machinist for the New York Central Railroad Company, and was a member of the machinists' lodge.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday with the Rev. Richard Bonner, pastor of the Church of Christ, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

Brotton, Thurman

Thurman Brotton
1905-Oct. 5, 1954


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, October 5, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Thurman Brotton, 2348 Carothers road, died suddenly at 3 a.m. today in his home.
Adam B. Greenawalt, Cass County coroner, said death was caused by coronary thrombosis after making an examination at the residence.
[Illegible] his mother, Mrs. Brotton, of Grand Rapids, and one brother, Otis Brotton, of Elkhart, Ind. He was born in 1905 in Cairo, Ill.
Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, beginning Wednesday noon. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Hatfield, Myrtle E.

Mrs. Frank (Myrtle E.) Hatfield
Dec. 31, 1872-Sept. 29, 1950


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, September 30, 1950, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Frank Hatfield, 73, died at 12:30 p.m. Friday in her home at 1730 Robinson street, South Bend. She had been ill about a year. Mrs. Hatfield was born in Niles, Dec. 31, 1872, and was a resident of Niles 40 years ago.

Her husband operated the "Gillette and Hatfield" grocery business in Niles and later operated a meat market here before moving to South Bend.

Surviving are her husband and two sons, Harold and Earl Hatfield, both of South Bend.

Funeral services will be held in South Bend at the Orvis Funeral home at 2 p.m. Monday, South Bend time. Burial will be in the Silverbrook cemetery in Niles.