John W. Childress
Dec. 8, 1887-April 8, 1957

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 8, 1957, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

John Wister Childress, 70, died this morning at 2:30 o'clock at his home on route three [M-140], Niles.

Born Dec. 8, 1887 at Pine Bluff, Ark., he came here from Chicago in 1938 and was a retired New York Central Railroad employe. He was a member of Hope Presbyterian Church.

Survivors are his widow, Ethel, two sons, Gerald and John W. Childress, Jr., both of Lawrence, four grandchildren and two brothers, Thomas Childress of Niles and Rufus Childress of Little Rock, Ark.,

Friends may call at the Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday by the Rev. M. F. Traylor, pastor of Franklin AME Church. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs. Mae B. Ranney
Oct. 29, 1905-April 12, 1957

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 13, 1957, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Mae B. Ranney, 51, of 2848 South 13th Street Road, died at 10:45 a.m. Friday in the Berrien County Hospital at Berrien Center. She had been in failing health for the past 18 months.

Mrs. Ranney, a practical nurse, was born Oct. 29, 1905, in Folkston, Ga. and came to Niles from Glendale, Calif., last July. Surviving are her husband, Kenneth C. Ranney of Los Angeles, Calif.; a son, James Edwards, Jr. , of Niles; two grandchildren, and three sisters, Mrs. W.L. Woolard, of Folkston, Ga., and Mrs. Betty Bruce and Mrs. Eva Fredricks, both of Glendale, Calif.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. Norman Sundwall, pastor of Huntly Memorial Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home beginning this evening.

Orrin C. Weber
Sept. 13, 1893-April 14, 1957

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 15, 1957, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Orrin C. Weber, 63, of 1024 North Fifth Street, died at 12:20 a.m. Sunday in Pawating Hospital after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage.

Mr. Weber was born Sept 13, 1893, in Niles and had made his home here, in South Bend and Chicago. He was employed by Westinghouse of Chicago, and was a member of the Masonic Lodge.

Surviving are: his wife, Hazel, whom he married Dec. 1, 1914, in Chicago; a daughter, Mrs. Jack Schick, of Niles; a son, Capt. Carlton F. Weber, stationed with the U.S. Air Force in [illegible] brother, Lyle Weber, of Niles and three sisters, Mrs. William C. Robinson, of Grand Rapids, and Mrs. O.J. Trent and Mrs. Lester Heth, both of South Bend.

Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. John MacLachlin, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Fred Hilbert
June 14, 1885-April 15, 1957

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 16, 1957, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Fred Hilbert, 71, of 636 North 12th Street, retired New York Central Railroad engineer, died at 8:30 p.m., Monday in Blodgett Hospital, Grand Rapids, following an illness of six weeks.

Mr. Hilbert was born June 14, 1885, in Gladwin, Mich., and came to Niles 18 years ago from Joliet, Ill. He was a member of the Niles Masonic Lodge, White Shrine Commandery, the Masonic Council and chapter and was chief engineer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

Surviving are : his wife, Minnie; a daughter, Mrs. Otto Reum, of Lakeside, Mich.; a son, Harry Hilbert, of Niles; two grandchildren; a brother, James Hilbert, of Manton, Mich., and a sister, Mrs. Charles Gallagher, of Traverse City.

Funeral Services wil be held at 2 p.m., Thursday in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. Herbert Meussling, pastor of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery with Masonic rites at the graveside. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Dan T. Merson
May 22, 1884-April 19, 1957

Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 19, 1957, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Dan T. Merson, 72, of 47 South Fourth Street, died at 9:20 a.m. today in his home here following two years of poor health.

Mr. Merson, who for 31 years operated a meat and grocery business in Buchanan, was born May 22, 1884, in Buchanan, the son of Frank and Katherine Merson.  He was married Oct. 11, 1927, to Emma VanDyke of Niles, who survives. Also surviving is a brother, Frank Merson, county supervisor from Buchanan.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Swem Funeral Home at Buchanan with the Rev. Robert V. Gouwens, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Buchanan, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery here.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 p.m. Sunday.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 20, 1957, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Merson Rites Monday

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Monday in the Swem Funeral Home at Buchanan for Dan P. Merson, 72, of 47 South Fourth Street, who died Friday morning. Friends may call at the funeral home in Buchanan after 2 p.m. today.

Miss Marie V. Rush
Aug. 20, 1892-April 21, 1957

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 22, 1957, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Miss Marie V. Rush, 64, of 1622 Cass Street, died at 9:15 p.m. Sunday in Pawating Hosptial where she had been a patient for the past four days. She had been ill for four years.

Miss Rush, a retired saleslady for women's ready-to-wear clothing, was born Aug. 20, 1892, in Logansport, Ind., and came to Niles two years ago from Miami Shores, Fla. Surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Alma VanSkiver, of Niles, and Mrs. S.M. Aurbach, of Miami Shores.

Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home, where friends may call beginning Tuesday evening.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.