Greenville Fletcher
April 23, 1877-May 12, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 13, 1935, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Greenville Fletcher, 58, Is Taken by Death

Greenville Fletcher, 1 Parkway, died early Sunday morning in Pawating hospital following an operation for appendicitis. Mr. Fletcher was 58 years old.

Mr. Fletcher came to Niles 18 years ago from Summittville, Tenn. He was employed by the Kawneer company.

Surviving are two sons, George, Niles, and Royal, of Berrien Springs, and two daughters, Mrs. Roy Mitchell Niles, and Mrs. Maggie Robinson, Summittville, Tenn., also one granddaughter. A sister, Mrs. Frank McLaughlin, Niles, also survives.

The funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock in the Price and Kiger funeral home, the Rev. Guy W. Simon officiating. Friends of the family are asked to call at the residence of the deceased, 1 Parkway, before the hour of the funeral. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery[sic].

Mary Deditch
March 13, 1859-May 22, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 22, 1935, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Mary Deditch, 76, Taken by Death

Mrs. Mary Deditch, 76, died late this morning at Pawating hospital after an illness of nine years. She had been a resident of Niles and vicinity for many years, but since her husband’s death in 1918 had moved from their farm home to her late residence at 1108 Ferry street.

Mrs. Deditch was born in Joliet, Ill., March 13, 1859. She leaves two daughters and four sons, Mrs. Anna Wilcox, South Bend; Mrs. Mary Gable, New Carlisle, Ind.; Joseph and John Deditch, Laporte, Ind., and Henry and Frank Deditch of Niles. She leaves also 12 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

The body was removed to the Price and Kiger funeral home. Arrangements for the funeral services have not been completed.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 23, 1935, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

DEDITCH RITES FRIDAY

Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Deditch, 78, who died Wednesday morning, will be held Friday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock in the Price and Kiger funeral home. The Rev. Cole, pastor of the First Christian church of South Bend, will officiate and interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends of the family may call at the Price and Kiger funeral home before the hour of the services.

Ernest K. Schneck
May 12, 1877-May 24, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 27, 1935, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Schneck Funeral Set Tuesday P.M.

Funeral services for Ernest K. Schneck, 58, who died in Kalamazoo Friday night, will be held Tuesday afternoon at the Troost and Turner Chapel, the Rev. James F. Goodman officiating.

Mr. Schneck’s death followed several years’ illness. The family has lived in Niles for more than 25 years.

Surviving are his wife, Katherine, three sons,  Otto, William and Carl, all living at the family home, 967 South Fifteenth street, and one daughter, Mrs. Richard Kuper, 1213 Oak street, also a brother, William Schneck, South Bend.

Marjorie Leidy-Littrell, 79
July 19, 1932 — Sept. 23, 2011

Marjorie L. Leidy-Littrell, 79, of East Wildflower and formerly of Sheridan Avenue in Niles, died at 7 a.m. Friday, Sept. 23, 2011 at her home, unexpectedly but of natural causes.

She was born July 19, 1932 in Niles to Norman and Nona (Hatfield) Starr. She graduated from Niles High School and lived here most of her life. She was previously employed at Simplicity Pattern Co. in Niles and was most recently employed at Niles Community Schools.

Marjorie was a member of Beta Sigma Phi. She loved her cat, “Lucky,” and enjoyed crafts, reading and sewing.

On Nov. 4, 1948 in Niles, she married Lawrence John Leidy, who preceded her in death on March 11, 1989. She was also preceded in death by her siblings, Pauline Jimerson, Winnifred Roberts, Paul Starr, Medford Starr and Barbara Bortz.

She is survived by her daughters, Cheryl Frantz of Niles, Terri Karnes of Fontana, Calif. and Marie (John) Seese of Niles; grandchildren, Stacy Childs, Rickie Karnes, Michael Potokar and Stephen Beltramo; great-grandchildren, Tyler, Dustin, A.J. and Ivy; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Marjorie L. Leidy-Littrell will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Edward H. Slate of Wesley United Methodist Church officiating.

Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.
The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 10:23pm Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Doris Leach, 86
Aug. 30, 1925 — Sept. 27, 2011

Doris E. Leach, 86, of Windsor Path in Georgetown, Ky. and formerly of Naples, Fla. and Niles, died at 4:55 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011 at Bradford Square Care and Rehabilitation Center of a brief illness.

Mrs. Leach was born Aug. 30, 1925 in Mishawaka, Ind. to Roy C. and Ellen J. (Eaten) Mann. She moved from Niles to Florida in 1990 and later to Kentucky in 2010. For 25 years, she owned and operated Doris’ Beauty Salon on South 13th Street in Niles.

Doris was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Niles. She was also a member of AARP, the Home Economics Club and CANASTA Club. She volunteered with the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America.

On March 11, 1946 in Mishawaka, she married Harold John Leach, who survives. Surviving family also includes their children, Karen G. Richards of Anniston, Ala., Carrol L. Rouch of Georgetown, Ky. and John H. Leach of Cynthiana, Ky.; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her siblings, Evelyn Balok, Cosette Carlson, Wilford R. Mann, Raymond Mann and Rosella Nichols.

Funeral services for Doris E. Leach will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor Dennis Nichols of Riverview General Baptist Church in Elkhart, Ind. officiating.

Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends beginning one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Doris may be made to Alzheimer’s research.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 10:12pm Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Fred Gray
July 16, 1873-March 12, 1923

Niles Daily Star-Sun, Tuesday, March 13, 1923, page 1, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES WORKER'S DEATH CALLS FOR INQUEST
Fred Gray, Switchman at M.C. Terminal Dies Under Suspicious Circumstances

Fred Gray, switchman in the employ of the Michigan Central at west freight terminal here, died at his home in Eau Claire, this county, last night, under conditions calling for a coronial inquest to determine the cause of death.

Gray, who was 49 years old, and is survived by a widow and two sons, one of whom, Fred Gray, Jr., resides in this city, arrived here about noon yesterday, and as was his custom, went to the Oakwood cigar store, where he ate a lunch and drank two glasses of cider. At 2:30 o'clock, Gray reported for work, and remained on the job until about 5 o'clock, when he complained of being ill, and left for his home. He arrived home about 6 o'clock, and went to bed. A physician was summoned, and Gray stated, it is said, that after drinking the cider here, he had cramps in the stomach, which continued at intervals during the afternoon. The physician prescribed for Gray, but his condition rapidly grew worse, and he died about 11 p.m. in great agony.

Coroner Slaughter of Benton Harbor impanneled[sic] a jury today, and directed that an autopsy be performed on the remains. The autopsy was conducted by Dr. Ryno, of Benton Harbor, who found Gray's liver and kidneys to be enlarged and hardened condition, indicating that death resulted from acute alcoholism.

Sheriff Bridgman and several of his deputies and Motorcycle Policeman Lyle Hutson, the latter of this city, were present when the autopsy was performed. And, upon his return home, Motorcycle Policeman Hutson went to the Oakwood cigar store and procured a sample of the cider on sale there, with a view to having it analyzed.

The inquest is to be held at Eau Claire within a day or two.

Note: Date of Birth computed from age as recorded on Death Record.