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.

Lacey, Augusta Louisa (May)

Augusta Louisa Lacey
1833-April 3, 1892


Niles Daily Sun, Tuesday, April 5, 1892, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Death of Mrs. Granville Lacey

 

Mrs. Augusta, wife of Granville Lacey, died in Los Angeles, California, on Sunday morning, April 3, 1892, of heart disease, in her 60th year.

For twenty years Mrs. Lacey had been an invalid, her health and strength gradually giving away during all this time.

In the early part of the winter Mrs. Lacey, accompanied by her two faithful and loving daughters, Misses May and Edith, went to Los Angeles, in the hope that the mild climate of Southern California might give some relief, and where she might also have the benefit of the medical services of her long-time physician, Dr. M.N. Avery, now of Los Angeles, and of her brother, Dr. Wm. B. May, an eminent physician of San Francisco. Unfortunately, however, human skill was unavailing.  For some weeks her husband has been in receipt of letters and telegrams of a very discouraging tenor, and yesterday evening at 7:30 o'clock a telegram was received announcing that her death occurred on Sunday morning.

Augusta L. May was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Her parents came to Michigan in her early childhood and settled in St. Joseph county.  On the 12th of June, 1855, at White Pigeon, she was united in marriage to Granville Lacey, and since that time, with the exception of about five years' residence in Buffalo and Cleveland, they have resided in this city.

Mrs. Lacey was a firm believer in the religion of Christ, and was a communicant in the Trinity Episcopal church. She had many friends who will sincerely mourn her death, and these friends are of those who knew her most intimately and had the best opportunity to know of her good traits of character.

 

Barnes, Margaret Louise (Orrick)

Margaret Barnes, 85
July 1, 1925 — May 28, 2011

Margaret Louise Barnes, 85, of Niles, passed away at Lakeland Hospital in Niles with her family by her side.

Margaret Barnes, 85

Margaret was born on July 1, 1925 to the late Howard and Ida (Tucker) Orrick in Manchester, Tenn. She was the eldest of two growing up in the Orrick household.

After graduating from high school Margaret wed the love of her life, Lloyd Barnes, at a ceremony in Niles on Sept. 7, 1946. Together they had two wonderful children, Gale and Steven.

Margaret owned and operated Louisa’s Beauty Salon for 13 years. After she retired Margaret couldn’t sit idle, she worked as a clerk for J.C. Penney’s until her retirement 14 years later.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Margaret is survived by her husband of nearly 65 years, Lloyd; children Gale (Lawrence) Deitrich of Niles and Steven Barnes of Niles; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; brother, James (Inez) Orrick of McMinnville, Tenn.; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations may be made in Margaret’s memory to the Niles American Legion where she frequently attended with her husband.

In keeping with Margaret’s wishes the family has held a private family burial at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Condolences, photos and memories may be left for the family on our website at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or on our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/BrownFuneralHomeNiles.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home of Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 6:26pm Monday, May 30, 2011

Cox, Steven Wesley

Steven Cox, 54
Oct. 8, 1956 — April 1, 2011

Niles Daily Star, Published online 9:47pm Monday, April 4, 2011

Steven Wesley Cox, 54, of Niles, passed away unexpectedly at his home Friday, April 1, 2011.

Steve was born Oct. 8, 1956 to the late Frank and Theresa (Regness) Cox in Niles. He was one of eight children growing up in the Cox household.

After high school in 1974, Steve joined the United States Army, where he proudly served his country. In recent years, Steve enjoyed spending time playing cards at home, an occasional trip to the casino, gardening, reflecting on his travels across the U.S. and enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents; son, Jason Cox; and brothers, Frankie Jay and John L.

He is survived by his children, Wesley (Libbie) Cox of South Bend, Brad (Angela) Cox of Niles, Aaron (Tara) Cox of Chicago; four grandchildren, Ryan, Bradley, Logan and Kaitlyn; siblings, Sue Toth of Niles, Brenda Hammond of Niles, Jeanie McLain of Niles, Mike Cox of Niles, Danny Cox of South Bend; and many family and friends.

Funeral services to honor Steve’s life will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Brown Funeral Home in Niles.
Visitation hours for family and friends will be held Wednesday evening from 5 to 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Wesley or Aaron to assist with final arrangements.

Those wishing to leave condolences can upload a photo of Steve or write a message to the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or www.Facebook.com/BrownFuneralHomeNiles.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home of Niles.

 

Burge, Lucille Elizabeth (Lieber)

Lucille Burge, 93
April 18, 1918 — April 29, 2011

Lucille Elizabeth Burge, 93, of Niles, passed away at Lakeland Hospital in Niles on Friday, April 29, 2011.

Lucille was born on April 18, 1918 to the late Joseph and Cecile (Rutherford) Lieber in Dowagiac. She was one of four children growing up in the Lieber household.

In 1936 Lucille graduated from Dowagiac Union High School and in 1940 wed the love of her life, Donald R. Burge.  Together they had three sons. Don passed away in 1979.

Lucille was the co-owner of Don’s Hardware in Niles, where she operated it with her husband on a day-to-day basis.  Lucille was always keeping busy and was a proud life member and past president of the Niles Music Club, life member of the Order of the Eastern Star, member of the First Presbyterian Church in Niles and was the last original member of the H.C. Club in Dowagiac that she helped start in 1936.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Don; and brothers, Paul and Gordon Lieber.

Lucille is survived by her children, William (Diana) Burge of Niles, Thomas (Nancy) Burge of Paw Paw, Stephen (Barbara) Burge of Niles; grandchildren, Eric (Lynn) Burge, Bethany (Wesley) Foust, Rebecca (Kyle) Digby, Tara Versluis, great-grandchildren, Brittany Foust, Hudson and Anikah Burge, Aiden and Bree Digby and Noah and Isabelle Versluis and sister, Warrene Springsteen of Dowagiac.

Funeral services to honor Lucille’s long life will be held Wednesday, May 4 at Brown Funeral Home in Niles at 11 a.m. with a time of visitation on Tuesday from 4 from 7 p.m., also at the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be made in Lucille’s memory to Meals on Wheels or the Niles District Library.

Condolences, photos and memories may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home of Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 11:50pm Monday, May 2, 2011

Gregory, Rosie Lee

Rosie Gregory, 77
Nov. 18, 1933 — May 11, 2011

Rosie Lee Gregory, 77, of Niles, died at 3:43 a.m. Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend of natural causes.

Rosie Gregory, 77

She was born Nov. 18, 1933 in Huntingdon, Tenn. She was a homemaker and member of River of Life Church in South Bend.

She married Walter Gregory Sr. Nov. 29, 1949 in Marks, Miss. He survives in Niles.

She is also survived by her sons, Walter Gregory Jr. of Niles and Doneal (Amanda Caskey) Gregory of Mishawaka, Ind.; daughters, Dorthy Griffin of Batesville, Miss., Rachel Delois Dillard of South Bend, Beverly Gregory of Mishawaka and Edith (Arnold) Say of Mishawaka; brothers, Louis Moffitt of Benton Harbor and Sq Moffitt of Chicago; sisters, Virgie Mae Pettis of Niles, Etta Mae Young of St. Louis, Mo.; 22 grandchildren; 53 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Travis and Othela Moffitt; two brothers, James and Robert Moffitt; and three sisters, Ida May Seals, Ferry Davis and Mary Lee Moore.

Services will be held at noon Thursday, May 19 at River of Life Church, 530 East Ireland Rd., South Bend with Bishop Parker and Margaret Parker of the church officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Friends may call from 11 a.m. to noon Thursday at River of Life Church.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 7:18am Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Smith, Josephine

Josephine Smith
Died Aug. 7, 2011

Josephine Smith, 83, of Vandalia, Mich., died at 10:28 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011 at West Woods of Niles of natural causes.
A graveside service for Josephine will be held at noon Friday, Aug. 12 in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles, officiated by Chaplain Jonathan Rose from Hospice at Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home, Inc, 4017 Chamberlain Rd., Buchanan, MI 49107.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 9:27pm Monday, August 8, 2011

Shaler, Leone Helen

Leone Shaler, 91
Jan. 27, 1920 — July 24, 2011

Leone Helen Shaler, 91, of Wayne Street in Niles, died at 5:33 p.m. Sunday, July 24, 2011 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles of an extended illness.
Helen was born on Jan. 27, 1920 in Petoskey, Mich. to Leo and Fannie (McCarthy) Shaler. She graduated from Petoskey High School and later moved to Niles in 1941. She retired in 1979 from Coopers and Lybrand and had previously been employed at Michigan Bell.
Helen formerly attended St. John’s United Church of Christ in Niles. She was a past president of American Legion Post 26 Auxiliary in Niles. She was also a member of the B.P.O. of Niles Elks Lodge 1322. She enjoyed reading novels, fishing, and spending time with her family and friends.
On May 9, 1942 at Paris, Tenn., she married L.A. Dolan Shaler, who preceded her in death on June 20, 1989.
She was also preceded in death by an infant daughter, Susan Helen Shaler, who died Sept. 5, 1956; infant granddaughter, Jaclyn Gleason, who died Dec. 6,1978; a sister, Dolores, Schrumpf, who died Sept. 4, 1982; and an infant brother.
She is survived by her daughters, Judy (Sam) Kiger and Shelly (Ken) Shaler-Strope both of Niles; grandchildren, Christine (Joe) Riddle, Patricia Gleason and Bryon Gleason; great-grandchildren, Rachel Michael and Ryan Riddle, Dylan Gleason and Dustin Whitehead.
The family of Helen L. Shaler will gather privately for services at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Michael Smith of Hope Community Church officiating.
Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, July 27 at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.
Contributions in memory of Helen may be made to the Hospice at Home in Buchanan.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 5:07pm Monday, July 25, 2011