John H. Phillips
Nov. 9, 1882-April 24, 1942

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 25, 1942, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

John H. Phillips, Ex-Policeman in Niles, Stricken

MICHIGAN CITY, April 25--John H. Phillips, 59, a member of the Niles police force for 12 years and for the last nine years on the Michigan City police staff, died after a heart attack here Friday afternoon.

Born in Buchanan, Nov. 9, 1882, Phillips had served on the Michigan Central railroad detective force in Niles, Michigan City and Chicago in addition to his city police work.

He is survived by his wife, Josephine, Michigan City; a daughter, Mrs. Harold Snook, and son Russell, both of Niles; two sisters, Mrs. Robert Burgoyne, Sturgis, and Arley Mitchel, Cadillac, and four brothers, Edward, Leslie, Claud and Gerald, all of Buchanan.

After funeral rites in Michigan City at 1 (CWT) Monday, an escort of Michigan City Police will accompany the procession to Niles where burial will be in Silverbrook at approximately 4 (EWT).

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 27, 1942, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

PHILLIPS RITES

Burial rites for John H. Phillips, 59, former Niles policeman who was stricken in his Michigan City home Friday, will be conducted in Silverbrook cemetery this afternoon at 4.  An escort of Michigan City policemen, members of Phillips' squad there, will accompany the funeral procession to Niles.

Jennie Bair
Sept. 15, 1867-April 28, 1942

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 29, 1942, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. JENNIE BAIR STRICKEN TUESDAY

Mrs. Jennie Bair, 74, died suddenly of a heart attack at 2:30 Tuesday afternoon in her home, 226 North Sixth street. She was born Sept. 15, 1867, near Niles and lived in this vicinity all of her life.  Her maiden name was Jennie Fowler.

She leaves her husband, Frank, to whom she was married Oct. 18, 1894; two sons, Gordon and Edward, both of Niles; and one sister, Mrs. Sarah Selfridge, Niles.

Mrs. Bair was a member of the Methodist church, the Women's Adult Bible class, and the American Legion auxiliary.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 3 Thursday afternoon, by the Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, April 30, 1942, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

BAIR SERVICES

Pallbearers for the funeral of Mrs. Jennie Bair, 74, this afternoon, were William Skelly, John Scamehorn, William F. Morgridge, Ollie Frigaard, Walter Enger and Earl Bair. Mrs. Bair died Tuesday in her home.  Services were at 3 this afternoon in the Pifer funeral home.  The Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster officiated and burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Ann A. Stahl, 101
Aug. 26, 1909 — May 9, 2011

Niles Daily Star Published online 7:51pm Monday, May 9, 2011

Ann Stahl, 101, of South Third Street in Niles passed away at Brentwood Manor on Monday, May 9, 2011.

Ann was born on Aug. 26, 1909 in Summitville, Tenn. to the late Herbert and Ada (Mears) Hibberd. She was one of six children growing up in the Hibberd household.

In 1927, at the age of 18, Ann traveled by train with her parents and siblings to Niles, where her father worked for the French Paper Mill.

Ann was a very outgoing person, riding horses and motorcycling with her brothers; she also played on a local softball league.

In 1931 her earnings afforded her the opportunity to purchase a blue 1929 Ford Roadster with a rumble seat, the first car in the Hibberd family.

On Jan. 24, 1942, Ann wed the love of her life, James Stahl in a double ceremony with her sister Edna at the Presbyterian Church in Niles.

Ann worked for Tyler Refrigeration from 1945 until her retirement in 1971. She and her husband, whom she fondly called Jimmy, always took their vacation time in the winter and would travel to Florida to spend time at the beach.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband James; sister Gertrude Walker and brothers Grant, William and Robert Hibberd.

Ann is survived by her sister Edna Schutt of Elkhart; nieces and nephews Edytha (Wesley) Bowerman of Berrien Springs, Patricia (Mel) Timmons of Edwardsburg, Gene Hibberd of California, Gary Hibberd of St. Joseph, Pamela Mims of Mishawaka, Donald (Diane) Hibberd of Hot Springs, Ark., Clayton (Margaret) Walker of Niles and LeRoy (Rhonda) Walker of Mustang, Okla.; 21 great-nieces and nephews, 15 great-great-nieces and nephews and two great-great-great-nieces.

Services to honor Ann’s long and wonderful life will be held on Wednesday, May 11, at 11 a.m. at Brown Funeral Home with a time of visitation one hour prior.  Ann will be interred privately at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Condolences, photos and memories may be uploaded for the family online at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or the funeral home’s Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/BrownFuneralHomeNiles.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home.

James Woods Jr., 23
April 13, 1988 — May 1, 2011

James E. Woods Jr. was born April 13, 1988 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Ind. to the union of James Edward Sr. and Joyce Woods. He departed this life on May 1, 2011.

James Woods Jr., 23

James loved to buy old cars and fix them up. He also loved fishing and snowmobiling.

He leaves to cherish his memories his mother, Joyce (Harold) Patterson of Rockhill, S.C., and his father, James Edward Sr. (Leesa) Woods of South Bend, Ind.; one son, K’veon Woods; and one daughter, Jaliyah Woods; and a special friend, Ashely James; his brother, Adrian Thomas; and five sisters, La’tasha Brown, Dominique Woods, Ivory Woods, Ebony Woods and Tarioona Woods; grandfathers, Samuel Greene of Niles and Odie Woods Sr. of Niles; grandmothers, Laura Woods and Betty Williamson of Niles; seven uncles, Issac Hurse, James Hurse, Odie Woods, Thomas “Ray” Woods, Clint Woods, John Williams and Ananias Woods; four aunts, Addie Woods, Delores Ward, Delores Clark and Annette Jackson.

He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Janie Thomas; uncle, Matthew Williams; and a special cousin, Harold Parks.

Funeral services for James will be held Tuesday, May 17 at 1 p.m. Pastor Bryant Bacon will be officiating.

James will be laid to rest at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Those wishing to leave a message, upload a photo or send condolences to the family may do so 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 8:33pm Friday, May 13, 2011

Virginia K. Mullett, 93
Feb. 16, 1918 — May 7, 2011

Virginia K. “Ginny” Mullett, 93, formerly of Onekama, Mich. and Regent St. in Niles, died at 10:33 p.m. Saturday, May 7, 2011 at Brentwood Assisted Living Community in Niles, following an illness.

Virginia K. Mullett, 93

She was born on Feb. 16, 1918 in Andrews, Neb. to Harold Theodore and Clara Marie (Mortenson) Mortensen.

She graduated from Bangor High School in Bangor, Mich. and lived much of her life in Niles.

In the 1960′s she was director of the Niles School for Exceptional Children.

Virginia attended Hope Community Church in Niles. She enjoyed volunteering for a variety of organizations, including Hospice at Home and Girl Scouts of America. She was a member of Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Center where she volunteered every Tuesday on the trails.

She was a lifetime seamstress and member of the Quilter’s Guild.

On Feb. 14, 1941 in St. Joseph, she married Gerald Eugene “Bud” Mullett, who preceded her in death on June 13, 2000.

Virginia was also preceded in death by her brother, Jack Mortensen and sisters Eileen Monahon and Sylva Gilmore.

She is survived by a son, Theodore Lee (Sue) Mullett and daughter Linda Lee (Kenneth) Schiele both of Niles; grandchildren Michael (Kathy) Schiele, Anna (Jim) King, Jennifer Mullett, David (Melissa) Schiele and Neill (Erin) Mullett; great-granchildren Katelyn, Emily, Molly, Lucy, Owen, Matthew, Morgan, Carson, Sydney, Mason and Landon and a brother Bruce Mortensen of Kalamazoo.

Funeral services for Virginia K. “Ginny” Mullett will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 22, 2011 at Hope Community Church in Niles, with the Rev. Michael Smith officiating.

Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Contributions may be made to the Hope Community Church.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 7:40am Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Hugh Dean
Oct. 22, 1856-May 3, 1942

Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 4, 1942, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

HUGH DEAN DIES; ILL FOUR MONTHS

Hugh Dean, 85, of 111 North Fourth street, died Sunday night in St. Joseph hospital, South Bend, Ind., after a four-month illness of complications.  He was born Oct. 22, 1856 in Greenock, Scotland, and came to Niles about 65 years ago from Hamilton, O.  He married the former Miss Margaret Deutsch in Niles. She died in 1931.

They returned to Hamilton for a few years but moved back to Niles and for more than 50 years he was employed by the French Paper company before retiring in 1935.

He leaves three daughters, Mrs. Harry J. Barman and Mrs. Charles E. Silsbee, both of Nies; and Mrs. J.F. Seagreaves, Cincinnati, and two grandsons, Dean Seagreaves, Buffalo, N.Y ; and John F. Seagreaves, Jr., New Orleans, La.

Friends may call at the Rutherford funeral home until noon Wednesday. Services will be at 2 Wednesday afternoon in the Presbyterian church.  The Rev. G.W. Simon will officiate, and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 6, 1942, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

DEAN RITES

Services for Hugh Dean, 85, of 111 North Fourth street, who died Sunday night in St. Joseph hospital, South Bend, were conducted this afternoon in the Presbyterian church by the Rev. G.W. Simon, Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.