Nancy Jane Vaughn
Sept. 22, 1922-Aug. 27, 1999

Funeral services for Nancy Jane Vaughn, 76, of 414 Remus Drive, Buchanan, are Tuesday at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, Buchanan, by the Rev. William P. Sanders, Pastor.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Vaughn died Friday at 11P03 a.m. at 24681 Morton, Dowagiac, following a brief illness.

She was born Sept. 22, 1922, in Niles, and was a lifetime resident. On Oct. 1, 1960, she was married to Homer Charles Vaughn, who survives.

Vaughn was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Buchanan, the Clark Professional Women's Association, and Ram Love in Buchanan. She was a member of the Better Homes and Gardens Club and received the 1997 award for the best garden in Buchanan. She was very active in ladies church activities, including funeral luncheons and bazaars.

Vaughn was a wonderful mother and grandmother, her family said.

She retired in 1988 after 32 years at Clark Equipment.

Survivors, in addition to her husband, include three sons, Kenneth Roger Little and David Krugh of Dowagiac and Gregory Vaughn of Huntertown, Ind.; two daughters, Lanna Glass-Snyder of Mishawaka, Ind., and Rainy Payne of Cary, Ill.; 20 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Alice Clark of Berrien Springs; and a brother, Gene Meyer of Garden City, Kan.

Friends may call Monday for 5 to 8 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Alzheimer's Association.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, August 28, 1999, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mary H. Herrick
April 5, 1895-Aug. 28, 1982

Mary H. Herrick, 87, of 2246 Fair Oaks West, Niles, died at 6:55 a.m. Saturday in the Cardinal Nursing Home, South Bend after an extended illness.

Born on Apirl 5, 1895 in Enid, Oklahoma, she lived in Niles since 1935. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, the What-So-Ever-class of the church, the White Shrine, Life member of Eastern Star, Lady Elks, Pawating Hospital Auxiliary and Four Flags Auxiliary WWI, Barracks 1093.

On June 15 1917 she married Melvin B. Herrick who preceeded her in death in 1954.

She is survived by two sons, William Herrick, Baton Rouge La. and Jack Herrick, LeSueur, Minn.; three daughters, Mrs. Clara Wienke, Niles, Mrs. Neva Hargreaves, South Bend, Ind., and Mrs. Jane Glascott, Arlington Heights, Ill.; one brother, Earl Hadley, Hotchkiss, Colo.  Also surviving are two step-sisters, Mrs. Lillian Cleveland, Phoenix, Ariz. and Mrs. Luella Olson, Longmont, Colo. along with 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday at the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. William J. Fuerstenau officiating.

Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Local arrangements are being handled by Halbritter Funeral Home and there will be no visitation.

Memorials  may be given to the First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 30, 1982, page 2, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library

Katherine Sortore
Jan. 23, 1883-Aug. 23, 1982

Katherine Sortore, 99, of 224 S. 4th St. Niles, died Aug. 23, at 6 p.m.  at State Line Medical Care Facility after a lengthy illness.

Born Jan. 23, 1883 in Niles, she was a lifetime resident of the area. She was married to Wilkinson A. Sortore, who preceeded her in death on June 23, 1958. She was a homemaker and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church for over 50 years.

A graveside committal will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery on Friday, at 10 a.m. with Rev. William Fuerstenau of the First Presbyterian Church officiating. There will be no visitation, but funeral arrangements and service are being conducted by Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 27, 1982, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Leroy Eugene Gross
Aug. 12, 1940-Aug. 23, 1982

Leroy Eugene Gross, 42, of Cass County Medical Facility in Cassopolis, died on Monday at 6:31 a.m. in Pawating Hospital after a lengthy illness

He was born on Aug 12, 1940, in Niles and was a lifetime resident of Cass County. His father, Sylvester F. Gross of Niles survives.  Also surviving are four brothers: Kenneth D. Gross, Sylvester E. Gross, Donald Gross, and Robert Gross; and three sisters:  Mrs. John (Dorothy) Demos, Mrs. Clarence (Betty) Bolden, and Mrs. Paul (Rosemary) Coffinger, all from Niles.

Funeral services will be held at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. with burial following at Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call between 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday.  Memorials may be made to the Cass County Medical Facility.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 24, 1982, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Evelyn M. Radka
April 20, 1906-Aug. 20, 1982

Mrs. Evelyn M. Radka, 76, of 251 Cass St., Niles, died at 9:10 a.m. Friday at Pawating Hospital following a brief illness.

A former employee of Krajci Drug, she was born April 20, 1906 in Niles. She had spent her lifetime in this area.

Her husband, Walter Radka, died on June 25, 1958.

Survivors include a son, Robert Radka of Niles; a daughter, Mrs. James (Mary Alyce) Thayer of Niles; a sister, Mrs. Herbert (Marian) Merrill of South Bend; and four grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.  Rev. Sheldon T. Harbach of the Trinity Epicospoal[sic] Church will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

The family suggests memorials may be made to the Michigan Heart fund.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, August 21, 1982, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Marie Lucker
Nov. 22, 1905-Aug. 19, 1982

Mrs. Marie Lucker, 76, of 1424 Hickory St., Niles, died at 3:30 a.m. Thursday at Pawating Hospital.

She was a homemaker and had resided in Niles since 1926. She was a member of the New Apostolic Church.

Mrs. Lucker was born November 22, 1905 in Hinchman, Michigan. She married Gabriel P. Lucker on October 27, 1923 in St. Joseph, Mich. Her husband survives.

Also surviving are five daughters, Mrs. Marjorie Peterson, Fountain, Mich.; Mrs. Jerry (Elaine) Zizkovsky, Stevensville; Mrs. Richard (Mary Lou) Misner, Niles;  Mrs. Ronald (Virginia) Webster, South Bend, Ind.; and Mrs. Richard (Joan) Coger, Buchanan, and one son, Jack D. Lucker, Galien; along with 21 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles. Evangalist[sic] Ernest Lindsteadt of the New Apostolic Church will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. on Friday at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 20, 1982, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library