Obituaries

Frances L. Best
Dec. 12, 1892-April 8, 1973

NILES--Mrs. Frances L. Best, 80, of 1815 Miller Dr., died at 9:32 a.m. Sunday in Pawating Hospital after a four-months illness.

Mrs. Best was born Dec. 12, 1892, in Bolton, N.C. and had lived here for 18 years, coming from Franklin, Va.  In 1919, in Whiteville, N.C., she married John Wesley Best, who died in 1939.  She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church.

Survivors include a son, William of Niles; four daughters, Mrs. Bessie Noble, Mrs. Ruby Corban and Mrs. Juanita Davey, all of Niles, and Mrs. Ruth Russell of Avon, N.Y.; 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Donald Cozadd of Grace United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 tonight at the funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 9, 1973, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

James Monroe Jiles
April 7, 1973-April 8, 1973

NILES--James Monroe Jiles, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Jiles, 1108 Ferry St., died shortly after midnight Sunday in South Bend Osteopathic Hospital, where he was born at 10:08 p.m Saturday.

In addition to his parents, the infant is survived by a brother, Marvin, and a sister, Elaine, both at home.

Graveside services were held at 11 this morning at Silverbrook Cemetery,  with the Rev. John Wyngarden of the First Presbyterian Church officiating.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 9, 1973, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Almedia Louise Sossoman
April 25. 1888-April 30, 1962

Mrs. Almedia Louise Sossoman, [illegible] at 2:05 a.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital, where she had been a patient 16 days. She has been in ill health for the last six months.

Mrs. Sossoman was born April 25, 1888, in Berrien County, and lived a lifetime in the Niles community, except for 20 years on a farm near South Bend. She was a member of the Federation of Women's Clubs in South Bend.

Surviving besides her husband, Norman Sossoman is a sister, Mrs. LaRue Gillette, Niles, and a brother, William Wyant, Belleville, Ill. Two brothers, Clarence and Charles Wyant, preceded her in death.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m Wednesday in the Kiger Funeral Home with the Rev. Gordon D. Everett, pastor of the First Evangelical United Brethren Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 30, 1962, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Herbert O. Leddin
April 18, 1907-April 29, 1962

Herbert O. Leddin, 55, of 1502 Eagle St., died at 3:20 p.m. Sunday at Pawating Hospital where he had been a patient since April 23. He had been in poor health since last November.

Mr. Leddin, a carpenter for National-Standard Co., here, was born April 18, 1907, in St. Joseph and moved to Niles in 1920.

Surviving are his widow, Mary; a son, Charles Leddin, Niles; a step-son, George Hoffman, South Bend; two grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Harry Schadler, Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the New Apostolic Church here with the pastor, the Rev. George Meisinger, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the Pifer Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 30, 1962, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mary J. Purdy
Oct. 19, 1905-April 4, 1973

Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 6, 1973, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Mary J. Purdy, 67, of Cassopolis, died at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Cass County Medical Care Center after an extended illness.

A former employe of Lork's Bakery, Mrs. Purdy was born Oct. 19, 1905, in Galien, and left Niles four years ago.  On Nov. 30, 1936, in Indiana, she married George Purdy, who died in 1969.

Survivors include a step-son, Harold Purdy of Westland, Mich.; a daughter, Mrs. Pamela Tittle of Cassopolis; four brothers, Thomas Kane of Holland, Gerald Kane of Niles, Robert Kane of Cassopolis and Arthur Kane of Eau Claire; three sisters, Mrs. Helen Johnson of Niles, Mrs. Minnie Voorhees of Mishawaka and Mrs. Helen Johnson of Niles; one grandchild, three step-grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Funeral services will  be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Eddie Cassetty of the Church of Christ of Niles officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 9, 1973, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

The name of a sister, Mrs. Gladys Zimmerman of Niles, was inadvertently omitted from the obituary of Mrs. Mary Purdy published Friday in The Star.  Funeral services were held Saturday for Mrs. Purdy, who died at the Cass County medical Care Facility.

Vanrhie M. Thomas
June 14, 1907-July 27, 1983

Vanrhie M. Thomas, 76, 715 Rynearson, Buchcanan, died at 2:31 p.m. Wednesday at Pawating Hospital after a brief illness.

She was a retired cook and a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, the Navy Mothers and the Women's Benefit Association.

Born June 14, 1907, in Bryant, Ind., she came to Niles in 1928 from Portland, Ind.

She was married to Clifford E. Thomas, who died Feb. 1, 1953.

Surviving are three sons, Clifford Thomas, Jr., Robert J. Thomas and Daniel Thomas, all of Niles; two daughters, Mrs. Robert (Jenny) Johnson and Mrs. Robert (Patricia) Dokey, both of Niles; a sister, Mrs. Bruce (Irene) Miller, Syracuse, N.Y.; 12 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Halbritter Funeral Home with Rev. David Henderson of Westminster Presbyterian Church officiating.  Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at Halbritter Funeral Home.  Memorials may be made to the Niles Community Library or the Michigan Heart Fund.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 28, 1983, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library.