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.

Rutter, Leva 1872-1925

Leva Rutter
Dec. 31, 1872-Oct. 7, 1925

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, October 7, 1925, page 5, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Leva Rutter Passes Away

Mrs. Leva Rutter, 62, 1109 Cedar street, widow of Edwin D. Rutter, who died in December, 1917, passed away at four o'clock this morning at her home, following a stroke of paralysis on Monday. Mrs. Rutter also suffered a stroke last March.

She was born in Hardin county, Ohio, December 31, 1872, and came to Berrien county when four years old, residing with an aunt at Berrien Center until her marriage to Edwin Rutter, of this city. They were married March 20, 1891, at Berrien Center.

They had three children, two sons and one daughter, Emma, who died when five years of age. The sons, Evan and Paul, both reside in Niles. She is also survived by one brother and one sister, Burt and Etta McGuiness, both of Lima, O.

Funeral services will be held at the house Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. Rev. Walter Osborn , of the Baptist church, will officiate. Burial will take place in Silverbrook cemetery.

Paskiet, Infant 1925-1925

Paskiet Infant
Sept. 1925

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, September 28, 1925, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Locals: FUNERAL THIS AFTERNOON

Funeral services were held this afternoon at the Troost and Augustine undertaking parlors for the three-weeks old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Paskiet, of Vernon Heights. Burial will take place in Silverbrook.

McCoy, Clayton U. 1903-1989

Clayton U. McCoy
Sept. 27, 1903-March 28, 1989

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, March 30, 1989, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Clayton U. McCoy, 85, 1334 Cedar Court, Niles, died at 8:05 p.m. Tuesday, March 28 at Southwest Florida Medical Center in Fort Myers, Florida, following an extended illness.

The retired owner of McCoy Concrete in Niles, he was also a member of the First Presbyterian Church, and a Paul Harris Fellow with the Niles Rotary Club and a member of Fernwood.

Born September 27, 1903 in Berrien County, McCoy was a lifelong resident of Niles. His first wife, Lucille Winn McCoy, died December 24, 1975, and his second wife, E. Eileen Morden McCoy, died June 21, 1986.

Survivors include: a daughter, Marilyn W. Godsey of Fort Myers; a brother, Donald of Mesa, Arizona; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Services are at 11 a.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Clayton D. Fairo. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Halbritter Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be given to First Presbyterian Church or Niles Community Library.

McCoy, E. Eileen Morden (Graham) 1903-1986

E. Eileen Morden McCoy (Graham)
June 17, 1903-June 17, 1986

South Bend Tribune (South Bend, St. Joseph Co., IN), Thursday, June 19, 1989, page B10, col. 4

NILES—Services for E. Eileen McCoy, 83, of 1334 Cedar Court, who died at 10:24 p.m. Tuesday at Pawating Hospital, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church, of which she was a member. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Halbritter Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the church or to Fernwood, Inc.

Mrs. McCoy was born June 17, 1903, in Niles and was a lifelong area resident. On June 20, 1927, she married J.C. Morden. He died in February 1971. On June 4, 1977 in Niles, she married Clayton U. McCoy, who survives.

Also surviving are two sons, W. Gregory Morden of St. Augustine, Fla., and John Graham Morden of Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; a stepdaughter, Marilyn Godsey of Fort Myers, Fla.; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She was a member of Beta Gamma Epsilon Sorority and Fernwood, Inc.

 

Murphy, Monie K. 1944-1989

Monie K. Murphy
May 26, 1944-March 25, 1989

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, March 27, 1989, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Monie K. Murphy, 44, 714 Ash, Niles, died Saturday, March 25, at 2 a.m. at St. Joseph Medical Center, South Bend, Indiana following a long illness.

A lifetime resident of Niles, she was born here May 26, 1944.

She married Billy Joe Murphy, Sr. in July 1958 in Niles. He survives.

Other survivors include: her mother, Dessie Lee Cobb of Niles; a son, Billy Joe Murphy Jr. of Niles; three daughters, Lori Ann Glenn of Niles, Pamela Jane Scott of South Bend, and JoAnn Murphy of Benton Harbor; four sisters, Augustine Kyles and Ann Fox of Niles, Jean Anderson of South Bend, and Darlene Macon of Portland, Ore.; four brothers, Larry Fox, LeRoy Cobb, Jr. and Kenny Cobb of Niles and Dwight Moss of St. Joseph; stepbrothers, Ricky, Alvin and Steven Hirsch of Pontiac; stepsister Lisa Hirsch, also of Pontiac; and six grandchildren.

Services will be Wednesday, March 29 at 1:30 p.m. at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. W.L. Daniel. Friends may call at the wake service, 7-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.

Murphy, Rubel 1914-1989

Rubel Murphy
April 7, 1914-Feb. 28, 1989

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, March 1, 1989, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Rubel Murphy, 75, a resident of Silverbrook Manor, died at 12 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28 at Pawating Hospital following a lengthy illness. She was formerly a resident at 251 Cass St. Niles.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and being arranged with Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, March 2, 1989, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Rubel Murphy, 75, Silverbrook Manor, formerly of 251 Cass St., Niles died at 12 p.m. Feb. 28 at Pawating Hospital following an extended illness.

She was born April, 7, 1913 in Guntown, Miss. She moved to Niles in 1945 from Trenton, Tenn. She was a homemaker and member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. She married Sam Murphy, who died in 1986.

Survivors include: a daughter, Katheryn Murphy of Jackson; a brother, Mose Reed of Cairo, Ill. And a grandson, Sam Prather of Niles.

Services are Monday, March 6 at 1:30 p.m. at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church with Rev. W.L. Daniel. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call Sunday at 7 p.m. at Rifer-Smith Funeral Home.

Meredith, James Eddie 1932-2021

James Meredith, 88, of Niles
Jan. 26, 1932-Jan. 10, 2021

Niles Daily Star, Published 4:42 pm Thursday, January 14, 2021

Jan. 26, 1932 — Jan. 10, 2021

James Eddie Meredith, 88, of Niles, passed away on Jan. 10, 2021.

He was born to the late George Meredith and Leora Woods on Jan. 26, 1932, in Paducah, Kentucky. James was married to the late Etta Mae Payne for more than 40 years until her death. He was married for a few months to the late Glenda Gaines until her death. Then, on Dec. 16, 1995, he married Laura Pettit. For most of his life, he worked as a machine operator. His hobby was photography and he has organized books of photographs that reflect the history of family and friends.

James attended Faith Victory Church in Buchanan and was known as a person who loved people. Most people he knew referred to him as “Daddy Jim.” For several years, James and his wife, Laura, owned Gospel Caps and T shirts.

He will be missed by his wife, Laura Meredith; daughters, Rheola Clark and Juanita (Gary) Regich; stepson, Demond Pettit; four grandchildren, Pamela (Troy) Holt, Kimberly Clark, Ronald (Lucy) Clark, Juan Charleston Jr.; and two great grandsons; six great granddaughters; 10 great-great grandchildren and a host of family and friends. James is preceded in death by his parents, George and Leora; and granddaughter, Meredythe Hall; great-grandson, Reginald Pitts; and son-in-law, Howard Clark.

Visitation for James will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, at Hoven Funeral Home in Buchanan with burial following at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles, Michigan. Online condolences may be made at hovenfunerals.com.