Obituaries

Mrs. Pearl Hamilton
March 24, 1895-June 14, 1974

NILES--Mrs. Pearl M. Hamilton, 79, of 2330 East Main St., died at 2:40 p.m. Friday in the Michigan Skilled Care Center, after an illness of three years.

Born March 24, 1895, in Chicago, Mrs. Hamilton had lived here since 1952, coming from Jackson, Mich. Her husband, Ralph, died in 1952.

Survivors include a son, Ralph of Jackson; two daughters, Mrs. Lee (Norma) Cox and Mrs. Clarnece[sic] (Helen) Holcomb, both of Niles; 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

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

Friends may call after 2 p.m. Sunday in the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, June 15, 1974, page 2, col. 7-8, microfilm Niles District Library

Arthur Williams
Aug. 4, 1890-June 11, 1974

NILES--Arthur Williams, 83, of Dixie Moore, Ill., died at 3 a.m. Tuesday in Anglemoore Hospital, Harvey, Ill. after an illness of two weeks.

Mr. Williams was born Aug. 4, 1890, in Sunflower, Miss.  His first wife, the former Mary Smith, preceded him in death. He married the former Luella Tutson, who survives, on Dec. 24, 1938, in Alligator, Miss.

Mr. Williams was a member of the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church of Niles.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are two sons, Roosevelt and James Williams, both of Chicago, two daughters, Mrs. Ethel Smith of Dixie Moore and Mrs. Arthur Mary Durnett of Memphis, Tenn.; four stepsons, Dave Tutson of Niles, Robert and Sam Tutson of Buchanan and John Tutson of Chicago; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Lucy Mae Hubbard of Buchanan; two brothers, M.C. Williams of Niles and J.D. Williams of Kalamazoo, 18 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be  held at 1:30 pm. Saturday in the Mount Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev.James Ridley and the Rev. W.L. Daniel officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 p.m. Thursday in the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, June 12, 1974, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Pierce Williams, 75
June 3, 1935 — March 20, 2011

Pierce Richard “Skeeter” Williams, 75, of Silverbrook Avenue, Niles, died Sunday morning, March 20, 2011 in Niles.

Pierce Williams, 75

He was born June 3, 1935 in Niles to Richard C. and Roberta P. (Pierce) Williams and lived in Niles all of his life. He graduated from Niles High School in 1953 and attended Michigan State University. He served in the United States Army Reserve.

Skeeter was owner and president of Williams Home Centers, Niles until his retirement in 1989. He also owned Wilco Distributing of Niles.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church. He was formerly an elected member and past president of the Niles Community Schools Board of Education; a former member and past president of the Niles-Buchanan Club of Rotary International; and a member of B.P.O. of Niles Elks 1322.

He was an avid fisherman, loved boating and hunted for 50 years before bagging his first buck. He enjoyed family and friends with whom he shared fish fries and holidays, but his greatest accomplishment was his family whom he loved and who loved him.

On Aug. 6, 1955 in Niles he married the former Doretta Wiseman, with whom he celebrated his 55th wedding anniversary.

He is survived by his wife, Doretta, and their children, Kimberly (Steven) Hanson of Toledo, Ohio, Kathleen (Marc) Edenzon of Belle Mead, N.J., David Williams of Traverse City, Mich.; grandchildren, Alexander Prior, Jacob Lenz, Alexandra, Michael and Zachary Edenzon, Sean Williams and Matthew and Laurel Hanson; Skeeter’s brother, Chris E. (Rebecca) Williams of Niles; sister-in-law, Sharon (Mrs. Larry) Williams of Naples, Fla.; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Karen Michelle Williams; his parents, R.C. and “Bo” Williams; and his brother, Larry C. Williams.

The funeral service for Pierce R. Williams will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 23 at First Presbyterian Church, Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of the church officiating.

Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Contributions in memory of Skeeter may be made to The Foundation of First Presbyterian Church or to the Special Olympics of New Jersey.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 10:22pm Monday, March 21, 2011; print Tuesday, March 23, 2011.

Dale Hull
Oct. 27, 1883-April 11, 1964

Dale Hull, 80, of 636 N. 7th St., was pronounced dead on arrival at Pawating Hospital at 6:30 a.m. today.  His death was unexpected.

Mr. Hull was born Oct. 27, 1883, in Lock Springs, Ind. He came to Niles from Greensburg, Ind.,, in 1926.

Survivors include his widow, Dora; two daughters, Mrs. James Reed and Mrs. Fred Lacey, both of Niles; four grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

He was a member of the First Methodist church, and the Men's Fellowship Class of the church.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Pifer Funeral Home. Dr. Maurice McKean, pastor of his church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 11, 1964, page 2, col 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Katherine Eleanor Weiss
July 19, 1883-April 8, 1964

BENTON HARBOR--Mrs. Katherine Eleanor Weiss, 80, of 519 Britain Ave., died Wednesday at 7:20 a.m. in Mercy Hospital, where she had been a patient for three days.

Mrs. Weiss was born July 19, 1883, in Niles and came here from Niles in 1952. Her husband, William F. Weiss, preceded her in death. She is survived by three sons, Roy and Norval, of Benton Harbor and Gordon of Hammond, Ind., six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m Saturday at the Frost Funeral Home here.  The Rev. George C. Douma will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, April 9, 1964, page 2, col 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Melvin C. Wells
Nov. 10, 1887-April 6, 1964

Melvin C. Wells, 76, of 610 Sycamore St., was pronounced dead on arrival at Pawating Hospital at 6 p.m. Monday.
Mr. Wells, a retired yard conductor with the New York Central Railroad, was born Nov. 10, 1887, in northern Michigan, living most of his life here.
Survivors include his widow, Nellie; two step-sons, Gale Johnson, Mattewan, and Cecil Johnson, Pittsburgh, Pa., eight grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.
He was a life member and Past Master of the Pokagon Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; a member of American Legion Post No. 26, the Tall Cedars, the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen, the Switchmen's Union and the Pioneers Association.  He was a veteran of World War I.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Pifer Funeral Home.  The Rev. Richard J. Fraser, pastors of St. John's Church, will officiate. Commiteee[sic] rites conducted by the Pokagon Masnic[sic] Lodge will follow in Silverbrook Cemetry.    Friends are being received at the funeral home.   

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 7, 1964, page 2, col 5-6, microfilm Niles District Library