Greenville Finley
June 1, 1837-May 13, 1916

Niles Daily Sun, Monday, May 14, 1916, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

    The funeral service for Greenville Finley will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the residence on Lake street. Interment will occur at Silver Brook cemetery.
    Mr. Finley was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, June 18[sic], 1837 and was therefore 78 years, 11 months and 17 days old at the time of his death Saturday afternoon, May 13, 1916.
    Mr. Finley came to Howard township in 1846.  He was married to Miss Melissa Hill, April 4, 1860.  Eleven children were born of this union, of whom seven survive. Mrs. Finley died about a year ago.
    Six sons, one daughter, 24 grandchildren, five great grand children, three sisters, and one brother are surviving relatives.
    Herbert of Clinton is here for the funeral services, also the daughter, Mrs. Dell Hill of Dowagiac, and William Finley, of Chicago, and Garfield of Wisconsin are expected tomorrow.
    Mr. Finley's death was caused by paralysis.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 15, 1916, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

    Greenville P. Finley passed away at his home Saturday, May 13, at 2:40 p.m., aged 78 years, 11 months and 17 days.  Mr. Finley was born in Chilcoahothe[sic], Ohio, June 1[sic], 1837.  He moved to Michigan, Howard township, Cass county, about the year 1846, was joined in marriage to Melissa Hill April 15, 1860. To this union 11 children were born, seven of whom survive him, six sons and one daughter, also 24 grandchildren, five great grandchildren, three sisters and one brother. The funeral services will be held at the home, 1011 Lake street, at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon.

N.B. There are two different dates of birth in the obituaries.  The Michigan Death record gives age as 79y 11m 12d and date of birth as June 1, 1836.  The gravemaker reads June 1, 1838.

Jean S. Phillips, 82
June 9, 1927 – Feb. 21, 2010

Jean S. Phillips, 82, of U.S. Highway 12 in Niles died at 10 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles following an extended illness.

Mrs. Phillips was born June 9, 1927 in Washington, Pa. to Melvin L. and Katharine (Mounts) Scott. She graduated from Washington High School in Pennsylvania, attended Nyack College in New York and Southwestern Michigan College. She moved to Niles in 1984 from Lansing. She was a former high school secretary and librarian for both Bronson and Stevensville, Mich.

Jean was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles. She was a pastor’s wife who actively supported his ministry to congregations in Grand Rapids, Bronson, Stevensville, Lansing and Niles. She was a volunteer with Meals-On-Wheels.
On June 19, 1948, in Washington, Pa. she married the Rev. Lloyd A. Phillips, who survives. She is also survived by their son, Dr. John Lloyd (Linda) Phillips of Fayetteville, N.C. and daughter, Linda M. (Jim) Baker of Buchanan; four grandchildren, Jeffrey, Andrew, Matt, Chelsea Jean; five stepchildren, Jimmy, Jody, Donna, Frank and Paul; and six step-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by their son, David L. Phillips, who died July 15, 1997; a daughter, Elizabeth Phillips, who died in infancy; and by four sisters and a brother, Dessie Scott, who died while rescuing children from a burning orphanage now named the Dessie Scott Children’s Home.

The funeral service for Jean S. Phillips will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles with the Rev. Edward H. Slate of the church and Jean’s husband, the Rev. Lloyd A. Phillips, officiating.

Committal rites will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. Contributions in memory of Jean may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, Habitat for Humanity or Meals-On-Wheels.

Mary D. Ellingson, 81
Oct. 31, 1928 – Feb. 23, 2010

Mary D. Ellingson, 81, of South 13th Street, Niles died at 1:40 p.m. Tuesday, Feb.  23, 2010 at her home following a brief illness.

She was born Oct. 31, 1928 in Chicago to Clair Frederick and Frances Wardlow (Hipple) Dowling. She graduated from South Shore High School, Chicago and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She lived in Niles since 1954.

Mary was an occupational therapist, and served in several area clinics.

She was a member of the PEO sorority, the Niles Dance Club and had served on the Brandywine School Board. She also enjoyed creating pottery, knitting, flower gardening, and had played bridge with several clubs.

On Sept. 29, 1951 in Chicago she married Donald W. Ellingson, who survives.  Also surviving are their children, Sue (Tom) of Madison, Wis., Kathy of Niles and Tom (Donna) of Dayton, Ohio; grandchildren, Eric and Tara, Jenny, Liz and Courtney, and Daniel and Jonathon; great-grandson, Eli; and a brother, Oak of San Rafael, Calif.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Jim.

Services for Mary D. Ellingson will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010 at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles with sharing by members of the family, and by friends. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Contributions in memory of Mary may be made to the Humane Society of Saint Joseph County, 2506 Grape Rd., Mishawaka, IN 46545.

Robert Stowe Jr., 85
May 29, 1924 – Feb. 24, 2010

Robert Stowe Jr., 85, of Davis Street, Niles died at 9:58 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010 at Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles following an extended illness.

He was born May 29, 1924 in Niles to Robert Stowe Sr. and Mabel Florence (Webber) Stowe. He graduated from Niles High School and was a lifetime resident of Niles.

He retired after 36 years of service at National-Standard Co. in Niles. He was a World War II veteran, having served in the United States Army. He enjoyed fishing, camping in northern Michigan and playing cards. He was a member of Bend in the River Conservation Club, where he enjoyed shooting. He loved to square dance.

He married Jean Peters, who died May 1, 1971. He married Shirley “Sis” Irene Goodling on Jan. 22, 1972 in Niles. She died March 24, 1994.

He is also preceded in death by a brother, Jack Stowe.

Robert is survived by his sons, Michael (Avaline) Stowe of Niles, Stephen (Sandra) Stowe of Greenville, Mich., Jerry Stowe of Rochester, Ind.; stepsons, Richard (Susan) Barnes of Council Bluff, Iowa, Donald (Sherry) Barnes of Mishawaka and David (Sheila) Barnes of Loveland, Ohio; 14 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 1, 2010 at First Presbyterian Church, Niles with Raymond Fulbright of the church officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Flag presentation and “Taps” will follow services graveside by American Legion Post 26, Niles.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Berrien County Cancer Service, 7301 Red Arrow Highway, Bridgman, MI 49106.

Bryce B. Taylor, 90
Jan. 6, 1920 – Feb. 25, 2010

Bryce B. Taylor, 90, of Oak Street, Niles died at 6:33 a.m. Thursday. Feb. 25, 2010 at West Woods of Niles following an extended illness.

Bryce was born Jan. 6, 1920 in South Bend to Rolfe R. Taylor and Vesta P. Bartholomew. He graduated from Niles High School and was a lifelong resident of Niles, living within a four-block radius.

He was employed for 20 years at Michigan Mushroom Co. He was a lifelong member of Wesley United Methodist Church. He was also a member of the Lion’s Club and was active with Habitat for Humanity. Bryce attended Western Michigan University. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the United States Army. He was a City of Niles Third Ward alderman.

He enjoyed bowling in area leagues, swimming at the YMCA and home maintenance and repair. He was a devoted family man. He spent his winters in Sarasota, Fla. for many years.

He was married on Sept. 28, 1941 in Niles to Louise (Moore) Taylor, who survives. He is also survived by his daughters, Carole (Richard) Wilcox of Houston, Texas, Kay Taylor of Niles, Constance (Charles) Tack of Warsaw, Ind. and Candace (Nash) Hester of Elizabethtown, N.C.; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a sister, Suzanna Borsos of Arvada, Colo.

He is preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Amanda Tack, who died Oct. 22, 2004.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles with the Rev. Edward H. Slate of the church officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Friends may call beginning at 10 a.m. at the church.

Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church or Habitat for Humanity.

Homer D. Madden, 77
Dec. 11, 1932 – Feb. 27, 2010

Homer D. Madden, 77, of Cass Street, Niles died Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010 at his home following a brief illness.

He was born Dec. 11, 1932 in Parma, Mo. to George S. and Ola Magdalene (Lacy) Madden, moving to Niles in 1940.

He was retired from French Paper Co., Niles after 45 years of employment. Homer was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving as a corporal in the U.S. Army. He was a member of the American Legion Post 26, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4025 and the Fraternal Order of Eagles 2094, all of Niles.

He was an avid outdoorsman with a cabin at Bitely, Mich., where he enjoyed hunting all game, fishing and mushroom hunting.

He married the former Dory Krueger in August 1955 in Niles.

He is survived by their daughters, Debby (Mark) Wisniewski of Dowagiac, Christine (Roger) Butterworth of Niles and Rebecca Madden of Buchanan; grandchildren, Justin, Mindy, Craig, Catherine, John and Steven; Homer’s sister, Shirley Chappell of Dowagiac; nieces, Lisa and Carol; and special friends, Art and Marjorie Horner and Bob Mitchell.

Homer is preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Catherine Madden, who died Aug. 8, 1979.

The funeral service for Homer D. Madden will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 4, 2010 at Bethel Baptist Church, Niles with the Rev. Randy Pearman of the church officiating.
Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles and will conclude with the veteran’s flag presentation and “Taps” by American Legion Post 26.

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

Contributions in memory of Homer may be made to Hospice at Home.