Obituaries

Arthur Howard Roe

Died June 7, 1933

FUNERAL RITES FOR A.H. ROE HELD SATURDAY
In Business Here Many Years; Passed Away Wednesday After Long Illness

    Arthur Howard Roe, a resident of Buchanan for the past twenty-five years, passed into the Great Unknown at 9:50 p.m. June 7, 1933, following a long illness. Except thirteen years spent in Pullman, Ill., he had lived in Buchanan and Niles most of his life.
    On January 15, 1879, he was united in marriage with Miss Minnie Rinehardt of Niles.  After 54 years of comradeship, she, with their daughter, Ada Lou Armbruster of Bloomington, Ill., and their son, George Scott Roe, of Buchanan, mourn the departure of a most loyal husband and affectionate father.
    He was affiliated with Buchanan F. & A. M. No. 58, Sylvia chapter, Order of Eastern Star No., 74 and the St. Joseph Valley chapter No. 2.
    A sister, Mrs. Clara Richards, and a brother, Herbert Roe, both of Buchanan, together with more distant relatives and many admiring and faithful friends are left to follow him.
    Christian Science services were held at the home at 2:30 p.m. June 10, conducted by Mrs. George Mathie, reader, and Masonic services at the Hamilton Funeral Home at 3 p.m. and burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery, Niles.
    Out of town relatives and friends attending were:  Mrs. Rebecca Ellis and William Reinhardt of Racine, Wis.; Mrs. Louisa Ross and Mrs Aline Dean, Jackson;; Mr. and Mrs. dean Ferris, Allegan; Mrs. C.O. Montague and son, Elmo, of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Arza Ball and son clifford, Niles; Mr. and Mrs. Gaylord Ball, Niles.

(Source: Berrien County Record, Thursday, June 15, 1933, page 1, Microfilm Niles District Library)

John Edward Oakes Sr.
1965-1995
enjoyed hunting and fishing

    Funeral services for John Edward Oakes, Sr., 30 of 8418 Dean's Hill Road, Berrien Center, will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles by the Rev. Morton J. Hempel of Church of God Full Gospel.
    Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
    Mr. Oakes died at 5 a.m. Saturday, at Berrien General Hospital in Berrien Center, following an extended illness.
    He was born Jan. 18, 1965, in Wilson, Ark., and had lived in Niles since 1966, coming from Arkansas.
    On July 20, 1981, in Cassopolis, he married the former Edna Rae "Rainy" Hamilton, who survives.
    Mr. Oakes was an employee of Royal Marble In Niles.
    He attend[sic] Church of God Full Gospel and was a sportsman, enjoying hunting and fishing.
    In addition to his wife, survivors include three sons, John Edward Oakes, Jr.,  David William Oakes, and Dustin Michael Oakes, all at home; her[sic] father, William E. Oakes of Houston; her[sic] mother, Mary Ann Oakes of Murry Ark.; and two brothers, Roger Dale Oakes and James Edward Oakes, both of Houston.
    Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the funeral home.
 (Source:  Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 21, 1995, page 2, col. 2, Microfilm Niles District Library)

Mary May Graham
1927-1995
homemaker

    There will be no services for Mary May Graham, 68, of 3053 S. Third St., Niles, who died at 4:35 a.m. Sunday at her home.
    She was born March 7, 1927, in Potomac, Ill., and had lived in Niles since 1941, coming from Potomac.
    On Nov. 15, 1947, in NILes[sic], she married Daniel G. Graham, Jr., who survives.
    Mrs. Graham was a homemaker.
    In addition to her husband, survivors include three daughters, Janet Webster of Sturgis, and Ruth Ann Clanton and Helen Mackling, both of Niles; two sons, Kenneth Graham of Niles and William Graham of Edwardsburg; 11 grandchildren; seven sisters, Carrie Stucker, Hattie Quick, Frances Varga, Beverly Brozak, Laverne Wright, and Julia Marrow, all of Niles, and Marty Bryant of Paisley, Fla; and three brothers, Ron and Frank Spain, both of Niles, and Fred Spain of Athen, Tenn.
    Arrangements were completed by Hoven Funeral Home in Buchanan.
(Source:  Niles Daily Star, Monday, Aug. 21, 1995, page 2, col 1, Microfilm Niles District Library)

Daniel Glen Graham, Jr.
1924-2001

    Daniel Glen Graham, Jr., 77, of 3053 S. Third St., Niles, died of natural causes Monday, Dec. 31, 2001 at 10:35 p.m. at St. Jopseh Medical Center in South Bend, Ind.
    Burial will be at a later date in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
    Graham was born Aug. 5, 1924 in Niles.  He was a life-long area resident.  On Nov. 15, 1947, he married Mary Spain in Niles.  She preceded him in death on Aug., 20, 1995.  He served his country during World War II in the U.S. Air Force.  He was a volunteeer fireman in Niles Township for 15 years and a group leader at National Standard in Niles.
    Survivors include:  two sons, Kenneth (and Michele) Graham of Niles and William (and Nancy) Graham of Edwardsburg; three daughters, Janet (and Jeff) Webster of Sturis, Ruth Ann (and Steve) Clanton and Helen Jo (and Kirk) Mackling, both of Niles; 13 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; one brother, Edward (and Mary) Graham of Niles; and one sister, Dorothy (and Charles) Olinghouse of Niles.
    The family will gather privately for services.
    There will be no visitation.

(Source:  Niles Daily Star, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2002, page 2, col 2 Microfilm Niles District Library)

William B. Gray

Died May 12, 1885

           On Wednesday morning of last week, Wm. B. Gray died, aged 65 years.  Mr. Gray was among the first settlers of Niles, coming here with his parents from Richmond, Ind., in 1825. He has ever been respected by all for his uniform kindness and benevolence.  He was all through the Mexican war, as Second Lieutenant in the First Michigan Volunteers, and marched with Gen. Scott to the city of Mexico.  He has held the office of Recorder, Supervisor and City Treasurer, and has ever been found faithful to his trust.  He was a big-hearted Irishman, honest, honorable and just.  He leaves a wife, a daughter, a younger brother and elder sister, and may relatives and acquaintances to mourn his loss. 

 (Source: Niles Mirror, Wed. May 20, 1885, page 5, Microfilm Niles District Library)

Lydia Howard

Died March 13, 1911

REACHED THE AGE OF 103

Mrs. Lydia Howard, Born a Slave, Died Today

            Mrs. Lydia Howard, a colored woman who had attained the great age of 103 years, died this morning at 17 Sycamore street, the home of Orren Wise whose housekeeper she had been for the past 16 years.

            Mrs. Howard was born in slavery in South Carolina and continued in servitude until freed by the great Abraham Lincoln.  At the close of the war Mrs. Howard drifted north and became separated from her mother, a brother and other relatives.

            Mrs. Howard often related to Niles people the fascinating history of her life and the events which transpired during her memory and which she could recall verified the statement of her age.

            For the past two years she has been an invalid and has been cared for by the city and the Ladies’ Charity Society.  She was properly a county charge but her piteous pleas that she should not be taken to the county house aroused the sympathy of the Charity Society ladies and she has been well card for.  The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Second Baptist church.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Sunday, March 13, 1911, page 1, Microfilm Niles District Library)