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.

Moore, Lorna (Snow)

Lorna Moore
Feb. 24, 1911-June 19, 2006

Lorna Moore, a native of Niles and a direct descendant of Orin D. Snow, one of Berrien County's earliest settlers, passed away on Monday, June 19, 2006, at the age of 95.

Mrs. Moore was born on February 24, 1911, just north of Niles, Michigan, at the farm residence of her maternal grandparents. Her early childhood was spent on the farm in the company of two sisters and several cousins who lived nearby or visited often from neighboring towns. She attended North Primary School and then the Niles Public Schools, graduating in 1928.

For a short time Mrs. Moore did secretarial work at National Standard Company and then attended Park College, Parkville, Missouri, for the 1929-1930 academic year.

On August 22, 1931, she married Clarence E. "Dinty" Moore, who passed away in 1983. Mrs. Moore was also preceded in death by her parents and by a sister, Deane E. McBride. Surviving are two sons, Stephen C. Moore of Michigan and Dennis D. Moore of Iowa; daughter-in-law, Helen Damon-Moore; granddaughters, Laura and Stephanie Damon-Moore; a sister, Doris Hunziker of South Bend; and by several cousins, nieces and nephews.

With the exception of a few years during and immediately following World War II, and until 2003 when she relocated to be with family, Mrs. Moore had been a resident of Niles and the Michiana area.

From 1931 to 1941 she was secretary to the registrar at the University of Notre Dame, and from 1954 to 1974 she was employed at M.J. Hunziker and Sons Landscape Nursery as a bookkeeper, secretary and office manager.

For 40 years Mrs. Moore was a seasonal resident of Birch Lake, Vandalia, Michigan, enjoying with family and friends the cozy cottage which she and her husband designed and built in 1940.

At the time of death Mrs. Moore was the most senior member of the First Presbyterian Church of Niles, and she had also been a member of both the Cosmopolitan Club and Beta Gamma Upsilon sorority. Those who knew her recall fondly her homemaking skills, work ethic, sense of humor, optimism and generosity.

The funeral services for Lorna C. Moore will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 23, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street, Niles, with the Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman of First Presbyterian Church officiating. Committal services will be private on Monday at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Friends may call on Saturday, June 24, beginning at noon in the funeral home.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Moore, Anthony

Anthony Moore
1975-May 5, 2007

Anthony "Tony" Moore, 32, of New Buffalo, formerly of Niles, passed away due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident on Saturday May 5, 2007.

Tony was born in Niles to Willis Jr. and Dorothy (Williams) Moore.

He was employed at Harbor Grand Hotel & Suites. Tony was devoted in his faith and beliefs. He was not only a Christian in principal, but in practice. Tony had a heart of gold, and it showed in those whose lives he touched. He cared for the elderly, the homeless, family and friends, and those he didn't even know. He was devout in his faith and loved reading and studying his bible. Tony was very active and loved swimming and bowling. Tony mostly enjoyed spending time with his family, whom he loved dearly.

Tony was preceded in death by his father.

He is survived by his son, Anthony Moore Jr. of South Bend; his mother, Dorothy J. Moore of Niles; a brother, Richard T. (Leonina) Griffin of Niles; three sisters, Serenia Williams of Niles, Carol Fow-ler of South Bend and Helen (Antoine) West of Niles; and a host of uncles, aunties, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 11, 2007, at 12:00 p.m. in Center of Hope Life Changing Minis-tries, 306 Wayne Street, Niles, with Overseer Mamie Thomas and Evangelist Gordon Thomas officiating. A time of visitation will take place one hour prior to the funeral. An interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Condolences may be left for the family by visiting www.brownfuneralhomeniles.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Moore, Anna E.

Anna E. Moore
Nov. 3, 1914-Oct. 25, 1994

Anna Eva Moore, 79, of Webster, Fla., formerly of Niles, died at 9:10 p.m. Tuesday Oct. 25, 1994,  in Regional Medical Center, Leesburg, Fla., following an illness. Mrs. Moore was born Nov. 3, 1914 in Kankakee, Ill. and moved from Niles to Bushnell, Fla., in 1983. She married Guy Moore who died Oct. 13, 1979. Surviving are four daughters, Anita Mullins of South Bend, Patricia Bryant of Coloma, and Carla Custard and Sandra Grice, both of LaGrange; a son, Richard Moore of Webster; nine grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call one hour prior to service time in the funeral home.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Mills, Walter M.

Walter M. Mills
April 22, 1912-Feb. 16, 2007

Walter M. Mills, 94, of Blaine Avenue,  South Bend, formerly of Michigan City, IN, and Niles, died following a brief illness at 4:45 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16,  2007, in Regency Place Health Care & Rehabilitation Center, South Bend.

He was born on April 22, 1912, in Niles, to Willis and Cora Ruth (Rice) Mills, and had lived in this area all of his life. He was employed by the New York Central Railroad, retiring in 1964. He was also employed in security by The Pinkerton Agency and by Uniroyal.

He was a member of the Salvation Army in both Niles and Michigan City, and had volunteered as head of the Salvation Army Food Pantry in Michigan City. He enjoyed woodworking and traveling throughout the United States and Canada.

On June 2, 1939, in Niles, he married the former Anna M. Britton, who preceded him in death on June 4, 1991. He was also preceded in death by a son, David Mills, and by three brothers.

Surviving family includes his children, Walter (Ruth Ann) Mills Jr. of Johnson City, TN, Phillip Mills of Crowley, LA, Ruth Ann (Alejandro) Rodriguez of Niles, Robert (Mary) Mills of Berrien Springs, Rose (Clarence) Blakley of South Bend, Arthur (Melody) Mills of Zeeland, MI, and Salvation Army Major Michael (Major Judy) Mills of Milwaukee, WI; 22 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.

The funeral service for Walter M. Mills will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, in Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Pastor Jeffrey L. Whittaker of Michiana Christian Embassy officiating. Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Mr. Mills may be made to the Salvation Army.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Miller, Richard Kendrick

Richard K. Miller
Feb. 10, 1919-June 27, 2005

Richard Kendrick Miller, 86, of Baldwin Drive, Niles, Michigan, passed away in his home on June 27, 2005, following an extended illness.

Richard was born in Niles to Fred E. and France Miller on February 10, 1919, and lived in the area all of his life. He is survived by his wife, Betty (Brumfield), with whom he shared 58 loving years after their marriage on April 26, 1947. He is also survived by two daughters, Sharon of South Bend, IN, and Wendy Swartz of San Antonio, Texas; three grandchildren, Zoanne Osterman, Ara Osterman and John W. Swartz, all of South Bend; a brother, Roy (Mildred) of Dowagiac; a sister, Jean (Homer) Julian of Bozeman, Montana, and a sister-in-law, Lydia Miller. He was preceded in death by a sister, Beverly, and a brother, Wayne.

Richard joined the Army Air Force in June 1941 and served at Gardiner AFB in California before being sent to Kunming, China, as a member of the Signal Corps. After four-and-half years of service during World War II, First Sergeant Richard Miller, 1049th Signal Corps Service Group, returned home on January 3, 1946. Richard was recalled to duty during the Korean War, receiving orders in August of 1950 to report to McChord AFT in Tacoma, WA, where he served one year as master sergeant for the Food Service Squadron.

For twenty years, Richard was proprietor of Niles Tool Rental, and after selling the business in 1978 he went of work for AAA Associates of Niles, where he eventually retired in 1989 at age 70. Richard was a member of Community Grange in Sumnerville where he served as grange master for many years.

Services will be held at Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, Michigan, at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 1, 2005. Visitation for family and friends will be held one hour prior to the funeral services in the funeral home. Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Richard K. Miller may be made to Hospice at Home, 4017 Chamberlain Road, Buchanan, MI 49107.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Miller, Minnie

Minnie Miller
Feb. 28, 1908

The funeral of Mrs. Minnie Miller and infant son will take place from the residence in the country at 12 o’clock tomorrow noon. At 1:30 o’clock, Rev. Rahn will conduct funeral services at St. John’s Evangelical Church. The member of Esther lodge D. of H. will attend the funeral in a body. Feb. 28, 1908. 

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Miller, Mary (McCorkle)

Mary Miller
Oct. 2, 1926-Feb. 5, 2001

Funeral services for Mary Miller will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2001 in Mount Calvary Baptist Church, 601 Ferry Street, Niles, Mich.

Mrs. Miller was born on Oct. 2, 1926, and departed this life on Monday, Feb. 5, 2001. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call in the church one hour before the services.

Mary Miller was born Mary McCorkle to the union of Marion and Beatrice McCorkle in Clarksdale, Miss. Mary relocated to South Bend, Ind., in 1945 where she graduated from Central High School.

Mrs. Miller was married to Theodore Miller on Nov. 14, 1952. Theodore preceded her in death in June 1989. Mary leaves to mourn her passing two loving daughters, Lynnette Lottie (Johnie Lottie) of South Bend and Penny Miller of Fresno, Calif.; one grandson, Brandon Lottie; and a host of relatives and friends.

She was a caring and loving person who touched the lives of all who knew her; she will be greatly missed.

Funeral services were entrusted to the Clark-O'Neal Funeral Home.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown