Evelyn F. Morse
Sept. 16, 1921-Jan. 23, 2006

Evelyn Fae Morse, 84, of 900 Mobile Blvd., Niles, died of natural causes at 2:44 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, 2006  in Lakeland Hospital, Niles, Mich.

She was born Sept. 16, 1921, in Benton Harbor, Mich., retired from Sunstrand Corporation in Dowagiac, Mich., and had lived in Niles since 1975, coming from Cassopolis.

On April 12, 1941, in Benton Harbor, she married Franklin "Ben" Morse Sr., who preceded her in death on Aug. 28, 2005.

Surviving are a daughter, Frances Ann Lee; two sons, Franklin (Kathy) Morse Jr. of Three Rivers, Michigan, and Douglas (Tina) Morse of Niles, Michigan; a sister, Eva Peters of Salt Springs, Fla.; a brother, R.J. Fulton of England; grandchildren, Karen, Sharen, Jessica, Jeffrey, Amy, Jeremy, Michael and Rebecca; and great-grandchildren, Nolan and Riley.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, January 27, in the Hoven Funeral Home, 414 E. Front St., Buchanan, with Pastor Sean Kidd of Buchanan Christian Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home and one hour before services on Friday.

Memorials may be made to Cass County on Aging, 60525 Decatur, P.O. Box 5, Cassopolis, MI 49031

William W. Morris
July 1, 1847-Jan. 3, 1913

William Westly Morris died this morning (Jan. 3, 1913), at 8:45 o’clock, at his home, 728 North Front Street, after a short illness. Monday he was stricken with an attack of acute indigestion which developed into congestion of the lungs. Mr. Morris was born July 1, 1847, in Dayton, Ohio. He came to Michigan when but a small boy. Feb. 1, 1873 he married Miss Anna Brown of Buchanan.  In 1888 they came to Niles and have since made this their home. Mrs. Morris was employed as foreman of the sorting room at the French Paper Mills, having held that position seven years. He was a trusty workman and was held in high respect by all who knew him.

Deceased is survived by the widow, three daughters, Mrs. Beulah Zahn, Mrs. Frank Morris and Mrs. Laura Sloam, all of Niles; two sons, George of Detroit and Frank of Portland, Ore. Mr. Morris was a civil war veteran and was in the 12 Regiment Company I of Michigan. He belonged to the order of Loyal Americans, carrying an insurance. The funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock from the late home. Rev. R. A. Wright officiating. Interment at Silver Brook.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Wm. Morris died from Exposure.  Body found in Railroad Culvert---Jury Impaneled---Funeral Private.

William Morris, more familiarly known to his friends and associates about town as “Peeny” was found dead March 20, 1913, in a railroad culvert under the Michigan Central tracks south of Lincoln Avenue crossing late this morning.

The body was rigid and it was quite evident he had been dead several hours. Two strangers made the discovery and summoned Chief Francis to the scene.

Coroner Skalla impaneled a jury which rendered a verdict that Mr. Morris died from exposure.

Mr. Morris was born in this city 59 years ago. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. Perkins Morris, wealthy and pioneer residents of Niles. Deceased is survived by a sister and brother, Mrs. Adelaid King and Frank Morris, both of this city. The funeral will be private from the home of Mrs. King, 499 South fifth Street, Saturday afternoon. Interment at silver Brook Cemetery.

Robert D. Morris
Oct. 11, 1895-Feb. 3, 1952

Robert D. Morris, 44, of 416 South Ninth Street, died at 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 3, 1952, in Pawating hospital. He had been in poor health since last May. Surviving are his sister, Miss Genevieve Morris of Niles, and Two brothers, Harry Morris of Hamilton, Mont and Richard Morris of Niles. Morris was born on Oct. 11, 1895 in Niles, to Ernest and Daisy B. (Brown), and had lived here all his life. He was a railroad engineer, and was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church. Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home. Arrangements are incomplete.

Robert S. Morris
Aug. 6, 1923-Jan. 9, 1945

Cpl. Robert Morris Killed Tuesday in Crash in Georgia

Buchanan Man wounded, two other Berrien boys listed as casualties.

Cpl. Robert S. Morris, 21, a gunner and mechanic on a B-24, was killed at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, 1945, Tuesday in an airplane crash at Chatham field, Savannah, Ga., according to worked received early today by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard B. (Lillian Vida Steinbauer) Morris, 324 south Fifth Street. Morris was one of 11 men killed when a B-24 bomber crashed and burned eight miles south of the Chatham field it was learned. One member of the crew parachuted to safety.

One of five in Service.

Cpl. Morris was one of the five serviceman sons of Mr. and Mrs. Morris. He was born in Niles, August 6, 1923, and was a student of Eastern Michigan college of Education, Kalamazoo, prior to entering the Army. He was a member of the Trinity Episcopal Church and of Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity. The airman entered the Army in April 1942 and received his mechanic training at Hessler Field, Miss., and attendee gunnery school at Tyndall Field, Fla. He was transferred to Chatham field last November. 

To return body.

Surviving are the parents; a sister, Mrs. Leo Rasmussen, Vicksburg and the four brothers, Lt. Richard E. Morris, Aberdeen, MD, PFC, Edward H., Camp Bland, Fla., Pvt, Harold D. Morris, Fort Monmouth, NJ, and Walter G. Morris, seaman second class, Norman, Okla.  The body will be sent to the Rutherford Funeral Home. 

* * *

Details of fatal crash learned here.

The family of Cpl, Robert S. Morris, 21, is today awaiting the arrival of his body in Niles after receiving word early Wednesday of his death in a bomber crash Tuesday afternoon near Chatham air field, Savannah, Ga. Cpl Morris, an engineer, was one of the two Michigan flyers among the 11 Army airmen killed in the b-24 Liberator bomber crash eight miles south of the air field on Tuesday.  An Army spokesman said only one crew member parachuted from the plane which was on a routine flight from the field. The pilot, Lt. J.W. Milkey, of Detroit, was also killed in the accident.  Cpl. Morris was one of the five servicemen sons of Mrs. and Mrs. Richard Morris, 325 South Fifth Street.  At least three of the brothers are expected to return to Niles for the funeral services.   

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Phyllis M. Morris
April 29, 1921-June 1, 2007

Phyllis M. Morris, 86, died of a brief illness on Friday, June 1, 2007, at Silverbrook Manor-Niles.

Mrs. Morris was born April 29, 1921, at Cumberland, Maryland, to Percy R. and Marjorie Ellen (Harper) Welsh. She had lived in the Niles area most of her life and had been employed by the former National Food Store. A member of Morris Chapel United Methodist Church, she also enjoyed her membership in the Summnerville Community Grange.

On May 1, 1937, in Rochester, Indiana, Phyllis married Raymond W. Morris Sr., who died on August 12, 1978. Also preceding her in death were daughters, Marie Weaver, June Standiford, Evelyn JoAnn Erickson and Mary L. Graham; and a son, Richard R. Morris.

Sisters, Ruth Dohm and Betty Zehner, along with a brother, Ira Trowbridge, also preceded her in death.

Mrs. Morris' surviving family includes daughters, Marjie (Gene) Sherwood, Lena (Dale) Young and Norma (Don) Arnold, all of Niles; and sons, Raymond (Sandi) Morris Jr. of Northport, Florida, Arthur L. Morris of Spencer, West Virginia, and M.Sgt. George (Janet) Morris, U.S. Army retired, of San Antonio, Texas. Further survivors are 33 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren, 22 great-great-grandchildren and several great-great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 5, 2007, in Wesley United Methodist Church, 3rd and Cedar streets, Niles, with Rev. Christopher Kruchkow of Morris Chapel United Methodist Church officiating. The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday in the Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Memorial contributions for Phyllis M. Morris may be made to Morris Chapel United Methodist Church, to Summnerville Community Grange, Wesley United Methodist Church, or to the Old Rugged Cross Foundation.