Obituaries

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. 

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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.

Mary K. Morris
Jan. 5, 1870-Dec. 8, 1970

Mary K. Morris (Whittig), 100, formerly of Berrien Springs, died at 10 a.m. today, Dec. 8, 1970, in the Quick Convalescent Home, Niles.

Born Jan. 5, 1870, in Elkhart, Mrs. Morris had lived in this area all her life. On March 5, 1893, in Niles, she married Clifford Morris, who died in 1953.

Survivors include a son, Lyle of Berrien Springs, a daughter, Mrs. Erwyn Kehrer of Niles; a foster daughter, Mrs. Ruth Cleary of Detroit; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, with the Rev. John R. Wyngarden of the first Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home.   

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Grace R. Morris
June 30, 1905-March 7, 1995

Services for Grace R. Morris, 89, of 325 S. Fifth St., who died at 8:40 p.m. Tuesday  March 7, 1995,  in Woodfield Manor after an illness, will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in Trinity Episcopal Church. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call after 9 a.m. Saturday in the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the church. Halbritter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Morris was born June 30, 1905, in Long Island, N.Y., and had lived in Niles since 1955, coming from Grand Rapids. On June 7, 1955, in Grand Rapids, she married Edward Henry Morris. He died July 7, 1991. Surviving are a sister, Florence Lerm of Grand Rapids; and several nieces. Mrs. Morris was a member of Daughters of the King and its choir. She was a graduate of Butterworth Hospital School of Nursing, Grand Rapids.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown