Obituaries

Rita E. Jordan
May 17,1944-May 26, 2007

Rita E. Jordan, 63, of Hoyt Drive in Niles, passed away in her home on Saturday, May 26, 2007, after a long illness.

Rita was born on May 17, 1944, to the late Ned and Amy (Moore) Watkins in Niles.  After graduating from high school she wed the love of her life, Calvin Jordan.

She is preceded in death by her parents.

Rita is survived by her husband of 43 years, Calvin; son, James (Kristina) Jordan of Covington, GA; daughter, Melissa Merritt of Stockbridge, GA; stepdaughter, Teri Milam of Desoto, MO; and stepson, Keith Jordan also of Missouri; nine grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; and her brother, Riley (Donna) Watkins of Bruce Crossing, MI.

A visitation will be held for friends and family from 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 30, 2007, in Brown Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Niles. Rita will be interred at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Memorial donations may be made in Rita's name to Hospice at Home, 4025 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Niles.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Elvira Riley Joo
Sept. 3, 1930-Feb. 11, 1995

Elvira Riley Joo, 64, of 1003 Ontario Road,  Niles, died at 7:56 p.m. Saturday , Feb. 11, 1995, of natural causes in the home of a daughter.  She was born Sept. 3, 1930, in Michigan City.  She married Donald J. Riley, who died Nov. 8, 1972.   On Aug. 7, 1980, in Niles, she married William Joo.  He survives with three daughters, Mary D. Sowers of Constantine, Sally Clements and Sandy Neldon, both of Niles; three sons, Donald J. Riley Jr. and Gerald L. Riley, both of Niles, and Bruce Colburn of Kalamazoo; a stepson, Michael Lashley of Kokomo, Ind.; 15 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.  A daughter, Eldonna Rose Riley Kelly, died Sept. 21, 1985. Mrs. Joo was a member of Fulkerson Park Baptist Church.

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call one hour before services Tuesday in the funeral home.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Lula M. Jones
June 3, 1914-April 12, 2007

Lula M. Jones, 92, of Barron Lake Road, Niles,  died at 10:37 a.m. Thursday, April 12, 2007, in Lakeland Hospital, Niles. Her death was unexpected, but of natural causes.

She was born on June 3, 1914, in Locke, IN, to Jesse and Lucinda (Wagner) Kronk, and had lived in Niles since 1934. She was employed by the Niles Community Schools for 30 years, mostly in the kitchen at Howard School, prior to retirement.

Mrs. Jones was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, Niles, and its Friendly Class, and was an adult volunteer to the Youth Fellowship. She participated in many different activities at Howard Township over the years, and had been a member of the Barron Lake Mother's Club. She also bowled in area senior leagues.

On March 4, 1933, in Goshen, IN, she was married to Glenn Jones, who preceded her in death on August 14, 1979. She was also preceded in death by a grandson, David Bays on January 31, 1981; and by four sisters, Goldie McDonald, Dora Ferm, Amanda Jarrett, and Evelyn Miller; and by four brothers, Marvin, Melvin, Glenwood and Floyd Kronk.

Surviving family includes two daughters, Judy (Vernon) Quick and Mona (David) Bays; a stepdaughter, Darlene Kujawa, all of Niles; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Lula M. Jones will be at 11 a.m. Thursday April 19, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Dr. Anthony Tomasino of Grace Untied Methodist church officiating. Committal 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 Mrs. Jones may be made to Grace United Methodist Church.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Lucille Jones
Oct. 17, 1913-Sept. 1, 2006

Lucille Jones, 92,of Painter Street, Edwardsburg, passed away after an illness about 11:50 a.m. Friday, Sept. 1, 2006, while a patient at West Woods of Niles.

Lucille was born Oct. 17, 1913, in Helca, South Dakota, the daughter of Ira and Georgia (Matthews) Conrad. While living in Mishawaka, before coming to Edwardsburg, she was a school crossing guard for Mishawaka Schools and Edwardsburg Schools, but she mostly loved being a housewife, a mother, and working with her flowers. She came to Edwardsburg in 1971.

Lucille was married Sept. 6, 1958, in Niles, to Deo Earl Jones, who passed away August 27, 2003. She leaves to mourn her loss two daughters, Jean (Lloyd) Huber of Niles and Anita Vickery of Kalamazoo. There are four sons, George W. (Joyce) Kirkendall of Niles, Richard (Linda) Jones of Three Rivers, Robert Jones of Niles and Michael Jones. There are 13 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren. Those who have passed away are her parents, one sister, Flossie Surch, and one brother, Lee Conrad.

Friends may call today from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home, where funeral services will be Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. (Sept. 5, 2006). Officiating will be Mr. Bobby Quinn from Cassopolis. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery of Niles.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

George W. Jones
August 2, 1901-March 25, 1994

George W. Jones, 92, of 1350 Barron Lake Road, Niles, died at 5:32 p.m. Friday, March 25, 1994, in Pawating Hospital after an illness.  Mr. Jones retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 1967 as a clerk.  He was born Aug. 2, 1901, in Berrien County and was a lifelong area resident. On Aug. 19, 1933, in Fort Wayne, he married Dorothy E. Phillips.  She died in February 1990.  Surviving are two daughters, Norma St. Clair of Richland, Mich., and Carol Rigby of Greenwich, Conn.; a son, Randall of Pembroke Pines, Fla.; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.  Mr. Jones was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church and Grand Slam Bridge Club.  He was a graduate of the University of Notre Dame Law School.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the church.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Freda H. Jones
1912-July 29, 1994

Services for Freda H. Jones, 82, of 421 Meade Road, who died at 2:07 p.m. Friday in Pawating Hospital of injuries from an auto accident Friday on U.S. 33 South, will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today in the funeral home. She is survived by her husband, Calvin M. Jones; a daughter, Sue Mansfield of Niles; a son, Morris ''Rock'' of Niles; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Lillie Roebeck and Eda Curtis, both of Niles; and a brother, Roy Christman of Niles.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown