Francis L. Gillette
Feb. 28, 1893-Aug. 7, 1964

Francis LaRue “Prunie” Gillette, 71, of 2390 US-12 West, died at 1:30 pm. Friday, August 7, 1964, in his home. He had been ill eight months.  Mr. Gillette as farmer was born Feb. 28, 1893 in Berrien Springs and was a lifetime resident of the area. Survivors include his wife, Margaret Wyant; two sons, Dale and Dwight; a daughter, Mrs. Duane Masteri; and two brothers, Dr. Clarence and Charles Gillette, all of Niles and seven grandchildren. He was a member of the First Baptist church. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in the Halbritter-Swem funeral Home. The Rev. Earl J. Wickstrom, pastor of his church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends will be received at the family residence beginning this evening.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Dale H. Gillette
May 19, 1918-Nov. 13, 1997

Dale H. Gillette, 79, of 2405 Chicago Road, Niles, died Thursday [Nov. 13, 1997], in Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph.  He was born May 19, 1918. Survivors include two daughters, Diana L. Warnke of Michigan City and Joanne Gillette of Grand Rapids; a son, Marc of Niles; and a brother, Dwight of Berrien Springs. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Halbritter Funeral Home, where friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Dr. Clarence Gillette
June 28, 1885-April 17, 1971

Dr. Clarence Gillette, 85, of 1855 Chicago Road, Niles, died at 5:38 p.m. Saturday (April 17, 1971) in Pawating Hospital, after an extended illness. A well known physician and surgeon, Dr. Gillette also was a prominent figure at First Federal Saving and Loan Assn., where he served as a member of the board of directors from 1935 to 1968, as board president from 1935 to 1955, as board chairman from 1955 to 1958, and was elected director emeritus in 1968.

He served on the medical staff of Pawating Hospital from 1927 to 1935.  A 1907 University of Michigan graduate, Dr. Gillette served on the staff of the University hospital in 1908 and 1909.  He served for 15 years at Bronson and Borgess hospitals in Kalamazoo before deciding to retire to a farm in Niles in 1925.  In 1927, he came out of retirement and began serving at Pawating. 

Dr. Gillette was born June 28, 1885, in Bertrand Township. On Dec. 1, 1921 in Niles, he married the former Ruth Wells, who survives.  Also surviving are two sons, John W. and James C. both of Niles; a daughter, Mrs. Ray Wiersema of Grand Haven; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.  Funeral services will be held t 2 p.m. Tuesday in the First Baptist Church of Niles, with the Rev. Ray Cummingham officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Friends may call from 7 to 9 tonight in the Pifer Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to Pawating Hospital or the First Baptist church.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Charles Gillette
June 14, 1884-Sept. 12, 1967

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, Sept. 14, 1967, page 2, col. 6-7, microfilm Niles District Library

Former Bertrand Township supervisor Charles Gillette, 83, of 1815 Portage St. died Wednesday at 12:30, Wednesday, in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, after being a patient there for one day.

A retired farmer, Mr. Gillette was born in Bertrand Township, June 14 1884.  He was a life-time resident of this area.  He is survived by two sons, Joel of Niles and Samuel of Bhongir, India; two sisters, Mrs. Rachel Lidgate of Sunnyvale, Calif. and Mrs. Ida Wisner of Grand Haven; fourteen grandchildren; and a brother, Dr. Clarence Gillette of Niles.

Funeral services will be Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. Roy Cunningham of the First Baptist Church of which he was a member officiating.

Mr. Gillette was a member of the St. Joe Valley F.  A.M. Lodge 4.

Graveside services will be in the Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends are being received at Pifer Funeral Home.

Anna Gillette 
Feb. 12, 1888-Feb. 9, 1929

Mrs. Charles Gillette passes away after a week of pneumonia.

Mrs. Anna Messenger Gillette, wife of Charles Gillette, Bertrand township farmer, died this morning Feb. 9, 1929, at 2:10 in Pawating hospital of pneumonia.  Mrs. Gillette became ill late Sunday and since she was first stricken she had been in a dangerous condition. She was taken to the hospital last Wednesday. Her little son, Joel, was taken to the hospital on Monday, also a victim of pneumonia, and while deep concern and also been felt about his yet his condition today showed a slight improvement. 

Mrs. Gillette was born on the Messenger farm in Bertrand Township on Feb. 12, 1888, a daughter of Schuyler and Eva Messenger.  She attended the Niles public schools and after being graduated from the Niles high school she attended the Western State Normal College in Kalamazoo and prepared herself to teach.  After several years of teaching in the rural schools she entered the South Bend Commercial College and after fitting herself for the position of a stenographer she went to Bismarck, ND and was employed in the state capital building as a stenographer and private secretary.  Seven years ago she was married to Charles Gillette, a son of Joel H. Gillette, who died on December 21, 1928 and Ida Gillette, who is now in Florida.  Their marriage united two prominent pioneer families of Berrien County. Mr. and Mrs. Gillette made their home on part of what was the Joel H. Gillette Homestead in Bertrand Township.  Four children, born to them survive their mother. They are Rachel, age six, Joel, Samuel and Ida May, the latter six months. Besides the husband and children. Mrs. Gillette is survived by her mother, Mrs. Eva Messenger, and the following brothers and sisters, Arthur who is in the American Legion Hospital in Camp Custer, Simons, William and Miss Eva, who are at home in Bertrand township. Mrs. Clinton Sweisberger of Niles and Mrs. William Champion of Ann Arbor,

LaRue Messenger post of the American Legion is named for a brother who lost his life overseas during the world war and whose body was brought back to Niles and buried with military honors.  Mrs. Gillette was a member of the Ladies Historical Society and of the Niles Musical club and in each club she was regarded as a valuable member as she made her contributions by work and attendance at the meetings. She was a member of the First Presbyterian church.  Mrs. Gillette represented a splendid type of womanhood and motherhood and sympathy spreads throughout the community for the family who are suddenly plunged into this deep sorrow.  The funeral services will be held in the home on Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock. The Rev. G. W. Simon pastor of the Presbyterian Church will officiate.  Burial will be in Silver Brook Cemetery.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Thelma J. Gilbert
March 23, 1908-Dec. 11, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 12, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Thelma J. Gilbert, 39, died at 10 a.m. Thursday in Pawating hospital after an illness of three weeks. She was the wife of L.E. Gilbert, 631 Vann street.

Services will be conducted at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the Pifer funeral home with the Rev. G.A. Steeby, pastor of the First Evangelical United Brethren church, officiating.  Interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Surviving are a son, James Rife with the army in North Carolina; four step children, Norman, LeRoy and Donald Gilbert, and Mrs. Buelah Albrecht, all of Niles; a brother, James Larber, Chicago; two sisters, Mrs. Murrell Ellison, Chicago; and Mrs. Lillian Purness, Dailey.

Mrs. Gilbert was born March 23, 1908 in Evansville, Ind. She has lived in Niles 10 years.