Obituaries

Edna L. Gray
Oct. 8, 1904-Aug. 21, 2000

Edna L. Gray, 95, and a former resident of Niles, Mich., died following a brief illness at 4:59 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 21,  2000, in Laurels of Norworth, Worthington, Ohio.

She was born on Oct. 8, 1904, in LaPorte, Ind., to Charles and Dora (Fickweiler) Neblung, and had lived in Niles since 1937, coming from Buchanan, Mich.

Mrs. Gray retired in 1970 after 26 years of employment with J.C. Penney in Niles. She was a member of Saint Paul's Lutheran Church in Niles, the Niles Senior Center, Pawating Hospital Auxiliary, and the Brandywine Home Economics Club.

On July 21, 1923, in LaPorte, she married James E. Gray, a retired captain of the Niles City Police Department. He preceded her in death on April 28, 1981. She was also preceded in death by three sisters and four brothers.

She is survived by three daughters, Lorraine Jurgensen of Worthington, Janice Zimmerman of Charlottesville, Va., and Cleo Wade of Billings, Mont.; 12 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; and by her sister, Florence Hoppe of Blue Island, Ill.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 25, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Reverend Dan Woodring, associate pastor of Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24, in the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Contributions in memory of Edna L. Gary may be made to the Ladies Aide of Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Niles; or to Hospice at Riverside and Grant, 3595 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, OH 43214.

Howard A. Grant
Sept. 25, 1924-April 20, 1994

Howard A. Grant, 69, of 2710 Horton Court, Niles, died at 7 p.m. Wednesday April 20, 1994, in his home. Mr. Grant was an assistant vice president of Associates Commercial Corp., Chicago. He was born Sept. 25, 1924, in Oak Park, Ill., and was a lifelong resident of the Niles area. Surviving are two daughters, Christine Holmes and Lisa Grant, both of Niles; four grandchildren; and a sister, Carol Grant of New York City. Mr. Grant published three books on cinema and had an extensive motion picture collection. He worked as a movie theater projectionist in several area theaters. He was a Navy and Army veteran of World War II.

Services will be announced later. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Halbritter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the Niles Community Library or Cass District Library.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Mary Lucille Graham
May 14, 1934-June 5, 2002

Mary Lucille Graham, 68, of 2326 Floral Drive, Niles, Mich., entered into rest on Wednesday, June 5,  2002, in the Lakeland Hospital, Niles.

Mrs. Graham was born on May 14, 1934, in Niles, to Raymond and Martha Morris. She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Michael "Buddy" Graham; a brother, Richard Morris; and by a sister, June Staniford.

Mary had lived in Niles since 1949, coming from Glastonbury, Conn. She retired as outreach director in 1984 from Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles where she was a member.

She married Edward F. Graham of Niles on Sept. 5, 1953, in Niles. He survives. She is also survived by a son, Douglas F. Graham of Niles; a daughter, Martha "Marti" Shissler of Albion, Mich.; three brothers, Ray Morris of Port Charlotte, Fla., George Morris of San Antonio, Texas, and Lee Morris of Niles; and by five sisters, Jo Ericson of Lakewood, Colo., Norma Arnold of South Bend, Ind., and Marge Sherwood, Marie Wentland and Lena Young, all of Niles; and by her stepmother, Phyllis Morris of Niles. She leaves four grandchildren, Adam and Ryan Shissler, Mandy Chaney and Buddy Ewert.

A memorial service will be held in Wesley Methodist Church, Niles, at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 10, with Reverend Emmett Kadwell officiating. Interment will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Memorials may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church.

Arrangements entrusted to the Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, Mich.

Edward Graham
Feb. 16, 1930-Sept. 10, 2006

Edward Frank Graham, 76, of 2326 Floral Drive, Niles, Michigan, died of natural causes at 6:59 a.m. Sunday, September 10, 2006, in Hospice House of St. Joseph County, South Bend, Ind.

He was born on February 16, 1930, in Niles, Michigan, to the late Daniel and Gladys Graham. On September 5, 1963, in Niles, Michigan, he married Mary Lucille Morris, who preceded him in death on June 5, 2002. He was also preceded in death by a son, Michael Edward Graham in 1982; two brothers, Daniel and John Graham; and by a sister, Dorothy Olinghouse.

He was a lifetime resident of Niles, a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, and a U.S. Navy veteran. He enjoyed shuffleboard, bowling, volleyball, watching people and listening to music at Riverfront Park.

He is survived by a son, Douglas F. Graham of Niles; a daughter, Martha I. (Richard) Bean of Albion, Mich.; two grandchildren, Adam and Ryan Shissler; special friends, Paul and Cathy Hein, and daughters, Elizabeth and Loren; his mother-in-law, Phyllis Morris; brothers-in-law, Chuck Olinghouse, Ray (Sandy) Morris, George (Janet) Morris and Lee Morris; and sisters-in-law, Mary Ann Graham, Norma (Don) Arnold, Margie (Gene) Sherwood and Lena (Dale) Young; and by several nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, 2006, in Wesley United Methodist Church, with Rev. Emmett H. Radwell Jr. officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. There will be no visitation.

Memorials may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, Niles.

Larry E. Goodwin
Jan. 24, 1929-Feb. 26, 1996

Larry E. Goodwin, 67, of 3140 Center Drive, Buchanan, died of natural causes at 12:40 a.m. Monday Feb. 26, 1996, in his home. Mr. Goodwin was a salesman and regional manager at Mederith Corp. He was born Jan. 24, 1929, in Omaha, Neb., and had lived in the Buchanan area since 1978, coming from Elgin, Ill. On Nov. 24, 1965, in Leeds, S.C., he married Virginia R. Snyder. She died May 25, 1988. On Dec. 3, 1988, in Buchanan, he married Mary ''Midge'' Moore. She survives with three daughters, Janice Lamere of Nashwauk, Minn., Linda Cyrus of Brooklyn Park, Minn., and Ronda Adams of Buchanan; five sons, Richard Goodwin of Orlando, Fla., John Thorpe of Brooklyn Park, Ronald Goodwin of Green Forest, Ark., Charles Cauffman of Sparta, Tenn., and Dan Cauffman of Niles; 29 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a brother, William of Pueblo, Colo. He was a member of Bethel Apostolic Tabernacle.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday in the church. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Friends may call from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in Hoven Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the church.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Donald A. Goodling
Aug. 14, 1919-Aug. 12, 2002

Donald Arthur Goodling, 82, of Englewood, Fla., formerly of Frantz Drive, Niles, Mich., died at 5:20 a.m. Monday, Aug. 12,  2002, in Englewood Community Hospital.

He was born on Aug. 14, 1919, in Niles, to Mary (Melz) and Norman Goodling, who preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Williedean Boettcher.

He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War II, and retired in 1986 after 40 years as an aeronautical engineer with the Bendix Corporation. He was a member of the Englewood United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Donnabelle (Shock) Goodling; a son, Norman W. (Judith) Goodling of Kalamazoo, Mich.; three grandchildren, Juli (Matthew) Seiferlein, Donald (Michelle) Goodling and Arick (Nancy) Goodling; and by five great-grandchildren, Zachary, Mattason, MacKenzie, Mason and Andrew.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, with Dr. Ronald Wakeman officiating. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16, in the Pifer-SMITH Funeral Home, Niles.

Memorials may be made to the charity of donor's choice.