Samuel G. Creden
Oct. 28, 1907-March 11, 1995

Samuel G. Creden, 87, of Houston, formerly of Niles, died March 11, 1995, in his home following an illness. Mr. Creden was president of the First National Bank of Southwestern Michigan from 1956 to 1972. He was born Oct. 28, 1907. On Feb. 24, 1934, in Evanston, Ill., he married Edith Bullen. She died Dec. 10, 1981. Surviving are a son, John T. of Houston; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was a former member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Niles, served on the boards of directors of National-Standard Co., French Paper Co., and Fernwood Botanic Garden, and was a past president of the Pickwick Club and Signal Point Club.

Private family services will be held. 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 Assistance League of Bay Area or Fernwood Botanic Garden.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Perry Roger Covington
Feb. 28, 1936-Feb. 4, 2004

Perry Roger Covington, 67, of 1025 Bame Ave., died at 9:38 p.m. Friday. Feb, 4. 2004. in St. Joseph's Medical Center, South Bend, after an illness. Mr. Covington retired from B & L Inn after 23 years of service as a cook. He was born Feb. 28, 1936, in Bald Knob, Ark., and lived Niles most of his life. On Sept. 2, 1955, in St. Joseph, he married Eleanor Louise Regenos. She survives with four daughters, Sherry Covington, Katherine Covington and Deborah Hart, all of Niles, and Pamela Fisher of South Bend; two sons, Terry and William, both of Niles; 13 grandchildren; three sisters, Shirley Covington of Niles, and Drucilla Hudspeth and Melanie Billingsley, both of Clarksdale, Miss.; and four brothers, Roy Bacher of Jackson, N.C., Ray Bacher of Arlington, Texas, John Covington of Salt Lake City, and his twin, Jerry of Columbus, Ga. He was a veteran of the Korean War.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to American Diabetes Association.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Roy E. Cousins
Feb. 10, 1908-Jan. 6, 1996

Roy E. Cousins, 87, of 911 S. Third St., died at 9:28 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, 1996,  in Silverbrook Manor after an illness. Mr. Cousins was retired from Lindley Box Co., Marion, Ind. He was born Feb. 10, 1908, in Marion and had resided in Niles for 10 years, coming from Georgia. In 1928, in Marion, he married Arthushia Rigdon. She survives with three daughters, Betty Cass of Niles, Barbara Courtney of Piedmont, S.C., and Shirley Dockery of Fort Wayne; a son, James of Huntington, Ind.; 23 grandchildren; and 31 great-grandchildren.

Private services will be at Halbritter Funeral Home. There will be no visitation. Memorial contributions may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Lee B. Cousins
February 20, 1911-December 12, 2005

Lee B. Cousins, 94, formerly of Old Sauk Trail, Niles, Michigan, died of a brief illness at 9:30 p.m. Monday, December 12, 2005, in Buchanan Meadows.

Mr. Cousins was born on February 20, 1911, in Grafton, Ohio, to Elmer C. and Ethel L. (Bowman) Cousins. He moved to this area in 1913, coming from Ohio. In 1972 he retired as senior vice president of First National Bank of Southwestern Michigan. A veteran of World War II, Mr. Cousins served in the U.S. Army until his discharge in November 1945. He then returned to Niles.

He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles. Active in civic affairs, he was a past-president of both the Niles-Buchanan Rotary Club and the United Way of Greater Niles. Lee was a longtime member as well as a life member of the Niles Elks Lodge #1322 B.P.O.E. He also was a member of Fernwood Botanic Garden and Nature Center.

On December 30, 1933, in Three Oaks, Michigan, he was married to Jane E. Olson, who preceded him in death on December 24, 1998.

Surviving family include his sons, Dean L. Cousins of Milford, Indiana, and James A. Cousins of Buchanan. Three grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, as well as his sister, Joy Newman of Seattle, Washington, additionally survive.

Funeral services for Lee B. Cousins will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 17, 2005, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, with Rev. Emmett H. Kadwell, Jr. officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery. There will be no visitation.

Contributions in memory of Mr. Cousins may be made to the Niles-Buchanan Y.M.C.A. Building Fund

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Robert "Cope" Coplen
June 18, 1928-March 28, 1996

Services for Robert A. ''Cope'' Coplen, 67, of 1441 Oak Sauk Trail, who died at 8:55 p.m. Thursday, March 28, 1996,  in his home after an illness, will be at 10 a.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. Sunday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Michigan Heart Association or Hospice at Home.

Mr. Coplen retired from Marathon Oil Co. He was born June 18, 1928, in Argos and moved here in 1946 from Mishawaka. He married Mary Lee Marlin. She survives with a daughter, Lettie Ann Marquis of Niles; two sons, Pat of Niles and Michael of South Bend; three grandsons, two step-grandchildren; a stepsister, Janet Weisenberger of Vincennes, Ind.; and a stepbrother, John Nihiser of Houston. He was a member of St. Joseph Valley Lodge 4 F & AM, Shrine Club and Scottish Rite, BPO of Niles, Elks Lodge 1322, American Legion, American Veterans and Niles Fraternal Order of Police. He was a World War II Navy veteran.

Leslie Lee Cook
April 9, 1948-Nov. 4, 1994

Leslie Lee Cook, 46, of 1535 Hickory St., died at 4:50 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, 1994,  in her home after an illness. Mrs. Cook was employed at Rana's Hair Fashions. She was born April 9, 1948, in South Haven, Mich., and lived in Niles most of her life. Surviving are a daughter, Tracee Cook of Niles; a sister, Jami Vandern Bossche of North Liberty; and a brother, Donald Starke of Bremen. She was a member of Michiana Bicycle Association and Niles Racquet Club, and attended Southwestern Michigan College.

Services will be at 11 a.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. Sunday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice At Home.