Mst. Sgt. Donald W. Bright, Sr.
May 25, 1937- Jan. 1, 2008

Mst. Sgt. Donald William Bright Sr., US Army retired, 70 of East Bertrand Road, Niles, died at 7:50 a.m. Tuesday, January 1, in the home of his brother following an extended illness.

Mr. Bright was born on May 25, 1937 in south Bend, IN, to Harold W. and Ruth E. (Miltenberger) Bright. He moved from Sanford, FL, to Niles three years ago, Donald was employed for 18 years with the United States Postal Service in Sanford, FL. He retired a as a Master sergeant after 22 years of service from the United States Army. Donald’s service included three tours of duty in Vietnam with the Special Forces as a Green Beret.

Donald attended the First church of God in Niles. He was a member of the American Legion Post #26, Niles and was a service officer.

Mr. Bright is survived by his wife, Glenada Bright of Lewiston, Maine; two sons, Donald W. Bright Jr. of Lewiston, ME and Glenn Bright of North Carolina; a daughter, Donna Sue of North Carolina; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; four brothers, George H. bright of Fort McCoy, FL, Gene w. bright and Brian L. bright, both of Niles and Jack J. Bright of Osceola, IN; and a stepsister, Margaret Husa of Lawrence, MI.

His sister, Mary Jo Kiste who died on March 6, 2007, preceded Donald in death.

Funeral services for Mst. Sgt, Donald William Bright Sr., will be at 11 a.m. Monday January 7, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Rev. Robert E. Jackson of First Church of God, Niles officiating. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. American legion Post #26., will perform full Military Honors following the services at the graveside.

Friends may call from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Eva Briney (Kanous)
April 21, 1892-April 28, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, April 29, 1954, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Eva Briney, 85 Marmont Street, was found dead at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the basement of her home. Death by suicide was ruled by Berrien County coroner Franklyn G. Rice, City Police were called to investigate.

Surviving are her husband, Harry; one son, Harold; four grandchildren and two brothers, Lotis and Milo Kanous of Galien.

Mrs. Briney was born on April 21, 1892, in New Troy, and came here from Buchanan 27 years ago. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and of Modern Woodman of American.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday with the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, presiding. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Harold L. Briney
July 23, 1912-May 24, 1987

Harold Lealand Briney, 74, 1229 Phoenix St., Niles, died at 10:55 p.m. Saturday at St. Joseph’s Medical Center following a long illness.

In 1974 he retired as a machinist with Clark Equipment Co., Buchanan, and was a member of Modern Woodman, the Buchanan moose Lodge Nor 449 and the Berrien Krusers of Good Sam Club. He also belonged to first Presbyterian Church.

Born July 23, 1912 in New Troy, he was a lifelong area resident.

On Nov. 7, 1932 in Paw Paw he married Evelyn M. Burton, who survives.

Also surviving are a son, Harold L. Briney Jr. of Niles; two daughters, Betty Knoll of Niles and Carol Moyer of Las Vegas; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren . a daughter, Mary Lee Briney, died in 1967.

Services are 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, with Rev. Donald E. Nepstad of First Presbyterian Church, Buchanan, officiating. Burial will be at Silverbook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today in the funeral home.

‘Memorial may be made to Berrien County Hospice; the Berrien County Cancer Services of First Presbyterian Church.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Helen Briney
Dec. 14, 1898-Dec 31, 1972

NILES – Mrs. Helen Briney, 74, of 85 Marmont St., died at 6:10 p.m. Sunday in Pawating Hospital.

She was born Dec. 14, 1898, in Dayton, Mich. On Feb. 12, 1972 at Buchanan, she married Harry Briney who survives.

Survivors include two sons, Homer Zinninger of Buchanan and Richard Zinninger of Miami, FL; three daughters, Mrs. Ruby Reynolds of Niles, Mrs. Shirley Weaver of Buchanan and Mrs. Betty Arend of South Bend; two stepsons, Harold Briney of Niles and Kenneth Zinninger of Buchanan; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Ruth Sherman of Pierceton; 19 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Joe Johnson of the First church of Christ Christian officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the heart fund.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Robert Damon Briney
April 21, 1957-May 21, 1993

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, May 22, 1993, page 2, col. 4-6, microfilm Niles District Library

Robert Damon Briney
1957-1883
Former Community
Substance Abuse Services
employee in Allegan

Graveside funeral services for Robert Damon Briney, 36, 1615 N. Fifth St., Niles, are scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Silverbrook Cemetery, with the Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg Officiating.

Briney died at 1:25 p.m. Thursday in his mother’s residence in Niles, follow a brief illness.

Born April 21, 1957, in Niles, he was a lifetime area resident.

He was a former employee of Community Substance Abuse Services Inc. of Allegan. He attended San Francisco State University and the El Torro Marine Corps Training School in El Torro, Calif. He was a graduate of State Technical Institute in Plainwell.

Survivors include his mother, Georgie Perkins of Niles; four sisters, Katherine Briney of Niles, Rebecca Lidecker of Constantine, Mich., Rhonda Briney of Niles and Joyce Perkins of Niles; three brothers, Roger Briney of Front Royal, Va., Randy Briney of Edwardsburg and Cy Perkins of Niles; and a close friend, Edward L. Bryan of Stamford, Conn. He was preceded in death by his father, Lester Briney.

Friends may cal from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday in Halbritter Funeral Home

Memorials contributions may be made to Hospice at home.

Celestia M. Burge
1838-Feb. 28, 1914

Mrs. John Y. Burge was an old resident.

Died this morning, leaving two sons and two daughters.

One of the oldest residents of this city, having resided her 50 years, Mrs. John Y. Burge, died at 8:40 o’clock this morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. David Billett, 214 North Second Street. She had been seriously ill for two weeks, the cause of her demise being a general breakdown.

Mrs. Burge was born in Maryland, 72 years ago, and was married in Darke county, Ohio, in 1854. Together with her husband they came to Niles in 1862, where he followed the business of building mover. The husband passed away but a short time ago. She had many friends and was indeed an excellent woman. She was a member of the Relief corps of Frank Graves Post No. 47.

The daughters and sons are Mrs. U.C. Albright of Union City, In, and Mrs. David Billet of Niles; the sons are Wm. E. and W.S. Burge of this city.

Her home was at 1198 Sycamore Street, from which place the funeral will be held, probably Tuesday afternoon although the exact date cannot be stated at this time.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown