Obituaries

Levi L. Batchelor
Nov. 5, 1857 – Nov. 1, 1929

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Friday, November 1, 1929, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Levi L. Batchelor, 72, died this morning about 4 o’clock at his home east Niles in Howard township, after being sick for about five years.  Mr. Batchelor was born in Michigan on Nov. 5, 1857, and had spent practically his entire life in this vicinity.  He was a farmer until his health failed.  Mr. Batchelor is survived by a widow who was formerly Miss Ella Blanchard and it is on the old Blanchard homestead that Mr. and Mrs. Batchelor have made their home.  Besides the widow, Mr. Batchelor is survived by a daughter, Mrs. William Chapman, of Niles; one granddaughter and a brother, Lafayette Batchelor, of Toledo, Ohio. The funeral services will be held on Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock in the Troost and Augustine chapel.  The Rev. Stanley Collins, retired Baptist minister, will officiate.  Burial will be made at Silver Brook Cemetery. 

 

Monte E. Bauer
Sept. 9, 1924 - Sept. 18, 2000

Monte E. Bauer, 76, of Sheridan Avenue, Niles, Mich., died following a brief illness at 9:47 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 18, in Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph, Mich.

He was born on Sept. 9, 1924 in North Liberty, Ind., to Frank B. and Ruth (Hardy) Bauer and was a lifetime area resident.

Mr. Bauer was a retired Terminal Manager for Refiner's Transport in Niles, and was a former barber at the Miami Street Barber Shop in South Bend.

He was a graduate of the Class of 1942 at Niles High School and served as the Treasurer for the Reunion Committee. Mr. Bauer was a Veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army and was a member of B.P.O. of Niles Elks Lodge #1322.

He loved his family and enjoyed oriental gardens and bird watching.

On June 23, 1962 in Niles, he married the former Judith Timm, who survives. He is also survived by their children, Janell Bauer of Niles and Blake (Cheryl) Bauer of South Bend; and by his sister, Susanne (Bob) Sheeler of Niles.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Reverend William T. Melody of Notre Dame, Ind. officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. today, Sept. 20, in the funeral home, where the Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m.

Contributions in memory of Monte E. Bauer may be made to River Front Park, c/o Niles Parks and Recreation Board.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Blanche A. Bay
Oct. 6, 1898 – Nov. 28, 1971

NILES – Mrs. Blanche A. Bay, 73, of 2604 US_31 North, died at 9:30 a.m. Sunday in Pawating Hospital after an illness of several months.

Born Oct. 6, 1898, in Crumstown, IN, Mrs. Bay had lived a lifetime in this area. Her husband, Henry T. survives.

Additional survivors include a sister, Mrs. Mabel Rupert of Pinellas Park, FL, and five grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rt. Rev. Msgr. John D. Slowey of St. Mary’s Catholic Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call beginning Tuesday at the funeral home.

Published Niles Daily Star Nov. 29, 1971

Ruth Bayles
July 4, 1920 - Aug. 22, 1999

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 23, 1999, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Ruth Gassner Bayles, 79, formerly of South State Street, Niles, are Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by Order of Eastern Star of Niles Chapter No. 332.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Bayles died Sunday at 6:58 a.m. at Lakeland Specialty Hospital, Berrien Center, following an extended illness.

She was born July 4, 1920, in Chicago, Ill.  On Nov. 15, 1942, in South Bend, Ind. she married Alden Bayles, who preceded her in death on Oct. 25, 1968.  Bayles was a Worthy Matron of Eastern Star Niles Chapter No. 332 and Secretary for 16 years. She was former president of Berrien County Association of Order of Eastern Star.

Survivors include three sons, Don (Elaine) Bayles of Niles, Lorin (Roni) Bayles of Kalamazoo and Gary (Darlene) Bayles of Scottsdale, Ariz.; nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren; two brothers, Irving Grassner of Chicago and Dave Grassner of Eltoro, Calif.

Friends may call from 12:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, August 26, 1999, page 2, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Ruth Gassner Bayles, 79, formerly of South State Street, Niles, were Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by Order of Eastern Star of Niles Chapter No. 3332.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Bayles died Sunday at 6:58 a.m. at Lakeland Specialty Hospital, Berrien Center, following an extended illness.

She was born July 4, 1920, in Chicago, and had lived in Niles since 1942.

On Nov. 15, 1942, in South Bend, Ind. she married Alden Bayles, who preceded her in death on Oct. 25, 1968.

Bayles was a Worthy Matron of Eastern Star Niles Chapter No. 332 and Secretary for 16 years. She was former president of Berrien County Association of Order of Eastern Star.

Bayles was a former employee of the Harvey Stores Inc. and Parmalees Department Store.

Survivors include three sons, Don (Elaine) Bayles of Niles, Lorin (Roni) Bayles of Kalamazoo and Gary (Darlene) Bayles of Scottsdale, Ariz.; nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren; two brothers, Irving Gassner of Chicago and Dave Gassner of Eltoro, Calif.

She was also preceded in death by a sister, Sylvia Shapiro and brother, Hymen Gassner.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alden and Ruth Bayles Memorial Educational Trust or Eastern Star Scholarship Fund.

 

and

NILES - Ruth (Gassner) Bayles, 79, of Lakeland Specialty Hospital, Berrien Center, formerly of Niles, died Sunday in the hospital after an illness. Survivors include three sons, Don of Niles, Lorin of Kalamazoo and Gary of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and two brothers, Irvin Gassner of Chicago, and Dave Gassner of El Toro, Calif. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in Halbritter Funeral Home, where friends may call two hours before services.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

William Beall
1864-May 30, 1926

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 1, 1926, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH CLAIMS THREE FORMER NILES RESIDENTS

 

During the week-end three former Niles residents died in distant cities. In each case plans were made for bringing the bodies to Niles for burial.

Charles Richardson, a son of Dr. and Mrs. J.D. Richardson, deceased, died on Saturday in Grand Rapids. The body was brought to Niles this afternoon and was taken directley to Silver Brook cemetery where burial took place in the family lot. Rev. James E. Wilkinson conducted the committal service. Mr. Richardson is survived by a widow who accompanied the body to Niles; and by a brother, William L. Richardson, of Chicago, who is at present in California, and by a sister, Mrs. Eugene Cook, of Kalamazoo, who is visiting at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Walter Parkin.  A nephew, and another neice[sic] reside in Chicago.

William Beall

The body of William Beall was brought to Niles today from Houston, Texas, where he died on Sunday, and was taken to the Troost and Augustine undertaking rooms. The funeral services will be held there Wednesday.  A telegram announcing his death was received this morning by W.R. Wills.

Mr. Beall was a son of Mr. and Mrs. S.S. Beall, prominent pioneer residents of Niles, both now deceased. Mr. Bealll, who is better remembered in Niles as "Bud" Beall, has resided in Houston for a number of years. He had been in ill-health for two years. He was about 65 years of age.  He is survived by a widow, who accompanied the body to Niles, and by three sons. Selby Wills, of Niles, is a nephew of the deceased.

Mrs. William Levering

Mrs. Catherine Mann Levering, wife of William Levering, formerly of Niles, died on Friday at Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the family had resided for three years leaving Niles for Albuquerque in the hope of benefitting her health. The body will be brought to Niles for burial although the exact time is not known today.  Mrs. Levering was a daughter of James and Cora Mann, of Niles, who survive her, as do two sisters, three brothers and two children.

Bessie Beall
April 4, 1882 – Dec. 15, 1971

NILES – Mrs. Bessie Beall, 89, of 214 N. Seventh St., died at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday in Pawating Hospital, where she was admitted Tuesday evening.

Born April 4, 1882 in Niles, Mrs. Beall had lived her all her life. Her husband, George,  died a number of years ago.

Mrs. Beall was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Robert Trenery of Wesley United Methodist Church and the Rev. Arlan Schlundt of St. John’s United Church of Christ o officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home tonight.

Published  Niles Daily Star, Dec. 16, 1971