10/11/2007

Notification of Death - Mary Louise Chiles

October 8, 2007

OFDA received word this morning that Mary Louise Chiles, 92, died October 8, 2007. She was born Sept. 24, 1915, in Lima to John S. and Lucy Fern Bonham Allgier, who preceded her in death. On March 28, 1937, Easter Sunday, she married Russell M. Chiles, who died Sept.6, 1990.

Mrs. Chiles was the last of the second generation of the Chiles-Laman Funeral Homes, where she was an organist for all of the chapels. She was also an accomplished organist for several of the Lima churches, including St. Luke Lutheran Church and Calvary United Church of Christ. She was a member of First Baptist Church since 1927, where she played the piano for all the music programs from the late 1920s until she started playing the organ for church services. She was also a substitute organist for other churches in Lima. She had been a member of the Junior Etude Club, while in high school, and a member of the Etude Club. She was a 1933 graduate of Lima Central High School. Following graduation, she went to work at City Loan & Savings. She had been a member of the Hammond Organ Society and the Kiwanians.

Survivors include a son, James "Jim" (Betsy) Chiles; two daughters, Nancy Chiles Davenport, and Peggy Chiles Clemans; seven granddaughters, Debra (Jim Dove) Collier, Pamela (Corey Houseworth) Davenport, Bethany (Scott) Torbet, Lynda (Brent) Rice, Catherine (David) Fisher, Barbara (Roy) Terwilliger and Stephanie (Philip) Beauvais; 17 great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; and a sister-in-law, Donna Allgier, of Springfield. She was preceded in death by a brother, John W. "Jack" Allgier; and a grandson, Thomas C. Myers.

Services will begin at 1:00 PM Friday, October 12, 2007 at Chiles-Laman Funeral Homes, Shawnee Chapel. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. Friends may call from 4:00 8:00 PM today at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Rita's Hospice, 959 W. North Street, Lima, OH 45805. Condolences may be expressed at www.chiles-lamanfh.com .