Livonia: Formerly of West Bloomfield. Went to be with our LORD on Thursday, March 24, 2011 at age 71. Born to Harry Niles Jr. and Lillian Belle Margeson on November 23, 1939. Survived by his wife Arlene Renee’, his children Richard (Michelle) Niles, Julie LaBore (Jeff Grosso), Cheryl and Cynthia Niles. Stepchildren Christine (Jim) Pooler, Michael Connor, Scott (Tami Jo) Connor, Kevin (Kathy) Connor, Joe (Sarah) Connor; as well many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews and many other loving family members.

“Bear”, a student at Bloomfield Central School District had many friends and in 1956 left school and enlisted in the United States Army. After nine months of service; he was honorably discharged due to a back injury.

Proceeding though is joyful life; he became a father to his son Richard. Bear worked with many businesses around the West Bloomfield, Lima and Honeoye Falls area. Owning several of his own businesses, he owned and operated Speed Equipment World and Bears Auto Enterprise in West Bloomfield, where he lived with his wife (at the time) Catherine and their three daughters; Julie Marie, Cheryl Lyn and Cynthia Jane. Over the years he loved to build and race stock cars, ran his own auto body shop and still found time to be a loving father. After a marital separation, Bear raised his children the best way he knew how, with patience and love.

Bear loved all his family and friends. In his body shop is where many of the children from the town learned about cars. It was uncommon to see the auto shop empty. These children of the neighborhood looked up to him as a mentor and he took many of them under his wing, like they were his own children. Till the day he went to be with the LORD, he spoke often those children and how he was so happy to have had the chance and the knowledge to teach them what he knew.

After many years, on December 31, 1991, he married Arlene Renee’ and with accepting her into his life, he also accepted all of her children. Christine, Michael, Scott, Kevin and Joe. Naturally, becoming a father of 9 was overwhelming, but he did the best he could. Sure there was frustration and arguments, but at the end of the day Bear loved his stepchildren as they were his own.

Bear, along with Arlene moved to Florida in 1992 to care for his sick father. After 18 years of being in the south he returned to NY with his “bride” to be with his children and their spouses, along with all the loving family member that have the pleasure and honor of being in his life.

Finding home in Livonia, he lived with his wife, his “other children”, Molly, Scooter and Coco. He loved to work outdoors in the garden and if you made a surprise visit to his house you would probably catch him out in the barn, pulling weeds or riding his tractor.

There were so many people in Bears life; he was a loving and funny man. If you were sad he would try his best to cheer you up. His jokes were “his own” and his sense of humor, although some times dry, would still make you laugh, because you knew “that’s Bear” or you would shake your head and say “That’s my dad”.

After an unexpected illness, Harry “Bear” Niles went to his final resting place, with our LORD and Savior. Holding his family and friends as close to his heart as he could, he left us with nothing but great memories of a man that will be greatly missed and as he would always say we were “to blessed to be depressed”

PSALM 91: He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Friends may call Wednesday, March 30 11AM-1PM & 6-8PM at Kevin W. Dougherty Funeral Home, Inc. Routes 15 & 20A, 21 Big Tree St. Livonia where a memorial service will follow at 8PM. To send condolences or to share a memory, please visit:
www.doughertyfuneralhomes.com