Muskogee County Funeral Homes

Submitted by: Sue Tolbert

© Sue Tolbert

The first "funeral homes" were the actual home or business of the local undertaker. Since the undertaker's business was not dependable or constant, they usually had an additional profession. Caskets, if not made by a family member were usually made by the local furniture and cabinet maker. The Muskogee City Directory for 1903 lists C. W. "Charlie" Moore and Rhien and Dorsey as local undertakers. In 1904, G. H. Bloom and John H. Doyle and Company are listed.

The earliest funeral home records that have survived are those of the George H. Bloom company which was in business from 1903 until 1918. Other early funeral homes with surviving records are: Doyle and Company: 1904, O. H. Farley and Company: 1906-1909, and Eaton and Bacon: 1912-1913.

In 1918 George H. Bloom sold his business to Mr.Spencer. In 1919, Spencer took Mr. Williams as a partner and then sold the business to him in 1920. Williams took Guipel as a partner in 1924 and then sold the business to him in 1926. Mr. Guipel ran the business by himself until he took Mr. Thornton as a partner in 1940 and then sold to him the same year. In 1944, Mr. Thornton sold to Mr. Agent. In 1957, Mr. Agent became a partner to Mr. Bradley and they remained partners until 1962 when Mr. Agent sold the business to him. Bradley Funeral Home is still an active service in Muskogee.

Other early funeral homes were: Street Furniture Company: 1903-1911, Street-Eicholtz: 1911-1930, Eicholtz: 1930-1945 and Hunter: 1945-1950. Mr. Hunter sold to Mr. Bradley in 1950.

Mr. Wood opened his funeral business in 1948 and then sold to Walker-Neargarden the same year. In 1950, Mr. Walker bought out Mr. Neargarden and then in 1952 sold the business to the Royal Casket Company.

Mr. Prall ran another early funeral service from 1904-1912. Jobe-McCarley bought his business in 1912. In 1916, Mr. Job He bought out McCarley and in 1920, Mr. Petering bought out Mr. Jobe. Petering took Mr. Lescher as a partner in 1920. In 1927, Mr. Lescher parted from Petering and moved to his present location at 611 W. Okmulgee. Mr. Petering had other partners: Furry in 1927 and Cromer in 1928. Petering has been at the present location since 1928. In 1971 he sold to Foster and the name became Foster-Petering.

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