McDaniel Funeral Home in Kennett plans new facility

Jeff Dorris

jdorris@dddnews.com

McDaniel Funeral Service, a staple in the area for over 100 years, is getting an upgrade. The funeral home is planning a new facility for its Kennett location. The new facility will have many upgrades as well as additions, and will be directly behind the current funeral home.

The main funeral home building was constructed in the 1950s, while the chapel was built in the 1970s.

“These buildings have served the community well,” said current owner, Corky Dalton. “While the facility has offered a place of comfort to hold services remembering loved ones, the time has come for an upgrade.”

Corky and Eleanor Dalton of Kennett purchased McDaniel Funeral Service in January 2016.

The Daltons began improvements to the funeral home immediately, starting with enhancing the sound system, purchasing a new piano, and adding video services.

The Daltons then proceeded with plans for the new facility.

Dalton explains, “It was our intent, from the time we purchased the business, to replace the existing structure with one that reflects the changing needs and desires of the public.”

The new funeral home with all its modern upgrades will still retain the essential role of caring for families in Dunklin County and the surrounding area.

The owners and staff of McDaniel Funeral Service designed the new funeral home, with Virgil (Sonny) Ashley of Ashley Design & Consulting, LLC, of Jonesboro, formerly of Manila, and Architect Larry Nelson of Springfield also involved in the endeavor.

The new funeral home will have many new additions, one of which co-owner Eleanor Dalton describes, “The new chapel will be very similar to the current one, with the exception of one impressive addition which we feel will lend comfort to those attending a service. We located a beautiful, century old 9 feet x 16 feet stained glass window, which came from a church in the Midwest. It will be installed on the north wall of the chapel.”

Other improvements include a visitation room adjacent to the chapel which will be made available for funeral services as well, should families not desire to use the large chapel. This room will be ideal for those not wanting formal funeral services associated with a chapel.

The new funeral home will also offer an on-site crematory for individuals and families who prefer cremation as an alternative to traditional earth burial.

“Contractor for the project is Steve Crow, who has earned a reputation as one of Kennett’s premier building contractors,” said Corky Dalton. “Once the new building is completed, the existing building will be removed and replaced with parking.”

“The funeral home has a dedicated and compassionate staff that will cater to your every need during the loss of a loved one,” said Randy Leach, manager of McDaniel Funeral Service since 1993.

Leach, a funeral director and embalmer with McDaniel’s for over 40 years, assures the families using McDaniel Funeral Homes, “Regardless of the services chosen, the loved ones and their family will receive the same attention to detail.”

McDaniel Funeral Service is proud of all its staff which include Phillip Gipson, licensed funeral director and embalmer, and Kala Holder, licensed funeral director and embalmer, with 14 years of experience in funeral service.

Judy Holder serves as the office manager and has been at the Kennett location for 16 years, and Debi Miller, is bookkeeper for the company, for the the past five years.

At the Senath location, Keith Morgan, licensed funeral director, has 26 years of experience, with Linda Lane employed as the office manager for 34 years.

Gary Doherty, Steve Lightfoot, Bill Hook, and Lisa Hunter complete the staff as they assist with the direction of the funerals and visitations.

With the purchase of the McDaniel Funeral Homes, the Daltons also acquired Dunklin Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Memorial Gardens, a perpetual care cemetery was founded in the 1950s and is managed by Mona Sutton and James Aldridge. Sutton has managed the cemetery for 38 years and Aldridge for 11 years. Sutton is also a licensed funeral director.

Improvements have been made to the cemetery as well, and more are expected in the future.

Serving on the McDaniel Funeral Homes and Memorial Gardens Board of Directors, along with Corky and Eleanor Dalton, are family members Dr. Kyle Dalton, Beth Dalton Craig, and Robert Craig.

“We will begin construction immediately after all of the plans are finalized,” said Corky Dalton.

The owners and staff of McDaniel Funeral Service are excited to bring this new facility to Kennett and the surrounding area and invite anyone who would like to see plans of the new funeral home to stop by their Kennett or Senath locations.