Williams Monuments, a part of Iola’s business landscape for more than a century, is under new ownership.
Feuerborn Family Funeral Service recently acquired the monument business following the death of former owner, Terry Ellis, in September.
The Williams Monuments name will remain, although the offices will move to the Feuerborn Family facility along U.S. 54 between Iola and Gas.
The change of ownership will have no effect on outstanding orders for Williams’ existing customers, explained Nick Durand, who runs Williams along with Reuben Feuerborn.
“We’re still getting in contact with everyone,” Durand said.
Adding the monument business gives the funeral home another service to provide its customers locally. Feuerborn Family has offered a similar service for the past four years or so out of Garnett.
The monument carving, design and other stone work will be done at Feuerborn’s facilities in Garnett. Dan Benjamin, a “monument specialist,” will be in charge of the service, Durand said.
Crews began clearing out the Williams Monuments building at 11 W. Broadway, which the business has called home since 1906. (See related article about the business’s history in Iola.) The soon-to-be-empty building will be put up for sale, Durand said.
Williams Monuments is the second such long-standing Iola business acquired by the funeral home.
Feuerborn Family Funeral Service acquired Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel in May 2016, and moved the mortuary from its location on Buckeye Street to 1883 U.S. 54 earlier this year in what was the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building.
For more information, call 365-2948
PHOTOS: Feuerborn Family Funeral Service workers were at the old Williams Monuments building at 11 W. Broadway St. in Iola this week to clear out equipment now that the long-standing business has been acquired by the mortuary. As part of the changeover, Williams Monuments has moved to the Feuerborn Family facility along U.S. 54 between Iola and Gas. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
