Texas funeral director becomes funeral home owner

August 7, 2026/Business/

It’s a tried and true solution for funeral home business succession but in this day and age you just don’t seem to see it as often as you used to. That business plan is one of turning a funeral director staff member into an owner.

I learned recently via this article in Karnes Countywide and a couple of funeral home websites that Cason J. Newberry has purchased Rhodes Funeral Home in Karnes City ,Texas, and Oak Park Memorial Funeral Chapel in Beesville, Texas. According to the same article, “Newberry had worked as the director and embalmer for Rhodes Funeral Home.”

According to the linked article, Newberry made this comment, “This has been in the works for quite some time, and I am excited to finally share this new chapter with my family, friends and our community.”

Newberry added, “While there will be a few changes in the months ahead, our commitment to serving the families of our communities with compassion, dignity, and the highest level of care will remain the same. We are dedicated to building upon the trusted legacy that so many families have come to know while continuing to provide the personal service they deserve.”

Here is the website for the Rhodes Funeral Home

Here is the website for the Oak Park Memorial Chapel

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Funeral Director Daily take: I can remember that when I was younger and just getting started in the business when someone wanted to retire and sell their funeral business, especially if their was no heir apparent, they seemed to look to a young employee who was interested in building his life around the business of operating a family funeral home.

Lately, it seems like almost all of the acquisition transactions that I hear about involve Death Care companies acquiring family-owned businesses and adding them to their group of acquired businesses. There is nothing wrong with that and there are good reasons that usually works out well for all concerned.

However, there is also the personal, humanistic side of the funeral business. And, sometimes, generally dependent on the size and customs of a community, a funeral business being in the hands of a “local owner” may, at times, be better for all concerned.

One of the things that I’ve noticed in the community that I have lived in my entire life is the “stakes” a business, and its owners, might have in the community. I’ve noticed as our community has grown greatly and locally-owned banks became branch offices of larger banks and locally-owned supermarkets have became a part of larger chains that the management “stakes” in the community don’t always reach as deep as the local owner-operator’s “stakes” did.

Where I see it most is in philanthropy and volunteerism. Maybe it’s just my perception but local owners seem to “dig” deeper to help causes. . . and don’t have to check with the corporate office before doing so.

There is a community not so far from me that saw this situation and, in effect, formed a company to provide additional equity and/or financing to a local employee or employees to buy out local businesses as they came up for sale. It has helped that community keep some businesses in town and it has prompted a “next generation” of philanthropy as well.

As we expect a large number of funeral establishments to change hands within the next decade, I think there is room for national and regional corporate concerns to acquire many of these, but there is probably an equal opportunity to give that next generation of funeral directors an opportunity as well.

Each business. and each transaction will bring with it it’s own unique set of opportunities, challenges, and solutions. And, in some cases, the situation may just work out better for all involved with a “local buyer”.

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