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P.L. and Margaret (Sigmon) Myers met while Margaret was finishing Nursing School at Ball State University. P.L. had been a student at IU and played in the Marching Hundred. He joined the U.S. Army and served during WWII in the Medical Corps. After the service, he worked as a funeral director in Anderson, IN. P.L. met Margaret while serving her family in the Anderson funeral home.
Margaret finished her Nursing degree at Ball State and was a nurse instructor when she and P.L. were married. After they married, they lived in Anderson until deciding to relocate and buy a funeral home in Lebanon, IN. Myers Mortuary was established in 1947 as a new funeral home in Lebanon, Indiana. The Myers family moved into their funeral home on South East Street which was remodeled from an existing doctor?s office. This served as a residence until they purchased a house next door to the business to accommodate their growing family. Knowing that Lebanon, too, was growing they made a decision to seek new property to build a new building.
In 1961 they were one of the first businesses to build on State Road 39. P.L. and Margaret Myers felt that they could serve the community better with this facility. They thought it was important to offer a one level building without steps and a parking lot hidden from the view of the road. They prided themselves on landscaping which offers a park view in the front and the back of the building. The peaceful, calming setting of the building was important to the philosophy they had for service. The four Myers children, Ardella, Sigmon, Dennis and Anita, grew up in the mortuary which houses two chapels, a three bay garage and a three bedroom home. The architect, Moncil Swope, was a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. His Myers Mortuary structure was featured in many magazines for its unique lines and classic Frank Lloyd Wright style. Myers Chapel of Memories features a wooden ceiling and stone walls with no right angles, projecting an open and comfortable treatment of space.
Sigmon W. Myers joined his parents as a partner in 1974. Sigmon and his wife, Jane (Messenger), purchased the business from his parents. Sigmon?s tenure has been a personal commitment to the Myers tradition of serving with integrity. His second generation service has included the addition of a second office building to house records and offer private family funeral planning. Sigmon has served on various church and community boards and committees with several years of service on the IU Bloomington Sigma Chi house board.
Sigmon W. and Jane raised three children in Lebanon. Christine is married and is an Academic Advisor with Kendall College Culinary Institute in Chicago. Michelle is married and a Certified Public Accountant currently working in Beijing. Sigmon is pursuing post-graduate degree studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Jane was an Elementary teacher and has been an advocate for literacy and libraries serving on many local and state boards as well as working on various committees in church and the community.
Dennis Myers returned to work at the family business after a 15 year career as a PGA Golf Professional. Beginning in the late 1980?s he became certified to help with pre-arranged funerals while assisting with the day to day operations of the mortuary. He became a full time associate with the funeral home in the early 90?s and spent the next seventeen years assisting in the daily operation of the business. He was active with Myers Mortuary until his death in 2007. Dennis and his wife, Rae had two children. Preston is married and is in Inventory Control at Hachette Book Group. Sally is currently pursuing her career in telecommunications in southern Indiana. Matt and Sandy Hunt joined Myers Mortuary in late 2008 coming from Jacksonville, Illinois. They have two sons, Jacob and Justin. The family is involved in their church and the boys? activities.
Matt is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in both Indiana and Illinois. He is a graduate of Southern Illinois University in the Mortuary Science and Funeral Service Program. Matt began his funeral career working for Lamporte Funeral Homes, which serviced four chapels in Hancock County, Illinois where he grew up. For the last fourteen years, Matt lived and worked in Jacksonville, Illinois for Buchanan Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. There he serviced four chapels including Jacksonville and the surrounding communities. Matt has been active in the Jacksonville area youth baseball league, Cub Scouts and service clubs.
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