oUR HISTORY

On March 1, 1913, Oscar and Esther McConnaha, original owners of our funeral home, received their first call. Julia E. Warren, 19 years of age, had passed away after suffering with tuberculosis for four years. The same year Julia had fallen ill (1909), her father, Willam Allen Warren, had passed away. His obituary states he was thought to be struck by a train whilst walking home to Maplewood from Brownsburg. He left Julia's mother, Laura Ellen Rushton Warren, as a widow caring for their remaining children. Between the years of 1907 and 1915, poor Laura lost three of their five beloved children, in addition to her husband.

Oscar McConnaha's obituary states he began the funeral home in 1924 because that is the year the funeral home was actually in its own building. Before that year, embalming would have taken place in the homes of the families being served. He was the funeral director, but his wife, Esther, was the embalmer. She used a portable wicker embalming table that we still have in our possession. It is on display with our horse-drawn hearse in our museum. 

Oscar and Esther's daughter, Margaret, married Robert (R.F.) Gregory. When Oscar's health declined, R.F. took over the business and it became Gregory Funeral Home. 

In 1978, nationally-acclaimed embalmer, David A. Hall, purchased the funeral home from the Gregorys. The funeral home became David A. Hall Mortuary. David also ran Indiana University's Anatomical Donation Program. 

In June of 2017, Eric Bell purchased the funeral home, and it has been named Eric M.D. Bell Funeral Home and Cremation Services since 2019. In addition to truly caring for families and their friendship, we are passionate about our history. We are grateful for a long-standing connection to the community.

Although that first call came out of a tragic story, it was the beginning of the McConnaha family's tradition. This tradition was caring for those in our community during their most difficult times, easing their suffering in the ways that were within their power. This is a legacy we are privileged and honored to carry on today, 111 years later. 

We remain honored to care for all in our area in their hour of need, and just as Oscar and Esther opened their doors to the community in service in 1913, we do the same. Still family-owned and operated, husband and wife owners, Eric and Megan, along with their amazing team, Adam, Ruth and Donna, open the same doors to serve and care for you.