Two area funeral homes combine into one

Two funeral homes with long family histories in the business have found a connection as one expands.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home announced in early February it purchased Cracraft-Miller Funeral Home in Jackson, which brings a fourth funeral home under the Ford and Sons name.

Both funeral homes have a long history of service in the Cape Girardeau-Jackson area. The 1920s-era furniture store/undertaking service that eventually became Cracraft-Miller Funeral Home has its roots in Jackson going back 90 years, while Walter H. "Doc" Ford and Ross Young opened the Ford-Young Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau in 1949. It became Ford and Sons in 1953.

Mike Cracraft

"Doc" Ford's son, Walter J. Ford, his son Kevin Ford and grandson Josh Ford now oversee the Ford and Sons funeral homes -- two in Cape Girardeau and one in Benton, Missouri, and now the newest addition, in Jackson, at 708 W. Main St., which they bought from longtime owner and third-generation funeral home director Mike Cracraft.

Cracraft, the grandson of the funeral home's founder, said the shared understanding the two "funeral home families" have on the business of conducting funeral services helped make the sale an easy decision, and he is ready to spend more time with his children and grandchildren. He will continue to be involved, however, as he will stay as manager of the Ford and Sons Jackson location for at least the next two years.

The Ford family said they appreciate the legacy of the Cracraft-Miller name as they work to add the new funeral home to their business. It sees the acquisition and new relationship as a good way to grow their service area.

"The communities, even though they are separate, there is a lot of synergy between the two towns, with families that have people living in both towns," Walter J. Ford said. "And you have to expand if you are going to stay healthy in any business."

"It gives us opportunity to take care of the whole community," Kevin Ford said. "It's a very good situation. Mike has done a very good job over here, and this move is a natural fit for us."

Josh Ford is overseeing the relaunch of Cracraft-Miller under the Ford and Sons name. The Fords plan to renovate the interior soon, adding new carpet and paint and other updates.

Kevin Ford said he wants to see the company grow within reason, so he is excited about the next step with his son at the helm. Kevin Ford and his brother, Cliff Ford, formally entered the family business in the 1980s.

Ford and Sons has expanded and improved facilities many times, including seven additions to the South Sprigg Street location over the years, buying Memorial Park Cemetery in 1986 and opening its newest Cape Girardeau funeral home on Mount Auburn Road in 1990.

The funeral home also is a member of two highly selective professional organizations, Selected Independent Funeral Homes and the Order of the Golden Rule.

Cracraft said he was open to the sale "just out of respect" for the reputation of the Ford and Sons name and the way the family is known to conduct itself in the funeral home business in the area.

"We try to take care of people. We see them as our families. It's an honor to take care of families that we serve," Kevin Ford said.

Josh Ford said with the expansion to Jackson the funeral homes may conduct about 400 services this year.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3632

Pertinent address:

708 W. Main St., Jackson, MO

118 S. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau, MO

1001 N. Mount Auburn Road, Cape Girardeau, MO

142 S. Winchester, Benton, MO