BARKETT PURCHASES TWO FUNERAL HOMES IN ILLINOIS

CAIRO, Ill. -- David Barkett, owner of Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo, has added operations at Mounds and Mound City.

"We recently purchased Crain Funeral Homes at Mounds and Mound City in Pulaski County, and acquired the equipment from Crain Funeral Home at Cairo," said Barkett, a Cairo native who has been in the funeral business 25 years.

"I started work at the Karcher-Berbling Funeral Home, 325 8th St. in Cairo, in 1967," said Barkett, president of Barkett Funeral Homes. "I purchased the operation in 1974."

Barkett, who is Alexander County coroner, said the Mounds funeral home at 501 First, would be a full-operation facility. The Mound City operation at 102 S. Third will be a branch facility.

Barkett's wife, Betty Barkett, is secretary of the firm, which employs three full-time and several part-time employees.

"The firm's history goes back more than 130 years," said Barkett. "The Karcher Funeral Home was founded here in 1858. The two funeral operations in Pulaski County date back more than 60 years. Crain Funeral Homes were founded by Marguerite Crain and the late George Crain.

A son, William Crain, has been operating the three Crain facilities.