The 400 South Pecan Street address was created in 1955 when Joe Stevens purchased the house at 114 South Frio Street, removed the dwelling and built a funeral home at this location. ........................................
"Parking became a
serious problem in the downtown area for the Stevens
Funeral Home, which was part of Stevens Hardware
Store. The funeral home remained attached to the
hardware store until 1955, when the property at 114 South
Frio Street was purchased and the house
removed. A new building was constructed facing West
Pecan Street, which opened in 1956 at 400 West Pecan
Street. The business was incorporated and became known
as Stevens Funeral Home, Inc. In 1957, Stevens added
the first ambulance-coach (below left, Capps) to its
line of vehicles. In 1958, Mike Wright sold his
funeral home to Stevens and the two merged. Mike
purchased a Lundon-Burton Funeral Home in Brownwood
and moved there. In 1959 Tom Walker moved to Coleman
and became a stockholder and Funeral Director at
Stevens Funeral Home. Stevens Funeral Home, taken in 1976 by Ralph Terry
"In May 1960, a new combination ambulance and funeral coach was received by Stevens Funeral Home with Fred Willis, representing Randal P. Noe Sales Company, handing papers to Joe C. Stevens. Others standing, left to right, were Troy Avants, Tommy Hart and Sam Huskisson. In the driver’s seat was Tom Walker. The new unit, one of four built, was a 98 series Oldsmobile, power equipped, air-conditioned and included the latest features in vehicles of this type.
"A medical care unit (above right, Capps.) was added with state certified paramedics on 24-hour duty was added to Stevens Funeral home services in September 1975. Previously funeral homes used their funeral hearses for emergency services, but this was the first time medical assistance was provided. This was before the time of hospital provided ambulances. In 1977 a new medical care unit (above right, Autry) was added. At the time Class A Paramedic personnel Charles Mahan (LVN training), Jesse Griffin, Buddy Gauntt, Charlie Rascoe and Wayne Snider (below left, Autry) worked for Stevens Funeral Home, with a news medical care modular unit being added at that time.
1978 Interior
of Stevens Funeral Home
"In 1976 Joe Stevens died suddenly. The Stevens family continued to operate the business, with Tom Walker in charge. In October 1977 Stevens Funeral Home hired Austin E. Raney and Mike Korzenewski, who had moved to Coleman from Abilene, as co-managers of the firm. Raney had been with a funeral home for the past eight years, and Korzenewski had been with Elliott-Hamil in Abilene for the past five years. In September 1978, Benny Allcorn became associated with Stevens Funeral Home as mortician and funeral director. Later, Korzenewski became the funeral director. His wife, Lana also became a mortician. Employees of the firm were Wayne Snider, Jessie Griffin, Rosa Baker, Charlie Rasco, Layton Lusk and Nora Robinson. The interior was remodeled, a door added for entrance into the viewing areas and porch roofs were added to the three front entrances. In 1985, Mike and Lana Korzenewski (below, right) bought the funeral home from the Stevens family. Lana Kading continues the business as Stevens Funeral Home." (Looking Backwards, 1940-1980, by Ralph Terry. Modified slightly for this article. Used with permission.)
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