What began as a family affair in 1998 is keeping with the tradition as family joining the business has brought a name change to one Neelyville based funeral home.
"After I bought out my cousin's part when he went a different avenue, we were still family owned, so the decision to change the name from Fowler Sullivan Memorial Chapel came," Fowler & Sons Funeral Home owner Donnie Fowler said.
Fowler's oldest son, Greg, began in the funeral business shortly after graduating high school.
He served under his father during his apprenticeship and took his International Conference of Funeral Exam boards in 2014. He then became a licensed funeral director in 2016.
Greg's wife, Paige, also works part time in the family owned business as the administrative assistant.
Fowler's younger son, Josh, attended Arkansas State University-Mountain Home where he obtained an Associate of Applied Science in funeral service.
After his apprenticeship, Josh took his International Conference of Funeral Exam boards in 2012 and became a licensed funeral director and embalmer in 2014.
"The boys grew up in this," Fowler said. "And now they are part of the business."
Donnie, Greg and Josh are all three members of the National Funeral Directors Association and Missouri Embalmer and Funeral Directors Association.
Fowler's wife, Suzy, rounds out the family-owned business as co-owner and is also a licensed insurance agent.
In 1984, Fowler began working for Ron and Sonia Parrent at Parrent Funeral Home in Naylor. That is where he said his initiative to stay in the funeral business began.
Fowler recalls how his start in the funeral business began when he walked into Ron's office asking if he needed any help.
"One week later at 11:30 p.m. I got my first call and I've been doing it ever since," Fowler said.
Fowler credits much of what he has learned to the Parrents after 14 years of working for them.
In 1984, Fowler gained his funeral director's license with the support of Ron.
"It always had been a dream of mine to own a funeral home," Fowler said.
The dream was set to become a reality in 1998.
Fowler left Parrent Funeral Home and began talking about going into the business with his cousins, Roger, Steve and O'Neal Sullivan.
The area Fowler & Sons Funeral Home is currently located on was overgrown with weeds and brush along with an old trailer on the property in the late '90s. After approaching the owner, the property was sold to the family and construction began.
While the funeral home was being built, Fowler went to work for Dick Chedister, Howard Jackson and Mike Jackson at Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan, where he said he learned a lot from the three men as well about the funeral business.
Every day after leaving Doniphan, Fowler would go to the construction site to watch the progress.
On Aug. 30, 1998, the 7,000 square foot funeral home was dedicated and began serving the area.
Much of the building ideas came from Fowler through his career of everything he wanted his own funeral home to include some day.
The chapel will seat 200 people while the second viewing area is constructed to seat around 80.
The selection and planning rooms offer family privacy for discussion and always has a selection of at least 15 casket options on site as well as many urns.
Fowler & Sons Funeral Home offers full traditional services, same day and graveside services, cremation services with funeral or memorial services as well as assisting with out of state transfers.
"We want to honor the families choices and wishes," Fowler said.
As well as service options, the staff at Fowler & Sons Funeral Home can assist with filling out forms for insurance, Social Security and more.
"As I always say at the end of any service, from our family to yours, it's an honor to serve you," Fowler said.