Banks and Beals Funeral Home, located at 504 East Main street, La Harpe was established in 1927, by John Banks.
The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
- Business Focus -
by Melanie Sharpe-Lessen, Quill Reporter
Banks & Beals Funeral Home
Banks and Beals Funeral Home, located at 504 East Main street, La Harpe was established in 1927, by John Banks.
The family business was carried on by his son-in-law, Dean Beals and then on to Kevin, Kris and Kendall Beals, the current owners of the business.
A little history of the family business begins with John Banks, born in 1900, the son of Orville and Stella (Davis) Banks. In 1927 he came to La Harpe and established himself as a funeral director. His first funeral home was in the business district on Main Street.
In 1928 he married Neva Moon, born in 1910 in Tennessee, Illinois to Frank and Emma (Adams) Moon. They established their home in La Harpe.
Their business had several different locations before they located permanently at its' present site on east Main Street in the mid 1940s.
John and Neva were the parents of one daughter, Patsy, who grew up helping her parents in their profession. John served the area until his death in 1962.
Dean, son of George and Kathryn (Thomas) Beals, of Sullivan, Illinois graduated from St. Louis College of Mortuary Science in 1948. He became associated with the Martin funeral Home in Dallas City then with Mellors in Stronghurst and then with Banks & Beals in La Harpe.
In 1950, Dean and Patsy Banks were married and Dean became part of the family business. Dean and Patsy had five children, Kevin, Kris, Kyle (who, sadly passed on in his youth), Kimberly, and Kendall.
In 1978, the family formed a new corporation, Banks and Beals Funeral Home, this included Neva Banks, Dean and Patsy, and their sons, Kevin, Kris, and Kendall, all graduates of Southern Illinois University, with degrees in Mortuary Science.
They also had to complete a one year apprenticeship and pass the boards. The corporation purchased funeral homes in Dallas City and Stronghurst. The family also operated an ambulance service for 53 years, until the year 1970.
Kevin, with whom I spoke with, is married to Sherry, who is a first grade teacher here in La Harpe. They have three children. Their daughter Madison, will be a senior in high school this fall. They also have two sons, Mitchell, who will be in eighth grade and Mason who will be in seventh grade.
This business is not like most businesses in La Harpe. They do not have posted hours, because they're always on call, day and night. Kevin said that they never have made scheduled hours between the brothers, because they just take turns working different hours and help one another out when one needs a night off here and there.
Kevin also said, that over the years the business has changed. With the addition of computers they can print their own service programs, etc. Also, as of last year, they began offering video tributes as well as photo documentaries of their loved ones life to be shown during their service.
Also through the years, the services have become much more personalized. Many families bring picture boards and memorabilia, remembering their loved ones. There's more of a celebration of the life they lived in the services offered now.
Will the family tradition carry on at Banks & Beals? Kevin stated that he and Sherry place no pressure on their sons. He wants them to do what makes them happy.