By Roger Sims, rsims@linncountyjournal.com
PLEASANTON – Todd Schneider, president of Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory announced on Tuesday that it has acquired Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home in Osawatomie. The purchase is an extension of the business relationship that the two companies have had over the past several years.
The acquisition of Eddy-Birchard’s Osawatomie location gives Schneider Funeral Home a presence in four area cities including La Cygne, Mound City and Pleasanton.
Todd and Tracy Schneider purchased the business from Joe Moreland, who along with his wife Martha purchased the former Eddy Funeral Home at 339 Main St. in 1973. L.J. Eddy founded his business in 1926, making it the oldest operating funeral home in Miami County.
Eddy Funeral Home and Birchard Funeral Home, which was opened in 1932 by Willis and Edith Birchard, merged operations in 1977 and moved to the Birchard’s location at 203 Main because it had a set chapel and an entrance with no stairs.
The facility has a 120-seat chapel and an 85-seat family room, and includes a showroom for caskets, vaults, urns and memorials.
The Osawatomie company will continue to operate under the Eddy-Birchard name, with current licensed funeral director Emily McCrea and her husband funeral attendant Loren McCrea and assistant funeral director Ted Hunter managing day-to-day operations.
Todd Schneider said the couple has been considering the move for several months. Schneider’s has been performing cremations for Eddy-Birchard for a number of years and over time his company has developed a good working relationship with the Eddy-Birchard staff.
He also indicated their are plans in the works to update the Osawatomie facility. That includes modernizing the interior and expanding parking, which has been an issue as large services typically congest Main Street and residential side streets surrounding the business. Schneider said he hopes customers will be patient as those improvements are made.
For more information about Eddy-Birchard, click here to visit its website or here to visit its Facebook page.