Farnstrom Mortuary History | Farnstrom Gable Funeral Chapel History
Staff Directory | Locations | Cemeteries | Other Cemeteries

Farnstrom Mortuary History Funeral service in the Independence area has a long history. H.M. Lines, Funeral Director and Undertaker, advertised in the 1889 publication of the West Side Newspaper. How long he had been in business or who preceded him is not known. He was followed by H.H. Jasperson, Funeral Director and Undertaker, until his death in 1910

Keeney Brother Mortuaries served Independence and Corvallis. Arthur L. Keeney was the Funeral Director in Independence, our present location. Mr. Keeney operated the mortuary until 1929. In 1926 Walter and Alda G. Smith opened the Smith Mortuary in Monmouth. Three years later, Smiths and Irvin Baun bought the Keeney Mortuary in Independence which then became Smith-Baun Mortuary.

In 1953 Stanley B. Krueger managed the Smith-Krueger Mortuaries. They were still owned by Alda Smith. Mr. Krueger died in 1963 and the funeral homes were then sold to Carman and Donna Parmenter. When the Parmenters bought the Mortuaries in 1963 they built the present facilities and consolidated the funeral business into one location know as Smith-Parmenter Mortuary and later as Parmenter Mortuary, Independence.

Mr. and Mrs. Parmenter retired from the funeral service and sold their interest in the mortuary to Maurice and Starla Farnstrom in 1978. The Farnstrom family settled in historic Independence. In 1997 there oldest son, Alex, earned a degree in Mortuary Science from Mt. Hood Community College and returned to work in Independence. In 2001 the youngest Ben also did the same. In 2002 Maurice and Starla retired from the funeral home, allowing Alex and Ben to continue the tradition of personal and caring funeral service to Polk County families, which dates back to 1889.

Farnstrom- Gable Funeral Chapel History Farnstrom-Gable Funeral Chapel was established in 1917 by a Mr. Hamilton, and later purchased by Ray Gable. The present location is the third; the first being near 79th and Glisan, the second between Burnside and Stark, and at the present location since 1939. In 1941 Ruth G. Fletcher purchased the business from Mr. Gable. She owned and operated the business until her retirement in 1975, when she sold the company to R.C. VanGorder, Dan L. Holdridge, and Robert W. Baird. Mr. Vangorder served as manager of Gable Funeral Home from 1948 until his retirement in 1988.

Parkrose funeral home was established as Batman's chapel of the Dawn Mortuary Inc. in 1954 for the price of $50,000.00 by Floyd and Pearl Batman. The couple operated a funeral and wedding chapel located on N.E. Sandy Boulevard and 112th Avenue. Gable Funeral purchased the business in August of 1979.

The Lowen Group, Inc., later, known a Alderwoods Group, Inc. purchased both businesses on October 1, 1988. Robert Baird was retained as President and Manger of the operation at that time. Parkrose Funeral home merged with Gable Funeral Home to become Gable and Parkrose Funeral Chapel on September 1, 1993 at the Montavilla location. On September 2, 2004, the business became family owned and operated once again. Alexander M. Farnstrom and Benjamin M. Farnstrom brothers from Independence, Oregon purchased the funeral home. Alex took on the management duties of the funeral home.

Keizer Funeral Chapel History ~ Coming Soon