Our Heritage

Our Heritage

There are not many businesses that get to claim their 125th anniversary. Bruce Funeral Home has been serving Gardner, Edgerton, Spring Hill, DeSoto, and other surrounding areas for over 50 years. The Bruce Funeral Home has been recognized as the oldest continuously owned business established in Johnson County.

The first undertaker in Spring Hill was W.H. Rutter, who in 1884 also had a furniture store. His son, W.H. Rutter continued in the business until he sold the furniture and undertaking business to Eli Davis and his son, Ralph. They later sold to Paul O. Coons, who served as the secretary of the Kansas Funeral Directors Association for many years. P.O. Coons then sold the business to Lloyd H. Wilcox who in turn sold it to Roy Bruce. The chapel in Spring Hill was remodeled in the mid-90's, both the exterior and interior areas. Property for a new location at Webster & 217th was purchased in 2002. The downtown chapel was sold in 2003 and the new chapel was opened in 2005.

The year of 2008 also marked the 123rd anniversary of the first furniture store and undertaking business in Gardner. The first business in Gardner was started in 1885, by Peter J. Murphy. In 1914, President Wilson appointed Murphy postmaster. The business was sold to J.W. Stanley of Blue Springs, Missouri. Fire destroyed several downtown buildings that winter, and Stanley's daughter Grace and her husband Harry Patteson, took over the business and ran it until his death in 1949. That year Roy and Betty Bruce purchased the funeral home from Grace Patteson. The Bruce family continues to own and operate the business. 

Bruce Funeral Home strives to meet the needs of families through many forms. Pre-planning services have been available since the 1960's. These include trust and personal insurance. Monuments in many styles are also available. Our family believes it is an honor to continue the tradition of 131 years of continuous service to the families in our communities. 

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