Edwards Funeral Service

The Edwards Funeral Home at Mt Vernon Ave is the only Marion County facility specifically designed for funeral services.

In 1937, Merle and Catherine Hughes established the Hughes Mortuary in Marion. When they outgrew their building, Merle commissioned the current facility in 1964. When the Hughes retired in 1989, Ken Allen bought and renamed the business to The Hughes-Allen Funeral Home and owned it for the next 29 years. Ken worked with fellow provider Jeff Edwards for cremation services to better serve families in the Marion Community.

In 2017, Ken was looking to find someone to take over the funeral home when he retired. Jeff had already helped serve many families in the Marion area and saw an opportunity to grow. He wanted to bring the same care and services to local families. On December 1st, 2017, Jeff Edwards officially took ownership of the Mount Vernon Ave location and renamed the business to Edwards Funeral Service, Hughes-Allen Chapel.
While most funeral providers have been family run for generations, Jeff didn’t grow up watching his parents run a funeral home. Jeff reflects on his unconventional introduction to the industry, “In junior high, I had to do a career report. I had recently attended a funeral for a relative and wanted to learn more about the industry. The more I researched, the more interested I became in the business. By the time I finished my report, I knew that’s what I wanted to do.” Jeff pursued a career in technology after high school but was presented the opportunity to return to school and attend mortuary college in his 30s. After completing the required education and apprenticeship, Jeff became a licensed funeral director in 2003.

Jeff and the team at Edwards Funeral Services

Jeff became a funeral director to make a change. He was astounded by the expenses associated with funerals and knew many families couldn’t afford to properly say their goodbyes. He set out to provide traditional services, but at prices that made them accessible for everyone. According to Jeff, a family’s economic status shouldn’t be the determining factor of whether or not they can have a funeral. When he purchased the Hughes-Allen Chapel in 2017, Jeff went to work on both interior and exterior renovations. Before he took over, the Mt Vernon Ave location was serving 30-40 families per year. With a new look, new energy, and fresh perspective, Edwards Funeral Services had the opportunity to serve 58 families in 2018 and is on track to serve over 120 families in 2019. Edwards strives to provide the best care and support, regardless of how much or how little a family can spend. Focusing on serving families and not finances has already made an impact. When a local family called after losing an aunt, Edwards had the opportunity to serve them in early 2018. When tragedy struck the family only a few months later, their burden was eased when they knew who to call. Jeff explains, “We know how a loss impacts a family, and we are honored to be able to walk with families every step of the way. Our goal is for a family to be able to mourn, say their goodbyes, and ultimately begin to heal. It’s a responsibility we are honored to take on.”

New renovations include a lower level banquet room for family and community use.

Jeff longs to be more than another funeral home, he wants Edwards Funeral Service to be an educational resource for pre-planning services. Not only does a pre-arrangement service save money, it saves a loved one’s family the pressure of making decisions during a challenging time. With arrangements already made, the family can better say goodbye and begin to heal. For more information on preplanning or other services, contact Edwards Funeral Services at 740-387-1188. You can visit them at 318 Mt. Vernon Ave in Marion, OH or online at www.efs-hughesallen.com