Our History
Ed Keller began building the mortuary in 1929. Edker L. Lee began working as the “sweep up” boy after the carpenters would finish for the day at the young age of 15. Ed Lee then decided to go to mortuary school Ed’s career in funeral service began out of a friendship between Ed’s father, Charles Lee, and the funeral home owner, Ed Keller. Ed Lee graduated from Indiana College of Embalming in Indianapolis in 1939. He received his license in December 1939.
He came back to work for the Keller Mortuary until he entered the US Army in 1942. While Ed Lee was overseas, Ed Keller became ill and passed away. Mr. Keller’s wife contacted Ed Lee and said she would run the business until he returned home and then helped him to buy the business, which he did in 1946. He then became affiliated with Ned York in 1952, who became his business partner. The name became Lee and York Mortuary. Mr. York became ill and quit the business. Ed changed the name to Ed L. Lee Mortuary in 1972.
Ed ran the business until his death in May of 2003 in which his heirs took over until it sold in 2005. Ed L. Lee Mortuary was purchased by Andrew and Reba Arvin, Ronnie Murphy, and Mike and Patty Fuhs. In 2010 Ronnie Murphy sold his shares to the Arvins and Fuhs. In 2011, Reba and Andrew became sole owners of Ed L. Lee Mortuary.