For local funeral directors, Joe and Lanae DeArman and their staff, it’s been a long 19 months since their facility, on West 1st Street in Sulphur, took a direct hit from the EF-3 tornado.
On the evening of April 27, 2024, their building was in the direct path of the tornado which devastated much of downtown Sulphur and surrounding neighborhoods.
The staff was able to salvage a few items, but the structure was a total loss, forcing the DeArmans to move to a location inside the Crossway First Baptist Church where they have operated ever since.
Last Friday, the DeArmans and staff members welcomed members of the community in a grand opening ceremony at their new, one story brick structure, on the site of the original building.
The DeArmans purchased the funeral home in July, 2006. Prior to that, the firm dates back to the early 1920’s whenA.G. Dunn established the facility in November, 1924. The business served the community for over 75 years as a family operation that was continued by Dunn’s children, Orien Bates and Amos Dunn.
The Dunns sold the business to Major and Sondra Clagg in 1976 and they operated it until they sold in 2006 to the DeArmans.
Although there have been several owners, the funeral home has been serving the community for over 100 years.
