When families in Howard County face the loss of a loved one, finding a trusted local provider makes all the difference. Latimer Funeral Home, located at 115 East Hempstead Street in Nashville, Arkansas, has served Southwest Arkansas for over a century. Rooted in nineteenth-century mercantile origins, the firm balances traditional values with modern memorial options. If you're trying to understand what services they offer, how their pricing works, or what their historical background entails, knowing the facts helps you make informed choices during a difficult time.
Understanding local funeral options requires looking at practical details such as licensing, service offerings, and direct community standing. Families often need clarity on traditional burials, cremation choices, veteran arrangements, and immediate administrative steps. This overview breaks down everything you need to know about Latimer Funeral Home, its operational history, and how it compares within the region.
History and Community Roots in Nashville, Arkansas
The roots of Latimer Funeral Home stretch back to 1884 when Alex Skillern established Skillern Hardware in Nashville, Arkansas. In that era, hardware stores commonly supplied caskets and handled basic death care logistics. By 1900, James Ison Latimer—Skillern's son-in-law—formalized funeral services through the hardware enterprise.
The business transitioned exclusively into funeral care as decades passed, moving to a location on Third and West Howard Streets in 1935. Jimmy Ison Latimer joined the family business in 1937 after graduating from the Cincinnati Embalming College. The current facility on East Hempstead Street opened on March 1, 1959, establishing a permanent, dedicated space for local families. In February 1989, the firm expanded its reach by opening a secondary location in nearby Murfreesboro. Throughout these generations of family stewardship, the business has maintained a steady presence across Howard County and surrounding communities.
Core Services Offered
Navigating arrangements requires knowing which service paths are available. Latimer Funeral Home provides structured options tailored to personal preferences, religious customs, and budget constraints.
- Traditional Burial Services: This includes professional care of the deceased, embalming, casketing, visitation periods, and a formal funeral ceremony held either at the chapel or a local church.
- Cremation Options: Families selecting cremation can choose between a full traditional service beforehand, a memorial service afterward, or private family viewings. Permanent resting place choices include columbarium placement, urn burial, or scattering according to state guidelines.
- Veterans Services: Honoring individuals who served in the United States Armed Forces involves coordinating military honors, folding and presenting the American flag, and securing eligible government memorial benefits.
- Personalization and Keepsakes: Modern tributes often include customized memorial folders, tribute videos, webcast options for distant relatives, and specialized keepsake jewelry.
Understanding Costs and General Pricing Structure
Funeral costs consist of several standardized components regulated by the Federal Trade Commission through the Funeral Rule. While exact pricing updates periodically via a General Price List (GPL), average baseline figures for independent funeral homes in Southwest Arkansas provide a helpful planning baseline.
The basic services fee—which covers the funeral director's overhead, administrative permits, and coordination—typically forms the non-declinable foundation of any arrangement. Additional line items include transfer of remains, professional embalming, dressing, facility use for viewings, and funeral coach transportation. For a standard traditional burial involving professional services, basic facilities, and a casket, estimated local expenses generally range between $6,000 and $8,000, depending heavily on merchandise selections like casket types and outer burial vaults. Direct cremation options are significantly lower because they omit viewing ceremonies and embalming.
What to Do When a Death Occurs
When a death happens at home or away from a medical facility, immediate steps differ from a hospital or hospice passing. Knowing how to coordinate keeps the process orderly.
- Notify Authorities: If the death is unexpected at home, call 911 immediately so emergency personnel or the county coroner can establish official protocols.
- Contact the Funeral Home: Once authorities release the deceased, call Latimer Funeral Home directly at (870) 845-2233. Their staff is available to coordinate immediate transport of remains to their facility.
- Gather Essential Information: Prepare documents and details for the arrangement conference, including the social security number, military discharge papers (DD-214), parents' names, insurance policies, and recent photographs for obituaries.
- Schedule the Arrangement Conference: Meet with a licensed funeral director to review service preferences, select merchandise, and sign authorization permits.
Families can review official consumer guidance through the Federal Trade Commission to understand their rights regarding transparent pricing and itemized selections. Additional state-level regulatory guidelines are available via the Arkansas Department of Health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pre-plan arrangements with Latimer Funeral Home?
Yes. Pre-planning allows individuals to record their exact wishes and lock in current pricing structures through pre-need insurance or trust products, easing the financial and emotional burden on surviving family members.
How do I submit an obituary or view current services?
Families can work directly with the funeral staff to compose and publish obituaries in local newspapers and on the official Latimer Funeral Home website.
What documents do I need to bring for a veteran's service?
You must provide the veteran's official DD-214 discharge paper or equivalent proof of military service. The funeral director uses this document to coordinate military honors with the appropriate branch and secure government-provided markers or burial flags.
Does Latimer Funeral Home offer grief support resources?
Yes. The establishment provides continuous grief support options, including optional enrollment in year-long weekly email encouragement messages designed to help families navigate the stages of loss.
