FUNERAL HOMES IN AND AROUND
ST. FRANCOIS COUNTY, MISSOURI.

Click HERE to view collection of old advertisements from area funeral homes. 

CEMETERIES WHICH HAVE OFFICES

St. Francois Memorial Park & Mausoleum
6776 Vo Tech Road, Bonne Terre, MO 63628 
Phone  (573) 358-2228

MURPHY L. SPARKS BUYS ALVIN W. HOOD FUNERAL HOME
Published by THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, St. Francois Co. MO, Wed. Feb. 13, 1963.

It was announced today that the Hood Funeral Home, 303 Crane Street, Flat River, was purchased February 8 by Murphy L Sparks, owner of the Sparks Funeral Home.

In a joint announcement, Mr. Sparks and Alvin W. Hood stated that the Hood firm would remain operational until March 1. At that time, the establishment will be closed and no further services will be conducted at that location.

Mr. Hood plans semi-retirement, but he will still be available at the Sparks Funeral Home to assist families who request his services.

"I've made many friends here through the years," Mr. Hood said, "and I certainly hope they won't hesitate to call on me if a funeral director is needed."

Mr. Sparks, commenting on the acquisition of the thirty-five-year-old Hood firm, said: "I feel that our purchase of the Hood Funeral Home will serve the best interests of local families. I know that Mr. Hood will be a tremendous asset to our organization and that he will help us with the same dedication and according to the same high standards he has maintained through the years."

The Sparks firm is a member of the Order of the Golden Rule, a world-wide association of funeral directors which requires that its members provide service of consistently high quality at reasonable prices.

PIONEER FLAT RIVER BUSINESS MAN DIED MONDAY AFTERNOON

H. Rinke, Veteran Merchant and Undertaker, Passed Away in Missouri Baptist Sanitarium in St. Louis.

Henry Hugo Rinke, aged 69 years, 3 months and 22 days, passed away Monday afternoon, April 22, 1929, at 2:50 o'clock, following a stroke of paralysis which attacked him shortly before noon that day. This was the second stroke he had suffered, the first one having occurred in July, 1927.

Funeral services will be held at the Flat River Baptist Church, of which he had been a member for a long period of years, this (Friday) afternoon, at 2 o'clock, conducted by Revs. E. D. Owen and L. H. Maples. Special music will be supplied by the Baptist Quartette, Messrs. Wilby, Johnson, Inman and Ramsey. Active pallbearers will be T. A. Mathews, F. M. Horton, John Ball, C. R. Pratt, A. C. Norwine and Charles Mergentheimer. Interment will be in Parkview Cemetery. As a mark of respect for Mr. Rinke, local business houses will be closed during the hour of his funeral.

Henry Hugo Rinke was born in Soest, Westphalia, Germany, Jan. 1, 1860, and came to the United States when only thirteen years of age. Left an orphan at an early age, he made his own way through life. June 11, 1884, he was united in marriage at Rush Tower, Mo., his bride being Elizabeth Rutledge. To this union six children were born, Elva, now Mrs. Rolla Cozean, of Farmington; Cetta, now Mrs. E. R. Turley, Englewood, Calif.; Lizzie, now Mrs. Alvin Hood, Flat River; Esther, now Mrs. Raymond Caldwell, Elvins; Pauline, now Mrs. Earl Halbrook, Flat River; and Edward, the only son, who resides at Farmington.

His first wife died April 19, 1923, and he was married a second time Dec. 6, 1924, when Mamie Murry, of Flat River, became his wife in a ceremony performed at Farmington. To this second union one little daughter, Mary Rosalee, was born, the baby passing away Aug. 23, 1926, at the age of four and one-half months. He is also survived by one brother, Julius, of Ronan, Montana, and by a number of grandchildren.

He was a member of the A.F. & A.M., I.O.O.F., M.W.A., K. of P., and Rebekah lodges, and was a charter member of the local Chamber of Commerce, in which he was a faithful and loyal worker. He was also the only mayor the city of Flat River ever had, having been chosen for that honor at the time the city was incorporated a number of years ago. He served in the office during the entire time of the incorporation, and was mayor when the court dissolved the city government.

In his early days he followed the carpenter trade and did quite a bit of contract work. He was employed in timbering the first shaft sunk in the Flat River district and built a number of houses in the rapidly growing community which sprung up around local mining operations.

Prior to coming into this district he had spent some time in the West, where he learned the art of the undertaker. He opened a hardware and undertaking shop in Flat River in 1901, and continued in that business until February, 1928, when he retired from active business life because of ill health, which had persisted since the preceding July, when he suffered his first light stroke of paralysis. During the past winter his health had grown steadily worse, and he spent three months in hospitals just prior to his death, one month in the Bonne Terre hospital and two in the Missouri Baptist Sanitarium, where he passed away. While in the latter institution he underwent two operations, rallying nicely from both, and highly favorable reports about his condition were received here on the morning of the day during which he died.

Perhaps no man in Flat River was better known than was Henry Rinke. Thrifty, honest, ambitious and energetic, he was ever alert for business opportunity, but his every deal was a square deal. During his long residence in Flat River he was invariably out in front on every progressive movement, and his contributions toward all sorts of improvements to the community were always liberal. Called by his profession into almost constant contact with sorrow and misfortune, he was kind and gentle with all, and extremely charitable with many who were worthy and needy, although these acts of charity were kept locked in his own heart and were rarely mentioned by him even to his closest associates and friends.

He has been a loyal and devoted resident of our community, and much of our progress has been materially aided by him. In offering sympathy to members of his family, the News assures them that the entire community joins them in mourning this loyal friend and neighbor, who was as good a citizen as he was a father and husband.

Published by THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, St. Francois Co. MO, Fri. April 26, 1929