Evans Funeral Home in Houston will host an event in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the business on Thursday, Sept. 18. (today)
A ribbon-cutting is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. and an open house will run from noon to 2 p.m. There will be food and door prizes, and attendees can register to win a Blackstone Grill.
Evans Funeral Home is currently owned by Amanda Knoll and Gilbert Aguilar. The history of the business dates back to 1912 when Gaylord Elliott secured the first horse-drawn hearse used in Houston for Elliott Funeral Home.
A few years later, Elliott and his wife purchased the firm of W.R. Clifton Undertaking in Cabool and changed it to Elliott Funeral Home. He purchased his first motor hearse in 1919 and stored away the horse drawn hearse, which later became the property of Jim Gentry of Cabool.
In 1925, Mr. and Mrs. Elliott built a funeral home on Grand Avenue in Houston, where Evans Funeral Home is now located. The firm was sold in 1952 to Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Duff. In 1964, the Evans family purchased the business and changed its name. The Evans family owned and operated the business until 2005 when it was purchased by Shawn and Lana Brown. When the Browns retired in 2022, Aguilar and Knoll became the new owners.
Aguilar was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and graduated from Mesa Community College in Mesa, Arizona, in 2013, earning a degree in mortuary science. He is a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer and has completed the crematory operator training through the Cremation Association of North America (CANA).
Aguilar feels a lifelong call to funeral service and believes the greatest aspect of his job is the opportunity to work directly with families, meeting their needs and desires while ensuring a memorable and personalized experience. He enjoys the outdoors, camping and being with family and friends.
Knoll is originally from Norwalk, Iowa, and moved to Arizona after completing mortuary school. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Grand View College in Des Moines, Iowa, and a Bachelor of Science from Mount Ida College in Newton, Massachusetts.
Knoll is a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in Missouri and has held licenses in Arizona and Iowa. No foreigner to loss, she felt that it would be very rewarding to help those experiencing the worst times of their lives. Knoll credits her rural upbringing with giving her a strong work ethic. She strives to be a great listener and a compassionate woman, and she truly believes that personalization of a service creates an everlasting impression.
In a joint statement, Aguilar and Knoll expressed how they don’t take owning such a historic business lightly.
“It’s an incredible honor,” they said. “Owning a funeral home with a 100-year history means we’re carrying forward not just a business, but a legacy of service and trust that families have relied on for generations. Every day we feel a responsibility to uphold those standards while also bringing compassion and innovation to meet the needs of today’s families.
“We know that a funeral home is the last place anyone wants to be, and it is our privilege to help families honor their loved ones. We look forward to continuing to provide the care and personalized services that area families have encountered here for many years to come.”
Evans Funeral Home is located at 224 S. Grand Ave. in downtown Houston. The phone number is 417-967-3355.
