Our History

Our History

The Freeman family is extremely proud to be a third generation family business that has gained the trust of Jefferson City since 1961. Donald and Margaret Freeman, started our funeral home in 1961, 60 years ago, in the same facility on Madison Street. Philip Freeman became the second generation into the family business in 1974 and his son, Ryan Freeman, became the third generation that came into the business in 2006.

Freeman Mortuary was the first funeral home built in Jefferson City specifically as a funeral home.  

From 1961-1974, Freeman Mortuary was also the main provider for ambulance service in Jefferson City.

In 1961, our funeral home had a flat roof and close neighboring houses on either side. Today, we have not only a beautiful roofline but also an expanded parking lot and landscaping. Through the years we’ve updated the interior of our building; however, two major changes have occurred in recent years. In the fall of 2011 we completely renovated our showroom which included a larger conference room to meet with families. In October 2015, we completely gutted our main floor and renovated our chapel, lobby, reception and visitation areas and added a private family gathering area. During this time we also updated audio visual equipment with much more options available to families to personalize services. In addition, we are now able to stream our services at the funeral home live on the web for family members and friends who are unable to be in attendance.
As you can see from these pictures, our facility has constantly been updated throughout the years but our mission has always remained the same "to treat everyone we have the privilege to serve as if they were our own family and constantly support our community."
Click the images below to enlarge

Our Vision

In September 1961, Don & Margaret Freeman founded Freeman Mortuary with the life- long commitment to not only the families we serve but the community in which we live.

Since 1961, many things have changed. Our building is larger, our parking area has been expanded, and our chapel has been renovated several times. We have also seen changing expectations of what our family’s value in a service. We are now able to create a more personalized experience through the use of technology, displaying of personal items, and unique ways to share a loved ones legacy. One thing that has not changed in 60 years is our mission to treat every family “as if they were our own loved one.”

Whether you are preplanning or just lost a loved one, you should feel comfortable that your funeral director is working in your best interests, and truly cares about you and your family.

Freeman Mortuary has been family owned for over 60 years, and has earned the highest award possible... the trust of the community.
When you deal with our funeral home you can be assured that your wishes will be carried out just as you request, and that great attention will be paid to every detail, no matter how small. After all, we only have one chance to conduct a service properly.

We feel it is important to give back to a community that has put so much trust in our family. Whether serving as President of the Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce, President of the Jefferson City Area United Way, or a member of the Jefferson City Board of Education, we are committed to our community. We have also had the privilege of chairing fund drives to construct the Rape and Abuse Crisis Shelter, the final phase of the Miller Performing Arts Center, and many improvements at our local high schools. We are thankful to live and work in such a compassionate and generous community.

As we look to the next 60 years, and with the third generation of our family a part of the business, these values will still remain the driving force of our family. 

What Makes Us Unique

We are proud to embrace traditional values, diversity and innovation in honoring the spirit and life of each person we serve. We offer a full selection of:
  1. Funeral and memorial services, ranging from traditional to uniquely innovative and personal
  2. Burial services and cremation options
  3. Celebrant Services
Letting go of a loved one is usually a very difficult process. In order to provide your family peace-of-mind, our funeral home offers complete care, so you can focus on comforting each other as you prepare to say goodbye to someone dear to you.

Although there are many decisions you may have to make, we assure you that we will guide you through the entire process every step of the way. We promise to help you:
  • Design the most fitting memorial or funeral service to honor their memory and pay tribute to their life achievements and experiences.
  • Select the most appropriate products, including a casket, burial vault, cremation urn, cemetery or mausoleum, to fit your budget and suit your needs and desires.
  • Write a fitting obituary to honor your loved one’s life experiences and social connections.
  • Assist in the publication of the obituary in the newspapers of your choice.
  • Create a Book of Memories™, a beautiful, permanent online memorial, where you and your friends can build a legacy of memories by archiving treasured photos and memories.
  • Welcome your family and friends to our funeral home for your planned services, including a viewing, visitation, funeral or memorial service.
  • Make all arrangements with regard to the services whether they are held at your place of worship, our funeral home, cemetery, or alternate gathering place.
  • Provide you with beautiful funeral print materials, including memorial folders, prayer cards and book marks. We also offer personalized note cards for you to acknowledge the emotional support you received from friends, co-workers and community members.
  • Provide an elegant hearse and funeral cars, as well as arrange for escorts.
  • Help in the selection and on-site arrangement of floral tributes.
  • Provide access to grief education and support materials, and referrals to counseling services.
  • Prepare all paperwork, including vital record statistics, permits, filing and obtaining death certificates, and assistance with life insurance, veteran’s benefits and Social Security claims.
We hope you will turn to us for compassionate care and impeccable service. Our pledge is to honor your loved one and family with dignity, respect and personal attention to every detail.


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