Death is one of those things we don't talk about until we absolutely have to. Then, suddenly, you’re standing in a quiet hallway in Danville, Kentucky, trying to remember if your uncle wanted a mahogany casket or if he’d think the whole thing was a waste of money. Most folks in Boyle County have heard the name Preston Pruitt Spurlin Funeral Home at some point, usually while reading the local obituaries or driving down South Fourth Street. But there’s a lot more to this place than just being "the funeral home in the old house."
Honestly, the history of this building is kinda wild. It wasn't always a place for mourning.
The structure at 331 South Fourth Street was originally the J.R. Marrs home, built around 1870. It’s officially listed as a Kentucky Historic Resource. When you walk inside, you can still feel that Victorian-era gravity. It’s got high ceilings and that specific kind of quiet that only old wood and heavy curtains can produce. The business itself predates the building, though. It was started way back in 1880 by W.G. Dunlap and Jule McGoodwin. Think about that for a second. This business has survived world wars, the Great Depression, and the transition from horse-drawn hearses to the digital obituaries we scroll through on our phones today.
The Reality of Planning at Preston Pruitt Spurlin Funeral Home
People usually assume that "planning a funeral" is just one big, depressing meeting where you sign a bunch of checks. It’s actually a series of weirdly specific decisions. You’re not just picking a box; you’re deciding how someone will be remembered for the next fifty years.
At Preston Pruitt Spurlin Funeral Home, the Spurlin family—Jim, Libby, and their team—basically act as project managers for grief. They do the stuff nobody wants to think about, like getting the death certificate filed or calling the Social Security Administration to report the death. Did you know the one-time Social Security death benefit is only $255? It hasn't changed in decades. It’s a tiny drop in the bucket, but the staff there usually helps families navigate those paperwork hurdles so they don't have to deal with government hold music while they're grieving.
Modern Options vs. Old School Burial
One big misconception is that a traditional funeral home like this one only does the "standard" casket-in-the-ground thing. That’s just not true anymore.
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Cremation is huge now. Even in a traditional town like Danville, more people are choosing it because it's flexible. You can have the service months after the passing, or you can have a full-blown traditional viewing before the cremation happens. Some families keep the urn, others scatter the ashes, and some bury them in a family plot.
- Traditional Burial: Still the go-to for many. It involves the visitation (the "viewing"), the service in the chapel (which holds about 200 people), and the procession to the cemetery.
- Memorial Services: These happen without the body present. It's more about the stories and the photos.
- Graveside Services: Sometimes people just want a small gathering at the cemetery. No bells and whistles.
The facility itself was renovated in the early 90s to make it more accessible. If you’ve ever tried to navigate an old Kentucky mansion in a wheelchair, you know it’s usually a nightmare. They fixed that back in '92 when they moved from their old spot to the Marrs home. They managed to keep the "sitting area" vibe of the old house while making it work for modern crowds.
Why the "Spurlin" Name Was Added
If you look at the sign, you’ll see it’s technically Preston Pruitt Spurlin Funeral Home. The "Spurlin" part comes from the current ownership. Jim Spurlin is the Licensed Funeral Director and owner. It’s a family-run operation, which matters in a town where everyone knows everyone. When you call, you aren't getting a call center in another state. You’re getting someone who probably knows where your family is buried or went to church with your neighbor.
There’s a specific kind of pressure that comes with running a funeral home in a small community. If you mess up, you don't just lose a customer—you lose the trust of the whole town. The staff there includes people like Tom Stocker, who’s been around since 1991, and "Bro" Jerry Browning, a Vietnam veteran and retired pastor who handles aftercare. Having a chaplain on staff is a smart move because, let’s be real, the grieving process doesn't end when the casket is lowered.
The Logistics Nobody Tells You
Most people don't know what to bring to that first meeting. It’s a stressful scramble. If you're heading to Preston Pruitt Spurlin Funeral Home to make arrangements, you basically need a dossier of a person's life:
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- Vital Stats: Social Security number, parents' names (including mother's maiden name), and their birthplace.
- Military Records: If they were a veteran, you need the DD-214. This is huge because it gets them a flag, a headstone, and sometimes a spot at Camp Nelson National Cemetery.
- The "Outfit": Yes, you have to bring clothes. Including undergarments and shoes. It feels weird to pack a suitcase for someone who isn't going on a trip, but it's part of the dignity of the process.
- Photos: Not just for the obituary, but for the video tributes.
The funeral home also helps write the obituary. This is a lost art. A good obituary isn't just a list of survivors; it’s a tiny biography. They submit these to local papers like The Advocate-Messenger, but they also host them online where people can leave "tributes" or order flowers directly.
Dealing with the Costs
Let's talk money, because that's what everyone worries about but feels tacky asking. Funerals are expensive. Between the professional services, the casket (or urn), the vault (which most cemeteries require to keep the ground from sinking), and the cemetery fees, it adds up fast.
Pre-planning is the "hack" here. You can actually sit down with the directors at Preston Pruitt Spurlin Funeral Home and pick everything out years in advance. You can even pay for it then, which locks in the price. If caskets go up by $500 in five years, it doesn't matter—you already paid. It sounds morbid to plan your own funeral, but it’s actually a huge gift to your kids so they aren't arguing over "willow green" vs. "midnight blue" while they're crying.
The "Aftercare" Phase
Most people think the funeral home’s job is done once the service ends. But they actually offer a lot of grief support. They point people toward resources like Webhealing or Willowgreen. In a tight-knit place like Danville, the staff often sees the families at the grocery store or at church for months afterward. That's the nuance of a local business versus a corporate chain. There's a level of accountability you just don't get with a big conglomerate.
What to Do Next
If you’ve recently lost someone or you're just trying to be responsible and get your own affairs in order, don't just wing it.
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Start by gathering the "vital stats" mentioned earlier. Keep them in a folder. If you want to use Preston Pruitt Spurlin Funeral Home, call them and just ask for a General Price List (GPL). By law, they have to give it to you. It breaks down every single cost so you can see exactly where the money goes.
If you're attending a service there soon, remember that the first few rows are for family. If you aren't inner-circle, sit in the middle or back. And for heaven's sake, silence your phone before you walk through those heavy front doors.
Take a moment to look at the architecture of the building while you’re there. It’s a piece of Danville history that has stood for over 150 years, watching the town change while providing the same basic, heavy service of saying goodbye.
Actionable Steps:
- Find the DD-214: If your loved one was a veteran, locate this document now. It is the only way to secure military honors.
- Request the GPL: Contact the funeral home for their current price list to avoid "sticker shock" during a crisis.
- Draft a Life Sketch: Don't wait for a death to write down key dates and names; it’s much harder to remember your grandmother's maiden name when you're in shock.
The reality is that places like this are the backbone of a town's history. They see us at our absolute worst and help us find a way back to a "new normal." Whether you're looking at an obituary online or planning a service in their chapel, understanding how they operate makes the whole process a lot less intimidating.