Our History

Our story begins with William H. Hitchcock and George Boyce, who operated a hardware, furniture, and undertaking business for several years prior to 1928. That year, they dissolved their partnership: Mr. Hitchcock took over the embalming and mortuary services exclusively, while George and his sons retained the hardware and furniture portion. The business itself had originally been purchased from Waldo Smith.

Mr. Hitchcock soon relocated his funeral services to the Masonic Temple, which he found suitable for a funeral parlor. In 1934, he purchased the Enos Vaughn residence at 427 Adams Avenue and remodeled it into the first full-time funeral home in Wray, naming it Hitchcock Funeral Home. The residence provided space for a funeral chapel, casket showroom, embalming room, and office. Mr. Hitchcock continued operating until his death in 1938.

Shortly before his passing, Phil Lockwood visited him in Wray. Because Phil was the last funeral professional to speak with Mr. Hitchcock, Mrs. Hitchcock persuaded Phil and his wife, Marion, to move to Wray and operate the business for her. Phil became the first licensed funeral director and embalmer in Wray, having attended mortuary school.

In 1943, the Lockwoods purchased the mortuary building from Lucy Hitchcock and renamed it Lockwood Mortuary. They operated the establishment until 1975, when Phil suffered a stroke and was forced to retire. The business was then sold to Ralph L. Spellman, who managed it until his nephew, James L. Schmidt, could relocate to Wray to take over operations.

Jim Schmidt ran the funeral home for the next 40 years. In 2000, he undertook a major restoration and expansion of the building, adding a new casket showroom, meeting rooms, and visitation rooms. After four decades of service to Wray and surrounding communities, Jim retired in 2015 and sold the business to Javan Jones.

Javan, after attending mortuary school in Atlanta, Georgia, returned to his hometown to continue the tradition. In 2016, he added an on-site crematory, serving not only Wray but also surrounding communities and funeral homes.



Today, the business proudly operates as Jones Family Funeral Home, continuing the tradition of families serving families since 1928.