McPherson's Funeral Services

John Chasca has been owner/president of McPherson Funeral Service since 1976. Member of Rotary Club, Knights of Columbus. Past President of the British Columbia Funeral Service Association. Presently a director on the board of the Cremation Association of North America and President of the British Columbia Independent Family Funeral home Association.

The last decade has seen many changes in the funeral profession. Large corporations, some from the outside Canada, have purchased many family owned funeral businesses and changed the way they operate. Please be assured, McPherson Funeral Services is still family owned and operated. Since 1911 the professional services we provide in Cranbrook, Kimberley, and the Columbia Valley, as well as surrounding communities, have expanded significantly. At every stage of our growth we have built a reputation base on providing families with genuine caring and responsive service, and for having the best men and women on our staff the profession has to offer. We are grateful that in 90 years of service, McPherson Funeral Service has the experience unparalleled acceptance by families as their funeral home of choice, and we’re responding by reconfirming our commitment to you.

Born in McLennan Alberta John has over 30 years in all aspects of funeral Service.

Gordon Murphy has been with McPherson Funeral Service since he arrived in Cranbrook back in 1981. A funeral director since 1969, Gordon was born and raised in Saint John, New Brunswick. Gordon received his Alberta Funeral director’s license in 1980 and then relocated to Cranbrook in June of 1981. Since then, he has become a valuable part of the community, and was named Cranbrook’s Citizen of the Year for 2001. His involvement in the community over the years has included work with the Compassionate Friends, local hospice, the Canadian Cancer Society, the PARTY program. Most of all, Gordon enjoys working with families at the funeral home.

Brian is from Fredericton; New Brunswick. Brian attended Fredericton High School he graduated in 1968. Brian enjoys serving families throughout the East Kootenays. Brian enjoys helping families in their time of need and playing darts when the opportunity arises and is a member of the Fraternal order of Eagles. Brian has been with the firm for 15 years.

Sharla MacKay
Email: sharla.mackay@mcphersonfh.com

Sharla MacKay was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. After graduating from High School she took some time to travel the world and experience many different cultures. Her travels took her to over 65 countries worldwide and all seven continents. After completing her many journeys, Sharla has now settled among the beautiful mountains of Cranbrook, B.C. Being raised in a family of funeral professionals, she has been around the industry her entire life. Sharla is a graduate of the Western School of Funeral Service and has been with McPherson Funeral Service since 2003.

Larry was born and raised in Saskatchewan. He began his career in funeral service in 1985, becoming a licensed funeral director and embalmer in 1988. Prior to moving to Cranbrook in July 2006, Larry was the manager of Sallows & McDonald Funeral Home in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. He finds his work as a funeral director both challenging and rewarding, and considers it a privilege to work with families during the most difficult times in their lives.
Larry and his wife Roslyn, along with their three school-age children, are all looking forward to being a part of the community, as well as enjoying all Cranbrook and area has to offer.

Joseph was raised in and around Toronto, Ontario. Moving with Sophia his wife of 22 years, from Markdale, Ontario in May of 2006. Together they have a daughter Kalandra living in Calgary and a son Zachary who has remained in Ontario. Joe graduated from the Humber College funeral service program in Toronto. Prior to moving to B.C. he worked for Ward Funeral Home in both Brampton and Woodbridge Funeral Homes. During his time with Ward he had the privilege of working with a great staff and with families from a wide range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Since moving to Cranbrook he has enjoyed exploring the beauty of the mountains, meeting new friends along the many trails and backroads and is always looking for new adventures to experience.

Daryl and Barb Houser
Email: planning@mcphersonfh.com

Daryl and Barb Houser are representatives for Canada Purple Shield/FamilySide, a company that has been helping people pre-fund their final arrangements for over 75 years. The McPherson Funeral Home chose Purple shield to be our pre-need provider and Barb and Daryl have joined us as our pre-arrangement counsellors.

Early day records of funeral service in the Cranbrook area reveal a firm advertising as ”acting undertakers” and operated by Clement Maggs and Frank W. Hughes prior to 1900.

Maggs and Hughes served a large area including the cemeteries of Fisherville, Fort Steele, Wardner, Windermere, St. Eugene Mission,and Moyle. Economic conditions changed for the better for Cranbrook when the CPR brought its ribbons of steel to the area in 1898. Once considered merely a neighbouring area to Fort Steele. Cranbrook soon received city status with the steady influx of business brought about by the railway.

Following on the heels of the railway was one Charles P. Campbell, a graduate of Champion College in the USA. He advertised that he would attend to any work in the district and remained until 1903.

Records show a change of name in 1904 and the next funeral director (1904) was William R. Beatty. An advertisement announces “undertaker. embalmer: caskets trimmed and shipped at short notice and reasonable price”. He was also an agent for the Nelson Marble and Tombstone Works.

Another event in 1904 was the dedication of the Catholic Cemetery in Cranbrook, by the Bishop of New Westminster and turned over to the Order of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in the Diocese of Nelson. The cemetery remains under the same Diocese to this day.

By 1910 there were two funeral directors serving the area. The latest to open for business was F. M. McPherson, who founded McPherson Funeral Service which survives to this day with a different spelling.

McPherson soon turned his interests to politics and was named to the board of transport commissioners. He turned his business Over to an Angus Roderick McPherson.

The first McPherson Funeral Home was located at 27 Norbury Avenue, now known as Tenth Avenue South. Upon McPherson’s death in January, 1957, staff member Gordon Wills, an employee since 1946 became a partner in the firm and served the community until 1970.

Ross Dixon, aged 41 with 20 years background in funeral service was the next owner of McPherson’s. He would keep the same name of the firm and build a 6,000 square foot funeral home and chapel seating 140 on Second Street South.

An event that would shake the city of Cranbrook and its citizens and put a huge strain on McPherson’s facilities, took place at 1 p.m. on February 11th 1978.

A Pacific Western passenger plane would crash while attempting to land on the snow-covered airport field. It claimed the lives of 42 passengers and crew members. The tail section separated from the main body of the aircraft and held six survivors: one stewardess and five passengers.

In total, McPherson’s opened to pathologists for 18 autopsies while the Cranbrook hospital handled 24. Eight local families requested funeral services through McPherson’s while many other victims were shipped back to their homes in other communities.

Prior to the PWA disaster, Dixon had sold the funeral home to John Chasca in September, 1977. Dixon died at the age of 50 shortly after the Cranbrook air crash.

John Chasca a past president of the British Columbia Funeral Association, remains owner of McPherson Funeral Service.

Please be advised of the following policies and regulations governing the operations of our cemeteries.

Niche Fronts are to be lettered by sandblasting in modified Roman Font. Cut flowers are permitted to be placed in the urns provided at the Columbarium but will be removed by the Caretaker when their condition is deemed to be detrimental to the beauty of the cemetery.

Mementos, flowers or any other items are not to be placed on the Columbarium or niche fronts.

Niche fronts and related hardware shall be installed/placed by City Staff or a contractor authorized in writing to do so by the Manager, Leisure Services pursuant to this Bylaw.

General Information

No grave or grave space is to have a fence, hedge, curbing or railing to define its location.

The planting or removal of any trees, shrubs, flowers etc. shall only be done by authorized employees of the City.

For additional information regarding the operation of our cemeteries please contact City Hall at 427-5311.