Staff Writer
On September 26 Lancaster-Morgan Funeral Home, one of the oldest businesses in Caribou, held a ribbon cutting to celebrate new ownership with the help of the area business owners, members of the Caribou Chamber of Commence and Industry, family and friends. New owners Steve Lunn and Doug Hunter are looking forward to continue to offer the greater Caribou, Limestone and Swedish Colony communities with family-oriented service that area residents have come to know and love about Lancaster-Morgan Funeral Home.
Contributed Photo
THE NEW OWNERS of Lancaster-Morgan Funeral Home hold a ribbon cutting to celebrate their new acquisition with family and friends. Standing are, front left, Anne Lunn, 4-year-old Grace Lunn, Owner Steve Lunn, Owner Doug Hunter and Josette Hunter. Back row: Caribou Chamber of Commerce and Industry Board of Director Ryan Ellsworth, CCC&I Jeannie McLaughlin, Phil Halvorson, Roger Hunter, former owner Juanita Lancaster and Deputy Mayor Kenneth Murchison.
As both family-oriented and community-focused individuals, Hunter and Lunn understand how difficult it is to lose a loved one or friend and they strive to make the transition as easy as possible for individuals who employ their services. In addition to the updates Lunn and Hunter have made on the building, they also plan on adding a few new services for their clients during their time of need. The duo plans to offer a complementary ride to grieving families in their luxury Lincoln Town Car stretch limousine, as well as offering families the option of having the funeral home create a computerized multi-media presentation for a memorial service during calling hours free of charge.
Hunter and Lunn feel that giving grieving families the option of reflecting on “better times” with their love ones through presentation of photos throughout their life will be an excellent option for family members to consider when they are planning an appropriate memorial service for their deceased loved one.
The duo purchased the property from longtime owner Juanita Lancaster in June, and they worked on updating and renovating the historical funeral home building for the last couple months. The building currently has new rugs in every room, a fresh coat of paint on all of the walls, a redone parking lot, a completely renovated restroom and much more. Lunn and Hunter stated that they decided to renovate the 11 Clover Street building so they could “provide an updated level of service to area customers.”
Both Hunter and Lunn have ample experience in the funeral service industry. Lunn grew up in Mars Hill and received a degree in mortuary science from Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla. After graduating from college, Lunn returned to Aroostook County were he worked for eight years at an area funeral home.
While Caribou native Hunter is a licensed accountant, he also has ample experience in serving the community. In the spring of 2003, Hunter and his wife Josette went to Sierra Leone as missionaries. In Africa, Doug worked as the office administrator and Josette worked as an OB/GYN. Hunter states while he and his family have had a lot of fun traveling, “Caribou is home.” After returning home to Aroostook County in the spring of 2006, Hunter worked as an office manager for the same funeral home as Lunn and they eventually decided to purchase Lancaster-Morgan Funeral Home together.
The new owners encourages area residents to consider allowing them to assist them during their time of need with their renovated facility and personal service. Contact the Lancaster-Morgan Funeral Home at 492-2171 for more information or to set up an appointment.
