Jack P. Leamon represents the fourth generation in the funeral home and furniture business. Jack graduated from Lena High School in 1943 and then from Cincinnati School of Mortuary School in Cincinnati, OH. He married Mary E. Murphy of Carthage, IL in 1949.  Jack and Mary were blessed with three children: Thomas, Janet, and Robert (Paul).  Today all three children are involved in the family business.

Jack worked beside his father until Paul’s death in 1951.  Agnes and Jack took over the business.  Jack then became president in 1970 after Agnes’s death.  In 1994 Jack sold the furniture store.   

Tom, Jack’s son also graduated from Lena-Winslow High school.  He graduated from Worshams College of Mortuary Science in 1973 and has been with the business ever since. Aaron England, Janet’s son, represents the sixth generation in the family business.

In 1869, John Thomas (J.T.) Leamon founded Leamon’s Furniture and Funeral Home after moving to northwest Illinois from Pennsylvania.  He and his wife, Caroline, first settled in Cedarville for a year where he worked as a cabinet maker.  They then moved to a small farm near Lena where J.T. worked in the painters trade until he opened the furniture store and undertaking parlor.  He became very successful in the two businesses being known throughout the whole section of the country.  J.T. and Caroline were blessed with ten children, three boys and seven girls.

In 1901, one of J.T.’s son’s, Robert Bowes (R.B.) Leamon joined him in the family business.  R.B. married Jennie Shearer in 1880.  They had six

History

R.B’s youngest son, Paul, born in 1896 followed his father in the furniture and funeral home business in 1923.  He attended Lena Schools and Worshams Mortuary School.  In the 1930’s Paul purchased the family business. Paul was married to Agnes Carmody and they had one child Jack.

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Robert P. Leamon, Jack P. Leamon (child)

and Robert B. Leamon, 1928

Original funeral home and

furniture store in 1869

children, two boys and four girls: Georgianna, Josephine, Eddra, Earl, Bessie, and Paul.    R.B. worked in the business until about 1928 when he retired.

Caskets used to come in shells and the Leamon family had to then complete the interiors.  Horse and buggy was the mode of transportation in those days and when there was a death call the undertaker would go to the home where he would prepare the deceased and offer a wake, or more commonly known today as a visitation.  A wreath would be hung on the front door of the residence to signify a death.

Funeral home staff, 1919