At the time of their father's death, Porter F. Short, then Paul L. and Roy D. Short joined in the operation of the business. It was called Short Brothers. In 1911 Paul Short went to Mount Vernon and brother Roy went to Mount Carmel. IL in 1916 to establish their own business. Porter stayed in Owensville where he continued to operate the funeral home and furniture store.
After Porter's death, Holder constructed the funeral home at 319 South Main Street separating the two businesses. The structure was originally Phillips Hotel built in 1890.
Randall joined the Holders Funeral Home and Holders Furniture Store on October 11, 1976, then in 1991 Randall and Barbara purchased the funeral home. Holders Funeral Home is the oldest firm in Gibson County. |
Holders was originally established in 1874 by John L. Short, it was a combination furniture store and undertaking establishment. The cabinet makers would make the coffins and that is how the funeral business originated.
Paul R. Holder became Porter's Associate in 1939, then in 1943 he purchased interest in the business and the firm was known as Short and Holder. Porter died in 1946 and in 1954 it was changed to Holder Funeral Home and Holder Furniture Company.
In 1961, Jeffrey K. Lutz, Holder's son-in-law joined the firm as a funeral director and embalmer. He and his wife, Sharon (Holder) Lutz purchased the funeral and furniture store in 1974.