Laurence
and Marshall Box
1945
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In 1920 Marshall Box (who was
assisting the local undertakers at that time) had the
opportunity to purchase the former undertakers
business FORSTER & McPHEE and later PHIPPEN &
BROWN FUNERAL HOME. Marshall was married to Charlotte
Jane Peterson. They both carried on the funeral
service under the name MARSHALL BOX & SON later changed
to M. Box and Son in 1973.
At one time Marshall owned the
furniture & funeral service, ambulance livery,
coal delivery and a lumber yard all in Parkhill.
Marshall continued to manage both the funeral and
furniture service until 1935 when his son T. Laurence
Box became a licensed funeral director. Both Marshall
and Laurence continued to work together, operating
furniture and funeral service at 251 Main Street
Parkhill under the telephone numbers 43W and 43J. At
that time most funerals where conducted from homes and
churches, therefore there wasn't a need for the modern
day funeral home until 1949. Laurence purchased
property on Broad Street in Parkhill where the funeral
home now is located. Marshall didn't see the start of
the modern facilities, he passed away on November 26,
1946 age 61. Laurence carried on with the furniture,
funeral and ambulance services for many more years by
himself.
Laurence had 2 sons that would
eventually join him in the daily operations.
Laurence's oldest son James M. Box graduated from the
Canadian School of Embalming in 1960 where he assisted
with the operation until his death in 1969. Laurence's
seconded son Charles "Chuck" Box graduated
in 1966 from the Canadian School of Embalming, joining
the business in 1968 and purchases M. Box and Son in
1982. Chuck sold the Ontario Ambulance Service in 1987
and closed the furniture store on
Main Street Parkhill in May 1998. Chuck continues to
carry on with the family business as you read this
page of history. |