About Us

1866

It is recorded by a local historian that in 1866, the first "Undertaking Parlor" was established in Camp Henderson by Vincent Gray (1832-1897). Gray founded a small hardware and undertaking company, and also served as postmaster until the town of Cleburne was officially organized. It was a plank storefront building. He was appointed one of the trustees on the school board in 1883.

In 1868, he relocated the business to 114 East Chambers, at the corner of Chambers and Anglin streets. It was the first block east of the courthouse square. The original building still exists today as part of Cleburne's historical district downtown area.
 

Gray had many challenges and interesting facts in taking care of the dead during these early times. Being also in the hardware business, where he actually made the caskets. The lumber used in making these caskets of that time was cut by one-horse mills from the timbers of Texas. Bodies were often carried to their final resting places in ox carts, and many oxen-drawn vehicles were seen in early Johnson County funeral processions.

1884

Tobe N. Blackwell (1858-1909) started as a clerk at Gray & Blair Furniture, Hardware & Undertaking.

He eventually bought an interest in the business, and later was the sole owner.

He later sold an interest to the undertaking manager, R.H. Deering in 1894.

The funeral home was listed in the city directory as Deering and Blackwell, Undertakers" at 114 E. Chambers Street in 1899.

1897

August 2, Cleburne's first undertaker, Vincent Gray dies at age 64. He was buried in Cleburne Memorial Cemetery.

1903

In March, Texas passed a bill creating the State Board of Embalming. This licensing system marked the next step in the professional status of the funeral profession. Mr. R.H. Deering held Texas Embalmer license no 32.

1905

The business was sold to Gray's son-in-law R.H. Deering, who was serving as manager of the growing undertaking parlor. At this time it was renamed R.H. Deering, Undertakers.

R.H. Deering (1866-1939) was born in Meridan, Mississippi, and came to Texas as a young man. He arrived in Cleburne in 1886. He was first a civil engineer, then a mechanic, a fireman, and finally an undertaker. He bought an interest in the business in 1894. He married Effie Gray (1874-1956) who was the daughter of Vincent Gray, the first undertaker.

1922

Deering's son, J. Vincent Deering(1902-1993) joined the business and it became known as R.H. Deering and Son.

1938

The Deerings purchased the old Crank Boarding House property, tore it down, and built an appropriate "Funeral Parlor" where the structure stands as of 2004. There was a long chapel on the left side of the building that could seat around 100 people in folding chairs that were set up in it and adjoining rooms, with a small family room on the left side of the chapel.

1939

On October 16, R. H. Deering died at age 74. He is buried in Cleburne Memorial Cemetery. 

In December, F. Byron Crosier of Godley and J. Hunter Pearson of Burleson became partners, purchasing the firm from the Deering family, and renaming it Crosier-Pearson Funeral Home. 

Both had worked in their family's perspective hardware stores which had undertaking departments. They helped each other out when things got busy so they had gotten to know each other, and decided to go in together to buy out the Deering family after Mr. Deering died.

1959

With the business growing, Mr. Crosier and Mr. Pearson built a formal funeral chapel on the south side of the building offering a drastic change to the funeral industry in Cleburne. Up to that time most funerals were in churches, homes or at graveside. 
 

Jimmy Wray joined the firm as a high school part time helper, washing cars and assisting with funerals. He began making ambulance calls, and developed an interest in funeral service. He went to Dallas Institute of Mortuary Service, graduating in 1962. He returned to Crosier- Pearson, and remained there for 28 years before joining the staff of Martin's Funeral Home.

1966

A Milestone! 100 years in business in Johnson County, Texas.

1975

Johnson County resident, R. B. "Bob" Mayfield and J. Hunter Pearson bought the Crosier interest in the firm.

1987

The funeral home name is formally changed to Crosier-Pearson-Mayfield Funeral Home. More renovations to the front of the building by adding additional offices, foyer and porch area.

1989

May 8, F. Byron Crosier dies at age 87 in Vernon, Texas. Buried in Rosehill Cemetery, Cleburne.

1993

November 15, J. Vincent Gray dies at age 91. He was buried in Cleburne Memorial Cemetery.

1996

February 15, J. Hunter Pearson dies at age 87. Buried in Rose Hill Cemetery.

1999

Actual calculations show Crosier-Pearson-Mayfield to have served more than 18,000 families from time of establishment to present.

The Higginbotham Family business, Higginbotham Funeral Homes of Texas, approaches Jimmy and Carol Wray to oversee building of Mountain Valley Funeral Home in Burleson and then Cleburne Funeral Home. The Wrays embark on the new adventure whole-heartedly and serve Johnson County as Managing Directors with great pride.

2000

Higginbotham Funeral Homes of Texas build Cleburne Funeral Home with lifelong resident, Jimmy Wray, along with his wife and fellow Funeral Director and Embalmer, Carol Wray serving as Managing Directors. Mountain Valley Funeral Home is placed under new management at this time so the Wray’s are able to focus solely on Cleburne Funeral Home.

2004

September 28, 2004 – Higginbotham acquired Crosier-Pearson-Mayfield Funeral Home and merged their two firms in Cleburne, becoming what is known as Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Funeral Home still today.

All business and services from our Main Street location were moved to 512 N. Ridgeway Drive. All information from past funerals at our Main Street location as well as all pre-need policies and records have been taken to our beautiful new location.

2006

The Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Funeral Home at 512 N. Ridgeway underwent an enlargement and remodeling to provide more comfortable and spacious facilities for visitation and funeral services.

2024

After over 66 years in the funeral business, and of those 60 being a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer, Jimmy Wray retires. We will still be blessed to see him on services for as long as he desires here at Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Funeral Home.

Carol Wray retires from the funeral home full time and plans to work part time as time permits outside of their travels and well-deserved retirement from serving families daily. We are blessed knowing we will get to have her at Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Funeral Home in her new role.

Together, they have served families from Johnson County together for over 32 years! We are blessed to have had their direction and impact for so long!

Jimmy and Carol dedicated their lives to serving others in the funeral homes and in the community through countless clubs, organizations and boards as well as in their church home of Calvary Baptist Church, Grandview.

Jimmy grew up in Cleburne, the town he loves greatly. He graduated from Cleburne High School in 1960. He began working in the funeral industry here in Cleburne in 1958 while still in high school. He then went on to graduate from Dallas Institute Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science in 1962.

Carol grew up in western Texas and graduated from Grandfalls High School in 1978.  She graduated in 1981 from the Odessa College School of Nursing. She changed her career path and continued to work as a nurse in the metroplex while attending the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service where she graduated in 1991. Carol moved to Cleburne to then serve her apprenticeship at Martin’s Funeral Home in Cleburne. Jimmy and Carol were married in 1993.

Nicole Dennis Simpkins takes over as Managing Funeral Director at Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Funeral Home. Please see her bio on Our Staff page to learn more about this Cleburne High School graduate’s history.