Breit Funeral Home began operations at 408 West Market Street in Savannah, Missouri in 1926 under the ownership of Ellis and Mary Breit. Similarly, in 1934 Roy and Blanche Stamey at 2335 St. Joseph Avenue in St. Joseph, Missouri established the Stamey Funeral Home.

The two served neighboring communities, unquestionably, without notion that anything more than providing funeral services to their local families would ever link the two establishments.

Both funeral homes underwent ownership changes prior to this link being made. In 1956, Roy Stamey died, leaving Mrs. Stamey to carry on with the operation of the business until 1974 when she sold an interest to Bill and Billie Lindsey. In 1980, Mrs. Stamey retired and sold her remaining interest to the Lindseys and the name was changed to Stamey-Lindsey Funeral Home.

In 1958 James and Phyllis Hawkins bought an interest in the Breit Funeral Home and became sole owners in 1968 upon Mr. & Mrs. Breit’s retirement. Ron Crouse joined Breit & Hawkins Funeral Home as an embalmer and funeral director in 1974. Ron and Virginia Crouse purchased the business in 1984. As the local community grew, Mr. and Mrs. Crouse designed and built the current location at 1010 South 71 Highway. The Crouse’s personalization and care eased the burden of grieving families until their retirement in April of this year.

Terry Gladden, a native of Wathena, Kansas, graduated from Kansas City Kansas Community College in December 1978 with his degree in Mortuary Science. Mr. Gladden, a licensed funeral director and embalmer in Missouri and Kansas since1980, bought the Stamey-Lindsey Funeral Home in August 1988. Gladden-Stamey Funeral Home has served the area under the ownership of Mr. Gladden with the focus of providing personalized and dignified funeral service to families who have suffered the loss of a loved one.

Upon Ron and Virginia Crouse’s retirement in April, Terry Gladden purchased the current Breit-Hawkins & Gladden Funeral Home. Neighboring St. Joseph has benefitted from personalization and compassionate service for over 17 years. With the purchase of Breit & Hawkins, Mr. Gladden is devoted to continuing and extending the personalized, caring services that have always been associated with both Breit & Hawkins as well as with Gladden-Stamey. Mr. Gladden assures continuation and forthcoming dedication to quality for our local community.

The Breit-Hawkins & Gladden Funeral Home of Savannah, Missouri will honor and fulfill all pre-arranged funeral agreements written by Breit & Hawkins Funeral Home. Additionally, the funeral home welcomes the transfer of any pre-arranged funeral plans from any other funeral home.

Breit-Hawkins & Gladden offers a comfortable, home-like atmosphere, one-on-one personal service, grave markers, monuments and a gift shoppe.