Facilities
We pride ourselves on making our facility feel like a second home — a true place for peace, comfort, and warmth. Our facility is equipped to provide you and your family only the very best and we invite you to explore all that we have to offer.
Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home
Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home had its beginning back in 1900 when the late E.A. Carroll established a hardware and undertaking business. Seven years later, Mr. J.R. Lehr joined the firm as a sales clerk and manager of the undertaking department. In 1911, he became a licensed embalmer and in 1921 became partner of Mr. Carroll's in the business. The name was changed to Carroll & Lehr.
In 1921 fire destroyed the hardware store, which was located on the northwest corner of the courthouse square where the courthouse annex building is presently located. Following this disaster, the firm was operated in several locations, including the building on the northeast side of the courthouse square that was later known for many years as Vickery Hardware.
Carroll & Lehr Funeral Home then moved to 731 E. Tyler Street, in 1940. Judge Royall Watkins built the beautiful home with spacious landscaped grounds surrounding it in 1915. There were eleven large rooms, two baths, roomy porches and halls, which made the home most suitable for a funeral home.
Then in 1982 Lenard W. Anstead purchased the funeral home business, and leased the building. In 1999 the two decided that the firm had out grown its location and started building a new building, further down Tyler Street (Hwy 31East)
The New location took a year and two months to complete and is in full operation, with very spacious rooms, and the chapel that seats approximately 300 people. The walls are elaborately adorned with beautiful colors of comfort and serenity.
Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home, the peoples choice of Professional Funeral Directors, where we show compassion, love and understanding with dignity to each and every family we serve.
Oaklawn Memorial Park
In 1958, the C.T. Bush family, looking to the future needs & desires of residents of Athens & Henderson County, carefully planned and brought into being the lovely Oaklawn Memorial Park.
The park started with just two gardens, and has now grown to 12 beautiful sections. For over 57 years, the care of the cemetery grounds, and of the families that have entrusted Oaklawn with the memorial care of their loved ones, has been a top priority.
In 2014, the Bush Family decided to approach the Autry Funeral Home Family on taking stewardship of the cemetery due to their longstanding friendship, knowledge of Perpetual Care Cemeteries and the distinct care that accompanies them.
The Autry Family was pleased to take ownership of the cemetery and maintains the same high level of service and expertise that the Bush family was known for during their three generations of care.
Picturesquely located on the rolling green hills of East Texas, families of the area are offered complete perpetual care cemetery services. Its scenic serenity is enjoyed by everyone that enters the Park.
Property
At Oaklawn Memorial Park, you have several property locations from which to choose.
We have over 12 acres developed for burial, with an additional 8 acres available for future use. Our cemetery spaces range from $1035.00 to $1495.00.
We offer convenient interest-free payment plans with optional automatic draft payments if you so choose.
Markers
We also offer markers to permanently memorialize your loved one. We have many options and will happily walk you through the design process to create an individualized marker that will commemorate their life. Create a lasting tribute with Numerous emblems and designs.
Like with our cemetery property, we offer convenient interest free payment plans for markers with optional automatic draft payments.
Flowers
The Oaklawn office carries a variety of beautiful, multi-colored seasonal flowers on display as well as many colors of roses. Customers visiting the office may make selections from the display, or our staff is happy to select and place the flowers on your loved one's grave.
We only carry the highest quality silk bouquets which are designed for cemetery vases. The "Stay-in-the-Vase" design is a patented flower holder, which eliminates the use of foam. The wind will blow regular flowers out of the vases. When water fills the vase, the bouquets of regular flowers will float out and fall to the ground. You will have peace of mind with the Stay-in-the-Vase flowers from Ruby's Silk Flowers. See some examples below. Please note that the exact bouquet may not be available, but we'll do our best to accomodate requests.
Subscription Program
You choose the dates, we'll do the rest! Our flower placement services will give you peace of mind that there will be a beautiful new arrangement in your loved one's vase every season!
Complaints concerning perpetual care cemteries should be made to: Texas Department of Banking, 2601 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78705: 1-877/276-5554 (Toll free), www.dob.texas.gov