myparistexas.com will be highlighting Lamar County Chamber of Commerce businesses each month in our Local Paris section.
By Paul Allen – Lamar County Chamber President
Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home has been a member of the Lamar County Chamber of Commerce for 70 years.
I had the chance to sit down with Jackie McQueen, the managing director, who started in the funeral business at the age of 20-years-old and has 44-years experience.
The house where Fry-Gibbs is located was built in 1858 by physician Dr. A.S. Johnson. In 1916 it was occupied by Dr. LP. McCuistion.
The house became known as Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home in 1951 and in 1997, the Gibbs family acquired full ownership of the firm.
During the 44-years that Mr. McQueen has been in the funeral business, there have been many changes. Most of those changes come with traditions.
“The goal is to always meet the needs of the families that walk through the door, but today they see more personalization for service,” said McQueen. “The days of traditional services has changed to meet the requests of the families. Each family is different, so most services are different.”
There are many funeral home today that are owned and managed by corporations.
Fry-Gibbs today remains a family owned business that has given back to the community in many ways over the years they have been in business.
The Lamar County Chamber of Commerce would like to take this opportunity to thank Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home for being a long-standing business in Lamar County that has served its community.
