Ewton Funeral Home

In the early 1900's, F. P. Ewton built his first casket and took an initial step towards establishing Ewton Funeral Home in Dunlap. Ewton's friend, J. F. Barker, was dying and asked Ewton, a carpenter and farmer, to build him a cakset. On June 28, 1919, Barker died and was buried in the casket Ewton contructed for him.
So many people admired his craftsmanship they began asking him to build their caksets. With the help of his wife, Nancy Hartman Ewton, their sons Grady, Hascal, Ray and Howard; daughters Verna and Mary; and Ray's wife, Brownie, they made caskets until World War II. The Ewtons were unable to get the hardware for the caskets during the war so they started buying caskets ready-made.
Ewton's first hearse was horse-drawn with the drivers seat sitting high on the carriage and it was uncovered. The hearse was the one which carried President William McKinley to the cemetery when he died. In the winter a large rock heated in the fireplace was placed in teh floorboard of the carriage to keep the driver's feet warm.
Ewton established F. P. Ewton & Sons Funeral Home. He passed away in 1951, and his sons, Ray and Howard, took over the funeral home business. Howard Ewton died in 1964 and Ray passed on in 1966. Howard Ewton's son, Dan, became the owner in 1964 and serves as the present funeral director.
Ewton Funeral Home has been in four different locations in Dunlap since its establishment. Presently the facility is located on Highway 28 south of Dunlap. It is equipped with a modern chapel, four parlors, and large parking area. A flag in front of the home is lowered to half mast when one of Sequatchie County's Veterans dies.