 When Skillern Hardware was established, in 1884, by Alex Skillern, it sold caskets and casket handles. In 1900, James Ison Latimer, Mr. Skillern’s son-in-law, started offering funeral services through the hardware store. The hardware store was also the local funeral business, as was often the case in those days. James I. Latimer was known as an honest merchant and funeral director. When Alex Skillern became inactive in his business, he relied on his son-in-law to continue to operate it until 1942. In 1935 Mr. Latimer moved his funeral business to an old house located on the corner of 3rd and West Howard Streets.
In 1937, his son, Jimmy Ison Latimer joined the company. After finishing high
school in Nashville, he went to the Cincinnati Embalming College, where he
graduated with high honors.
 In 1945, another son, James Hearn Latimer joined the family business of Latimer
Funeral Home.
After long years of planning, hard work and careful supervision, the brothers moved the business into its new building, at 115 East Hempstead St., where it is located today. The new facility opened on March 1, 1959.
In 1980 Latimer Funeral Home was sold to Madden Enterprises. Vance Marcum was named Manager and worked until 1992. Scott Copeland then became Manager until August of 2000. That is when Earl Sanders came aboard and has since managed one of the oldest existing businesses in Howard County.
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