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About Us
HISTORY
OF ALHISER-COMER MORTUARY
Alhiser-Comer Mortuary is a part of Escondido
History as the city’s oldest continually operating business.
With undertaking advertisements dating back to 1893, our early forefathers
began a legacy of funeral service tradition and excellence and a spirit
that continues on today.
In the 1890’s, J.H. Sampson opened an undertaking parlor and livery
in Escondido on Grand Avenue. He used a casson (or horse-drawn funeral
carriage) to transport the deceased. The dignified trip to the cemetery was
complete with top-hatted driver and a team of jet-black horses.
Frank
G. Thompson bought Sampson out shortly after the turn of the century.
And built a new parlor with rooms dedicated to undertaking on South Lime
Street (now Broadway) and Iowa Street (now 3rd Ave). He operated the business
under the name F.G. Thompson Funeral Director. Mr. Thompson and his family
successfully ran the business until it was sold to Halleck ‘HAL’ F. Johnson
from Riverside, who operated under the name Hal F. Johnson Funeral Director
in the latter half of the 1920’s and under the name The Johnson Funeral
Chapel in the 1930’s.
Mr. & Mrs. Edward J. Seale of Fullerton took over operations for a brief
three-month period from March 1936 thru July 1936. They ran a few advertisements
in the local paper under the name Johnson-Seale Mortuary. This is all we know
about their abrupt entrance and departure.
In July of 1936, a former Escondido resident returned to buy the parlor from
the Seale family. Thus entered the now legendary name of C.B. Alhiser into
the history of the mortuary. Clovis B. Alhiser and his wife operated under
the name Alhiser Mortuary for twelve years until 1948, but the Alhiser name
became a piece of Escondido History, still gracing our building today.
In
September 1948, The Ralph L. Wilson of Long Beach purchased the mortuary and
changed the name to Alhiser-Wilson Mortuary. The Wilson Family doubled the
floorspace, created new parking by moving the home that was located on the
corner of Broadway and Third to its current place in back of the mortuary.
Sharon Disney (formerly Sharon Wilson) took charge of the business for
many years and was very well known in the community. Sharon continued the
tradition of family run funeral service and brought the mortuary to its full
potential as the highest volume mortuary in Escondido, where it remains to
this day.
In 1989, Bill Comer family purchased the mortuary. When Bill Comer retired,
he sold the business to his son, Stuart Comer, who resides in Escondido with
his wife, Cheryl, and their children. As a local resident, Mr. Comer is sensitive
to the community and has a vested interest in its energy and vitality. The
Comers have extensively refurbished and updated the building. In 2000, the
name was changed to Alhiser-Comer Mortuary, after 11 years of ownership by
the Comer family. Stuart has maintained our forefather’s legacy of innovation,
style, and commitment to serving our families with dignity and compassion.
Stuart Comer opened Lakepointe Cremtatorium in Lake Elsinore, where licensed
Alhiser-Comer Mortuary personnel perform all our cremations. The state of
the art facility is clean and operated above and beyond the legal requirements
of state regulations. All families are welcome to inspect our facilities or
witness the cremation of their loved one in our special family area, complete
with the comforts of home. This is in keeping with our tradition of handling
each and every aspect of premiere service here by our staff. We will not use
alternate providers and we are with you every step of the way. We are the
last loving hands.
Memberships/Organizations:
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Member by Invitation of Selected Independent Funeral Directors in 1993 (SIFH)
Owner, Stuart Comer is currently serving as a Board Member, Group 10 (CA, AZ, HI, NV) 2000-2005.
- Member of California Funeral Director’s Association (CFDA)
- Member of San Diego County Funeral Director’s Association (SDCFDA)
- Member of National Funeral Director’s Association (NFDA)
- Member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
- Member of Cremation Association of North America (CANA)
Staff:
Stuart Comer
Owner/Funeral Director/Embalmer
Owner of Alhiser-Comer Mortuary since 1989
Licenses & Credentials
Licensed Funeral Director
Licensed Embalmer
Licensed Crematory Manager
Licensed Life Agent for Pre-Need
Formal Education
1978 Graduate of Cypress College of Mortuary Science
Related Technical/Job Experience
In Funeral/Cemetery Profession since 1975
Board of Directors of Selected Independent Funeral Homes
Worked in Cemetery & Crematory in addition to Funeral Homes
Served as Trustee for American Funeral Cemetery & Trust Services |
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Roger Slyter
Funeral Director/Embalmer
Began work at Alhiser-Comer Mortuary in May 1995
Licenses & Credentials
Licensed Funeral Director
Licensed Embalmer
Licensed Crematory Manager
Licensed Life Agent for Pre-Need
Related Technical/Job Experience
Starbuck-Lind Mortuary- Lompoc
O’Connor Laguna Hills Mortuary- Laguna
Trade Embalmer
Formal Education
1999 Graduate of Cypress College of Mortuary Science
Dean’s List/President’s List
Davies Certificate for Excellence in Embalming
Santiago Silva, Jr.
Crematory Manager
Began work at Alhiser-Comer Mortuary in January 2004
Licenses & Credentials
Licensed Crematory Manager
Yearly Certificate of Completion of Arrangement Counselor Taining
Related Technical/Job Experience
Began in Cemetery Profession in 1978 at 15 years old
St. Francis Cemetery- Arizona
Crematory Supervisor for Greenwood Memorial Park for 10 years
JD Bader
Arranger/Attendant
Began work at Alhiser-Comer Mortuary in March 2004
Licenses & Credentials
Yearly Certificate of Completion of Arrangement Counselor Training
Related Technical/Job Experience
Mortuary Services Transport Specialists
San Diego Medical Examiner Transport
Served in United States Navy-4 years
Tory DeHaan
Arranger
Began work at Alhiser-Comer Mortuary in October 1995
Licenses & Credentials
Licensed Life Agent for Pre-Need
Yearly Certificate of Completion of Arrangement Counselor Training
Related Technical/Job Experience
Norman’s Family Chapel- Santa Cruz
Tri-City Hospital- Oceanside
Director of Public Education Seminars for Alhiser-Comer Mortuary
Owner of Funeral Planning San Diego
Former Apprentice Embalmer, 6 Years
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