History & Staff

Our History

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, 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.

In 1989, Bill Comer and his son, Stuart Comer, who resided in Escondido purchased Alhiser-Comer Mortuary. As a local resident, Mr. Comer was sensitive to the community and had vested interest in its energy and vitality. Mr. Comer refurbished and updated the building in the early 1990's. In 2000, the name was changed to Alhiser-Comer Mortuary, after 11 years of ownership by the Comer family. Stuart maintained our forefather’s legacy of innovation, style, and commitment to serving our families with dignity and compassion.

In 2001, Stuart Comer opened Lakepointe Crematorium 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.

In 2013, Megan Comer became the manager of the Mortuary.  Megan is a third-generation funeral director.  With Megan at the helm, Alhiser-Comer Mortuary became corporate sponsors of Palomar Medical Center.  They donated a room to the new hospital that is considered the “family viewing room” – a place for families to see their loved ones once they’ve passed.    In 2017, Megan, her sister Nicole and the staff at Alhiser-Comer Mortuary were honored to receive the Chamber of Commerce Award for Family Owned Business of the Year, along with local and congressional recognition.  Megan began another renovation on the mortuary, which including adding a reception room and new restrooms to better serve families, their needs and to bring the building up-to-date, while keeping its integrity.

Stuart Comer passed away in July of 2018, after 30 years of ownership.

In 2021, Megan Comer was one of 4 Funeral Directors to be featured in American Funeral Director Magazine, from across the Nation, highlighting her response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.  Megan was also honored as a 2021 Finalist in the San Diego Business Journal's Top 40 Business Leaders Under 40 and named in the 2021 Class of San Diego Metro Magazine's 40 Under 40, as well.

 Megan and her sister, Nicole are honored to continue their father and grandfather’s legacies and commitment to the community of Escondido.