FAQ

The funeral director's job is to assist the bereaved in various ways to help them through the loss of a loved one. A funeral director provides bereavement and consolation services for the living, in addition to making arrangements for the cremation, burial, and memorial services for the deceased. He fulfills the role of funeral arranger, funeral director, funeral attendant, and embalmer.

The following list is not all-inclusive, but describes some of the major tasks of a funeral director: 

• Removal and transfer of the deceased from the place of death to the funeral home
• Professional care of the deceased, including embalming, casketing, and cosmetology
• Consulting with family to make arrangements for the funeral service
• Filing certificates, permits, and other required forms
• Obtaining copies of the death certificate
• Arrangements with the cemetery, crematory, or other places of final disposition
• Creates and publishes the obituary
• Arrangements for clergy, music, flowers, transportation, pallbearers, and special fraternal or military services
• Directs and manages the funeral service and the funeral procession
• Assists the family with death-related claims, including Social Security, VA insurance, grief counseling

A funeral or memorial service provides an opportunity for the living to show respect for the deceased and pay tribute to their life. It provides a framework to freely and openly express our beliefs, feelings, and thoughts about the death of our loved one. It gives us permission to grieve our loss, share in solidarity, and gain strength from others who are experiencing the same loss.

The four main types of funeral services include the traditional funeral service, the memorial service, the committal service, and the affirmation or celebration of life service.

Yes, cremation or burial is merely the disposition of the body. Funeral services are to honor and remember your loved one, regardless of disposition.

Pre-arranging funeral services can be done regardless of the final disposition. Pre-arranging is simply recording your wishes with the funeral home and prefunding if you choose to do so.

• Advance Directives - If the deceased left any written advance directives concerning the disposition of his remains and memorialization, you need to bring them with you. These instructions may be found in a will, or there may be a formally witnessed disposition directive, funeral pre-arrangements, or a pre-need contract.
• Military Discharge Papers
• Details on any cemetery property owned by the deceased or the family (grave plot, columbarium space, etc.)
• Recent photograph of the deceased and any personal effects that you wish to be included in the viewing or burial
• Specific information on the deceased: 
• Full legal name
• Address
• Marital status
• Social Security number
• Date of birth
• Place of birth (city and state)
• Educational history (number of years of schooling)
• Armed Forces service dates and serial number
• Occupation or profession
• Parent's names, including mother's maiden name
• Next of kin and other survivors

Please use these links: 

https://www.okcemeteries.net/grady/grady.htm

https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/search?name=&locationId=county_2153

Ferguson Funeral Home is adding a crematory at our existing location.  If you live within 300 feet of our funeral home, you will soon be notified by the City of Chickasha regarding the zoning request that we have presented the city with. 

 We understand that you might have some concerns about a crematory typically centered on air quality, potential odors, visual disruptions, and impact on property values. 

Our modern and properly maintained facilities are heavily regulated and equipped with technology to minimize these issues, making them often unnoticeable to surrounding areas. 

We are here to have open communication with you regarding this issue, here are some questions and answers that might help in addressing specific concerns. 

Health and Air Quality 

• Is crematory smoke harmful? A properly functioning modern crematory should not emit black or heavy smoke. The combustion process in a modern cremator's secondary chamber re-burns the gases, so what exits the chimney is mostly heat waves, carbon dioxide and water vapor. When smoke is visible, it can indicate a malfunction, which can be reported to the crematory operator or regulators.

• What about toxic emissions like mercury and dioxins? While cremation does release pollutants such as mercury (from dental fillings) and dioxins, crematory emissions are significantly lower than other industrial sources. Stringent regulations and modern equipment, including advanced filtration systems, are required to capture and reduce harmful emissions.

• Is there any health risk to nearby residents? Health risks to populations near crematories are an emerging concern, but a 2020 systematic review found no studies demonstrating a causal link between modern crematory emissions and adverse health effects. 

Odor and Operational Noise 

• Will we smell anything? A properly operated crematory should not produce any discernible odors. If a crematory is functioning correctly, the high temperatures of the cremation process eliminate any organic matter that could cause odors. Visible smoke or odor would indicate a malfunction that needs to be corrected.

• Will the operation be noisy? The cremation process itself is generally not noisy for neighbors. Most operational noise is contained within the building, and crematories that are part of funeral homes often exist in quiet commercial or residential areas without incident. 

Property Value and Visual Concerns 

• Will the crematory lower my property value? Some residents and real estate agents have expressed concern that a crematory could negatively impact property values. However, studies on this topic have had mixed results, with some finding a statistically significant negative impact and others showing little to no correlation. A 2010 study did find that proximity to a crematory affected sales prices, with the effect lessening over time.

• Will it be visually obtrusive? Many crematories operate discreetly, either within funeral home buildings.  Some are even located in dense urban areas, blending in with commercial and residential neighbors. The best way to assess the visual impact is to visit the proposed location and observe the existing building and site plan. 

Regulatory and Oversight Questions 

• Is the crematory licensed and inspected? Crematories must adhere to the Oklahoma Funeral Board and the City of Chickasha regulations. The Oklahoma Funeral Board  inspects our facility yearly to ensure we have all the necessary permits and comply the  Rules and Statutes of the Board. 

Please call 405.224.1344 and ask to speak with Charles Ferguson or Chris Ferguson for more information. 

Video: please watch at your own discretion!

History of Simple Things: A Scientific Breakdown: What Happens Inside the Cremation Chamber