Our story
Our Story
At Smith Family Mortuaries, our story spans generations of dedicated service to families across Wichita, Derby, and the surrounding communities. What began as separate funeral homes in different locations has evolved into a unified family of mortuaries, each maintaining its unique heritage while sharing a common commitment to compassionate care and community service.
Our journey begins in Mulvane, where in 1880, S.M. Wilson established what would become one of Kansas's oldest funeral home traditions. Over the decades, this legacy passed through several hands, including D.M. Howell and the Foundray Brothers, until John and Norma Senter purchased the business in 1959. Their dedication culminated in a grand celebration attended by over 200 community members at the dedication of the new Senter Mulvane Mortuary in December 1964.
In Belle Plaine, another enduring legacy began in 1908 when C.W. Hatfield founded his funeral home. Through the decades, the Hatfield family maintained their commitment to serving families, passing the business from father to son, and eventually from Ben and Golden Hatfield to their sons, who operated the funeral home until the early 1980s.
The Holmes Mortuary story started in 1919, later becoming Culbertson Mortuary under Charles Culbertson's ownership in 1930. After a partnership with John Downing, Lee Roy Haynes joined forces with Mr. Culbertson in 1960 to expand and improve the Wichita facility. Following Mr. Culbertson's untimely death, Mr. Haynes continued the tradition until 1984.
In Douglass, Glenn and Olena Hilyard established their funeral home in 1936, purchasing and remodeling a beautiful brick residence in October 1941. After Glenn's passing in 1963, their son Brent joined his mother in operating the business until 1973.
The modern chapter of Smith Family Mortuaries began in 1973 when Bill and Reba Smith established the first funeral home in Derby at 302 N. Georgie. Their vision for compassionate service quickly grew, leading to the acquisition of the Hilyard Funeral Home in 1973, followed by the Senter Mortuary in 1979, the Hatfield Funeral Home in 1981, Culbertson Mortuary in 1984, and finally Smith Family Mortuary – Haysville when the Orchard Community Church of God was purchased and renovated to serve the needs of local families in 1987. In 1994, Smith Family Mortuary - Derby relocated to its current location at 1415 N. Rock Road, and in 2014, Senter-Smith Mortuary in Mulvane was rebuilt and rebranded Smith Family Mortuary – Mulvane, continuing the tradition of excellence families have come to expect in a more modern setting. After decades of serving their respective communities, the difficult decision was made to close Hilyard-Smith Funeral Home in 2020 and Hatfield-Smith Funeral Home in 2024.
Today, Smith Family Mortuaries stands as a testament to the power of dedication and community service. While each of our locations maintains its unique history and character, we share a singular commitment to providing exceptional care during life's most challenging moments. Beyond our walls, we remain actively involved in our communities, supporting causes that matter most to the families we serve. Our story continues to unfold as we honor our heritage while embracing the future, always mindful of our fundamental promise: to serve with compassion, dignity, and unwavering commitment to the communities we call home.
