Our History

On February 20, 1894, R.E. White of Davenport, Iowa, announced the opening of an undertaking parlor at 61 Public Square in Monmouth, IL. Later, he moved to 209 South Main St. as White Furniture and Undertaking, and in June of 1899, he moved his establishment to the south rooms of a new building erected by Mrs. Louisa Douglass on North Main St (which would later become Barnes Super Valu and is currently Save-A-Lot Grocery). There, he opened a large undertaking parlor and display room, with his hearses stored on the second floor and lowered by elevator.

Shortly thereafter, White built his own funeral parlor across the street at 207 North Main (now the site of Buff's Photography). He ran the parlor alone until 1920, at which time he formed a partnership with John Lugg. In 1923 Lugg purchased the entire business, and five years later, he formed a partnership with Mitchell E. Holiday under the name of Lugg & Holiday.

William C. Hoover of Alexis, IL, came to work for the firm on January 1, 1947, and after the deaths of Lugg and Holliday, he assumed operation along with Mrs. Holliday and her sons, William and John. Mrs. Holliday sold her share of the business to her sons in 1956. William Holliday left the business in January 1963, and his brother left in August 1965, leaving Hoover as the sole owner.

In 1965, Hoover changed the name of the business to Hoover Memorial Chapel and continued to operate the business alone. In 1974, Hoover built a brand- new funeral home at 900 North Main Street and held an open house in June of that year. He opened and operated a funeral chapel in Oquawka from 1977 until the end of 1993 as well. In December 1978 he also purchased the McKnight Funeral Home in Alexis.

Stephen S. Hall, originally of Kirkwood, IL, began working for his father-in-law, William Hoover, on September 11, 1974. He purchased the business, now known as Hoover-Hall Memorial Chapel, on January 1, 1993. Hoover then retired, but continues to assist in the conduction of funerals.

Aloysius J. McGuire of Hanover Park, IL, joined the firm as an employee on November 11, 1991, and he continues to this date to assist in the operation of the business.

As of 2007, Hoover-Hall Memorial Chapel continues to serve the towns of Monmouth and Alexis and the surrounding community, building on over a hundred years of tradition set by its predecessors.