Who We Are: Our Legacy

In 1924 Tollie Patton formed the Watertown Undertaking Company on the North side of the Public Square and began his career as one of Watertown’s early undertakers. A new building was built in 1947 and the Patton Funeral Home opened at its present location on West Main St. Mr. Patton served the community until his death in 1965. Later that year Jewell W. Nave purchased the firm from the Patton family and established the Watertown branch of Nave Funeral Home. His daughter, Kathy and son-in-law, Michael E. Hunter moved to Watertown to manage the funeral home and are now in their 52nd year of serving Watertown and the surrounding communities. In 1984 they purchased the funeral home and the name was changed to Hunter Funeral Home. In addition to her duties as a licensed funeral director, Kathy taught elementary school in the community for 30 years, retiring in 2003. They raised three children, Polly Jane, Michael and Jackson Hunter and have a grandson, Will Hunter and great grandchildren, Tatum James Hunter and Taylor May Hunter.