Our Story

Familiar Faces Bring Comfort!

John M. Oakey & Son is an established member of the community.  We have served the families of the Salem/Roanoke area since 1866.  We support the same local organizations, shop at the same stores, and live in the same neighborhoods as do the families we serve.

If you have lived in Salem for a while, you've probably met some of our staff.

Many of our employees are long-time residents of Salem.  All of our employees reflect the care and concern we bring to every family we serve.

The History of Our Home


John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home was the former residence of Theophilus J. Shickel who was the president of the Bank of Salem, an industrial executive, and one of the wealthiest men of the area.  The home was built in 1901.

In 1936 the home was conveyed to John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home which is one of the oldest funeral establishments in the South West.  In November of 1936, John M. Oakey & Son observed it's 70th anniversary when its handsome new funeral home was opened to the public on the Boulevard and College Ave.  Henry A. Oakey, who was head of John M. Oakey & Son when it opened in Salem, was born in Salem on April 25, 1880, and had always lived and served in the community.  The property has been passed down through the years to relatives of Henry A. Oakey and was last conveyed to the Meador family which still owns the business today.


What Makes Us Unique

We are proud to embrace traditional values, diversity, and innovation in honoring the spirit and life of each person we serve.  We offer a full selection of:
  1. Funeral and memorial services, ranging from traditional to uniquely innovative and personal
  2. Burial services and cremation options
  3. Celebrant Services
Letting go of a loved one is usually a very difficult process.  In order to provide your family peace-of-mind, our funeral home offers complete care so you can focus on comforting each other as you prepare to say goodbye to someone dear to you.
Although there are many decisions you may have to make, we assure you that we will guide you through the entire process every step of the way.  We promise to help you:
  • Design the most fitting memorial or funeral service to honor their memory and pay tribute to their life achievements and experiences
  • Select the most appropriate products, including a casket, outer burial container, cremation urn, and cemetery or mausoleum to fit your budget and suit your needs and desires
  • Write a fitting obituary to honor your loved one’s life experiences and social connections
  • Assist in the publication of the obituary in the newspapers of your choice
  • Create a Book of Memories™, a beautiful, permanent online memorial, where you and your friends can build a legacy of memories by archiving treasured photos and memories
  • Welcome your family and friends to our funeral home for your planned services including a viewing, visitation, funeral, or memorial service
  • Make all arrangements with regard to the services whether they are held at your place of worship, our funeral home, cemetery, or alternate gathering place
  • Provide you with beautiful funeral print materials including memorial folders, prayer cards, and bookmarks.  We also offer personalized note cards for you to acknowledge the emotional support you received from friends, co-workers, and community members
  • Provide an elegant hearse and funeral cars, as well as arrange for escorts.
  • Help in the selection and on-site arrangement of floral tributes
  • Provide access to grief education, support materials, and referrals to counseling services
  • Prepare all paperwork including vital record statistics, permits, filing and obtaining death certificates, and assistance with life insurance, veteran benefits, and Social Security claims
We hope you will turn to us for compassionate care and impeccable service.  Our pledge is to honor your loved one and family with dignity, respect, and personal attention to every detail.
Share by: