From the Spring 2025 issue of The Independent magazine.
OGR recently caught up with Roger Beyers from Beyers Funeral Home & Crematory in Leesburg, Florida about his funeral home's history, his passion for independent funeral service, and much more. Read this excerpt below, and OGR members can check out our digital magazine archive to read the full article.
Tell us a little bit about how your funeral home was founded and how it operates today.
My family's legacy in funeral service began in 1920 when my great-grandfather, Ivan E. Beyers, established Beyers Funeral Home in Lake County, Floriday. He moved the operation into a beautiful home built in the 1880s, and I'm proud to say that same building still stands at 1123 Main Street in Leesburg, over 105 years later. What started as a small-town business has grown into a trusted name in Central Florida.
In 1956, we built the first standalone chapel in Central Florida. We even ran an ambulance service until 1969. Today, we operate five funeral homes, two on-site crematories - still the only ones of their kind in Lake and Sumter Counties - and a separate low-cost cremation provider called Central Florida Cremation. Four years ago, we expanded our Leesburg campus by 4,500 square feet to better serve our families. With over 50 employees, our team continues the work we've been proud to do for four generations.
Why is it important to keep your funeral home independently owned and operated?
Being independent means everything to me. It allows us to stay true to our mission: serving families with compassion, flexibility, and integrity. We aren't answering to shareholders - we're answering to the families who walk through our doors, and that personal connection is something corporate chains simply can't match. In the 1990s, I saw corporate funeral companies trying to change the laws to benefit their bottom line - at the expense of independent funeral homes like ours and the public we serve. That's when I co-founded the Independent Funeral Directors of Florida (IFDF) alongside a group of dedicated professionals. I fought hard in Tallahassee and even registered as a lobbyist so I could stand up for the values we all believed in.
I also helped create the IFDF Master Trust, which has become one of the most significant financial support tools for independent funeral homes in Florida. I'm proud of the work we've done - and continue to do - to ensure family-owned firms like ours can thrive.
What is the most rewarding part of working in funeral service?
The most meaningful part of this work is being there for people during some of the hardest days of their lives. Helping families find peace, guiding them through the process, and honoring their loved ones with dignity - there's no greater calling.
I'm especially proud of our After Care program. It's more than just grief support; it's a way to stay connected, offer comfort, and help people find healing. We host monthly gatherings, day trips, and holiday remembrance services. It means a lot to me to know we're still there for families even after the service is over.
What do you believe distinguishes your funeral home from other funeral homes?
What really sets us apart is our trademarked Circle of Care. It's our commitment to being there before, during, and after the service. We're not just providing a product - we're walking alongside families every step of the way.
Our Circle of Care is inclusive and we respond to all aspects of the families' needs while not involving a 3rd party company. It includes personal follow-ups and our annual Evening of Remembrance events held during the holidays. These moments are about more than mourning-they're about honoring life, supporting one another, and finding strength in community. That personal attention is something I think makes a real difference.
To read the full interview, check out the latest issue of The Independent in our digital magazine archive.