Ferguson-Lee Chapel of Thorne Family Funeral Homes

Ferguson-Lee Chapel of Thorne Family Funeral Homes In the mid 1940’s, a third partner was taken in by the name of Roy Speer. Upon the death of Raymond Sherwood, the name changed to Ferguson-Speer Funeral Home.

Ferguson-Lee Chapel of Thorne Family Funeral Homes has been providing funeral services for the community at the corner of "18th" and "I" Streets in Bedford since 1937. The current Ferguson-Lee Chapel of Thorne Family Funeral Homes was started in 1937 by Raymond Sherwood and Claude Ferguson, known as Sherwood–Ferguson Funeral Home, located at the current corner of 18th and “I” Streets in Bedford, I

ndiana. Roy Speer took control of Mr. Ferguson’s share in the business and became the sole owner. The business operated with Mr. Ferguson as an employee only until 1959. On June 1, 1959, Paul Branson and Robert Lee purchased the assets and business of Ferguson-Speer Funeral Home, and the name was changed to Ferguson-Branson Funeral Home. In 1962, Paul Branson had a series of coronaries and Robert Lee assumed the debt of the funeral home and became the sole owner. Claude Ferguson stayed on as a senior employee and advisor and the name became Ferguson-Lee Funeral Home, at the same location. In 1973, Mr. Ferguson died. In 1971, Lee constructed a new funeral home on the same location’s parking lot and proceeded to tear down the house on “I” Street in order to make a complete parking lot. In 2004, a substantial addition was made to the parking lot by eliminating other residences. These homes were the homes of current owner Phil Thorne's great-grandparents, William J. and Louisa Kathryn (Schaefer) Thorne
and great-great-grandparents, Casper and Rosina (Gerhart) Schaefer. In the late 1980’s, Robert E. Lee II, son of Robert Lee, joined Ferguson-Lee Funeral Home as a Funeral Director and later Manager, until his death on January 14, 2001. Robert Lee continued to operate the funeral home until December 1, 2016, when the newly formed corporation of Thorne Family Funeral Homes purchased the business and Philip and Amelia Thorne became the owners of the funeral home. We look forward to continuing the tradition and excellence provided by the Lee family for many years to come.

08/09/2026
DON'T BE FOOLED! Use caution when ordering flowers online. When ordering for a funeral, always use a local florist in th...
08/08/2026

DON'T BE FOOLED!

Use caution when ordering flowers online. When ordering for a funeral, always use a local florist in the area or order off the actual website of the funeral home. This is where the caution has to come.

There are websites that copy the obituary from the funeral home and make it appear that you are on the funeral homes site. You order flowers there and they end up being shipped in a box with the flowers on one side and the vase in another. They expect the funeral home staff to then put the flowers into a nice arrangement.

There are two problems with this. One is, funeral homes aren't professional floral arrangers and it normally doesn't come out looking anything like the picture you saw online. Second, they are shipped. If they actually arrive in time for the funeral they have been in the back of a delivery truck and are anything but fresh.

So, either the local florist or off the website of the funeral home is the answer. Find out what funeral home they are at and ALWAYS verify you are on the real website of the funeral home. Even the fake sites will give the funeral home name, so when you know that, search for the FUNERAL HOME. There you will find their official obituary and can safely order.

The fakes do a really good job of making it look like it's the real thing, so be careful.

After the loss of her young child, Lexi Behrndt shared this powerful reflection on grief, love, and continuing to speak ...
08/08/2026

After the loss of her young child, Lexi Behrndt shared this powerful reflection on grief, love, and continuing to speak about those we’ve lost.

On National Purple Heart Day, we honor the brave men and women who were wounded or gave their lives while serving our co...
08/07/2026

On National Purple Heart Day, we honor the brave men and women who were wounded or gave their lives while serving our country. Their courage, sacrifice, and devotion will never be forgotten. 💜

Judith Elaine “Judy” Terry, 84, formerly of Bedford, passed away Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at the Redcrest Hospice House ...
08/05/2026

Judith Elaine “Judy” Terry, 84, formerly of Bedford, passed away Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at the Redcrest Hospice House in Bloomington. Born November 8, 1941, in Kansas City, MO, she was the daughter of Robert Elmo Wilson and Melba Deboil Creech-Wilson. She married James Edwin “Jim” Terry on August ...

View Judith Elaine Terry's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

Where was the cool place to hang out or drive to on summer nights??
08/05/2026

Where was the cool place to hang out or drive to on summer nights??

Address

818 18th Street
Bedford, IN
47421

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Ferguson-Lee Chapel of Thorne Family Funeral Homes posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Ferguson-Lee Chapel of Thorne Family Funeral Homes:

Shortcuts

Share

Category