Norman Funeral Home proudly boasts being the oldest business in Hope to be continuously run by the same family. In the 1850's George Norman and son E.A. came to Hope, Indiana from Stokes County, North Carolina. Being the carpenters they were, they built a sawmill in the Hope area and included in their services building coffins to fulfill the funeral needs of the community.
In 1880 the funeral business was established in a small building on the west side of the Hope Town Square.
In August of 1901, the funeral home was moved into the new two-story brick building to accommodate the funeral business and a furniture store. That same building houses Norman Funeral Home today. The following year E.A.'s son Carl became a partner in the business.
In 1914, E.A. Norman was elected a state senator. That left much of the business in the hands of Carl. In 1915, a motorized hearse was purchased to replace the horse-drawn hearse.
Then in 1920, E.A. Norman died and Carl continued the business, but closed the furniture store ten years later. Carl's son Gene Norman joined the business in 1932.
In 1937, the funeral home was expanded. Carl died in 1959, leaving Gene as the sole owner until he was joined in 1972 by his sons John and Morris. Gene Norman died in 1994 leaving John and Morris as the fourth generation of their family to operate the funeral business in Hope.
Sadly, John Norman passed away May 28, 2013 leaving his wife Suzie, daughter Ashley, and brother Morris to carry on Norman Funeral Home. John and Suzie also have a son, Andy. In September 2015, Ashley Norman received her license as a funeral director and is now the fifth generation of Norman Funeral Home.
