Our History

John Henry Muster

Many people active in genealogy are able to trace their family roots back for several generations. The Muster Family has been serving as funeral directors for the people of the Western Kentucky area of McLean County for more than six generations.

Horse Drawn hearse of Muster Funeral Home, circa 1880's

John Henry Muster, a carpenter, moved to the Guffie Area in McLean County during the early 1850's. His craftsmanship was often requested in the building of caskets for area deaths. John Henry later purchased two horse drawn hearses; a white one for ladies' funeral services and a black one for men's' services. He later became a full time undertaker as people requested that he handle additional aspects of the funeral service.

1940 Packard Sedan Ambulance / Limousine Combination of Muster Funeral Home

During these days, there was not a need for what we today know as a 'funeral home.' The embalming was done at the home, as well as the visitation or wake. The funeral service would most likely be held at a local church.

The Muster Family expanded its service offerings in 1928 with the purchase of the first motorized Invalid Coach (Ambulance) in the county. The county wide ambulance service was operated continuously with the help of many volunteers until 1986 when the McLean County Fiscal Court assumed operation of the service.

Newspaper advertisement from the former Calhoun Star, appearing in the April 3, 1914 edition. (notice the spelling of Calhoun in the advertisement)

Modern day funeral homes evolved during the mid 1930's in our area. Many people have used our facilities as their home during a death in the family. Our location of 300 Main Street was converted to a funeral home in 1936 and has served as the Calhoun Chapel Facility since that time.

The Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Generations of Musters serving our community; Bill, John, Mike, Lee, and Will Muster.

The Livermore Chapel of Muster Funeral Homes was added in 1957 with the acquisition of the former J.P. Hughart Funeral Home and moved to its current location of 212 Broadway.

Today, the fifth and sixth generations of the Muster Family are active in the daily operations of the funeral home. The primary goals of our family are to serve the people of the community like our own family and maintain funeral facilities that everyone will be proud to call their funeral home.