The yearbook staff has been highlighting some of the businesses in our community. The business that I interviewed was the Wherry Mortuary. I spoke with Joe Davis, who offered a lot of information about the business.
Wherry Mortuary has been in business for over 130 years. Joe took ownership after he and his family agreed that they would only move to Pawnee City if he had the opportunity to run the business. Joe Davis moved here on September 24, 2002, which marks 23 years in Pawnee City. Before he moved here, he worked as a funeral director in Lincoln for ten years.
When asked about the challenges he faced when he started operating the mortuary, Joe stated that learning the day-to-day operations while working closely with families was the most difficult. Over the years, Wherry Mortuary has adapted to the shift toward computerization, which has changed how the business operates.
When asked about the best and most challenging parts of running the mortuary, Joe mentioned that there are ups and downs with the business. He explained that the upside is that the business allows him to put down roots in a small community and build long-lasting relationships. The downside is that you get to know everyone, and they become like family, which makes the loss more difficult.
We thank the Wherry Mortuary and Joe Davis for taking the time to answer some questions and allowing the yearbook staff to interview and write this story.