J. S. KYKER & SONS INC., HISTORY

Kyker Funeral Home in Sweetwater, Tennessee, the oldest funeral home operating in MonroeCounty, was established by the late J. S. Kyker in August of 1905. The funeral home has been in continuous operation on the same location since that date. 

Mr. J. S. Kyker opened a branch of his funeral home and a furniture business in Madisonville in 1924. The furniture business was dropped in 1933 in order that all efforts might be concentrated on giving the people of Madisonville and the surrounding area the type of conscientious, sympathetic, and professional funeral service for which the Kyker organization is so well known. The business was operated in two uptown locations for a number of years. Property on North College Street was purchased in 1956 and the funeral home moved to this location.

 In 1931, Mr. J. S. Kyker was joined by his three sons, Aubrey S. Kyker, J. Earl Kyker, and Paul G. Kyker, and the business was incorporated as J. S. Kyker & Sons, Inc. At this time, Mr. Paul G. Kyker was placed in charge of the Madisonville funeral home. Mr. J. Earl Kyker opened a funeral home in Harriman in 1938 with a branch office in Kingston. Mr. J. S. Kyker and Mr. Aubrey S. Kyker continued the operation of the Sweetwater facility. Upon Mr. Aubrey S. Kyker's death in October 1958, Mr. Paul G. Kyker came back to the Sweetwater home and his son, Mr. Robert N. Kyker, the third generation of the Kyker family in funeral service, was named as manager of the Madisonville facility. Mr. J. S. Kyker died in February 1960. Robert N. Kyker was moved to the Harriman funeral home as manager in 1964, and Sam F. Tallent was named as manager of the Madisonville funeral home.

When J. Earl Kyker died in July of 1969, Robert N. Kyker became director of operations in RoaneCounty. Mr. Paul G. Kyker retired in April 1975 at which time Robert N. Kyker became President of the corporation.

The fourth generation of the Kyker Family to become active in the funeral home operations, were three sons of Robert N. Kyker. R. Neil Kyker (Robert Neil Kyker, Jr.) joined the firm in September 1980 and became Secretary and then Vice-president of the corporation. Neil is a funeral director and manager of the Sweetwater office. Christopher Allen (Chris) Kyker joined the firm, full time, in August 1987 and became Treasurer of the corporation in 1991 remaining in this office until his death in April 2001. His duties in addition to being a funeral director, include management of monument sales , general manager of RoaneMemorialGardens, Rockwood, Tennessee and manager of Kyker Funeral Home, also in Rockwood. Julia L. Kyker, wife of Christopher Kyker, is presently employed at the firm’s office in Sweetwater. Michael Dean (Mike) Kyker, a graduate in accounting from MiddleTennessee State University, joined the firm in April 1989 and served as Secretary of the corporation until his death in January 2001.

Kyker Funeral Home, Harriman Opened in 1938 with the present facility being built in 1976 and located at 430 Morgan Street.

Kyker Funeral Home, Kingston - Opened in 1939 in an uptown location, then purchased property at 350 W. Race Street in 1960 where it is presently located.