Beyers Funeral Home and Crematory has remained committed to personal relationships, community trust and caring for generations of Lake County families during life’s most difficult moments.

The business, founded in 1920 in Umatilla by Ivan E. Beyers, Sr. began during a much different era of Central Florida, when funeral directors were often called upon to handle a range of services.

For years, the Beyers family lived above the mortuary, receiving calls in the middle of the night and serving families whenever they were needed.

Ivan E. Beyers, Jr., who helped continue and expand the family legacy, oversaw the company’s move to Leesburg in 1931 and its eventual home on historic Main Street, where the business operates today under the leadership of his son, Roger Beyers.

The company modernized local funeral care by opening the area’s first standalone funeral chapel and later establishing the first crematory serving Lake and Sumter counties.

The business recently added a second crematorium to meet demand as cremation services continue rising sharply.

“Back in the day, cremation was probably about 15 percent of our business,” Roger says. “Now it’s around 65 percent.”

Society changes, but Beyers continues to be 100 percent about respect, intuition and thoughtful guidance.

“You have to have empathy and compassion and understand that there are many different situations,” Roger says. “If that isn’t part of your character, it won’t be the business for you.”

As corporate consolidation reshaped the funeral industry during the 1990s, Roger became a founding member of the Independent Funeral Directors of Florida, an organization created to support and protect family-owned funeral homes across the state. Roger’s community involvement extends beyond funeral care — he’s also the owner of the Orange Blossom Opry in Weirsdale.

Today, the business remains in the hands of the Beyers family, with great-grandson RJ continuing the legacy that began more than a century ago.

By the numbers in 1920
● Average funeral cost $150–$300
● More than 40 active burial grounds throughout the county