Our History
Supporting our community since 1906.
Our funeral home has been deeply rooted in our community through generations of funeral directors, dating back to our first recorded burial on January 23, 1906. Learn how we evolved from Richard K. Sutton Funeral Director to Cameron's Cremation & Funeral Services.
1906 - 1934 Richard K. Sutton
Preston T. Walker Furniture Dealer & Funeral Director
Our earliest beginnings start in 1906 when local Richard K. Sutton (1868-1940) who was a long time town councillor, engineer at the Waterworks, member of the Walkerton Fire Brigade, also took up as local funeral director as he was caretaker of the Walkerton Cemetery. He later passed on his duties Preston Walker, who operated as Preston T. Walker Funiture Dealer & Funeral Director with the help of Sutton for many years. In these early days the director would visit the home where visitations and funerals were mostly held in the deceased home, with transportation largely provided by horse & carriage.
1934 - 1966 Tanner & Pearson Furniture Dealers and Funeral Directors
In March 1934, Gordon Tanner (1910-1995) and Melvin Pearson (1906-1961) purchase Preston T. Walker Furniture & Funeral Home and become Tanner & Pearson. The furniture store was located at 345 (Grey-Bruce Interiors), above 347 (HIS Style), and the funeral home and ambulance service at 353 Durham Street (Second Hand Rose). Gordon Tanner left from 1939-1945 to serve as Captain of the 5th Army Field Brigade, 97th Field battery in the Second World War. In this time Neil McDonald and Doug Trushinksi joined the funeral home. With Melvin Pearson's sudden passing in 1961, Neil and Doug would become partners with Gordon Tanner.
1967-1984
Tanner & Pearson Home Furnishings and Funeral Home Walkerton and Hanover
Tanner & Pearson expands in 1967 with the purchase of Stahle Furniture & Funeral Home in Hanover. Also in 1967, Dorothy Frook joins the funeral home and furniture store in Walkerton and would go on to be the longest serving employee in the busniess' history. Ken Craig would manage the Hanover location until 1984 when the company was split up. Ken and Paula Craig purchased the Walkerton location from Neil McDonald and Doug Trushinki, while Hanover was sold to John & Marilyn Mighton. Jamie Cameron worked as a 16 year old for at Tanner & Pearson in Hanover delivering furniture in 1977-78.
1985 - 1996
Tanner & Pearson Funeral Home
Ken and Paula continued to operate Tanner & Pearson Furniture Store and Funeral Home till 1987 when the furniture store was sold. The funeral home would stay at 353 Durham Street until 1989 when they purchased property at 1106 Yonge Street and broke ground on a new purpose-built funeral home. The dedication ceremony of building is held October 29, 1989, and is still the current address of Cameron’s.
1997
Jamie & Yolanda Cameron
After moving to Walkerton from Kincardine in 1994 to work as partners with Ken and Paula Craig, Jamie and Yolanda purchase the Tanner & Pearson in 1997.
2002
Cameron Funeral Home
In 2002 after celebrating the 75 anniversary of the name Tanner & Pearson, Jamie and Yolanda start a new chapter in the company's long history by changing the name to Cameron Funeral Home. Nathan Rhody joins after receiving his licence as funeral director.
2004-2009
Cameron Funeral Home, Walkerton and Chesley
Jamie and Yolanda purchase McFadden Funeral Home, Chesley in 2004 from Dan and Kim McFadden as they move to Kincardine. The name would change to Cameron Funeral Home immediately. Nathan Rhody, born and raised in Chesley, had been working as a director at Cameron Funeral Home since 2002 and had co-oped at the former Tanner & Pearson and McFadden Funeral Home, would manage the Chesley location. In 2009, Jamie and Yolanda sell Cameron Funeral Home, Chesley, to Nathan.
2009-2019
After the sale of the Chesley location, Cameron Funeral Home would go through a number of changes over the next decade. A major interior renovation in 2009, the tragic loss of Jamie & Yolanda's son Wesley in 2011 which brought the creation of Wellness & Emotional Support (WES) for Youth Online in his memory, an innovative registered charity providing counselling to youth across Canada. After 45 years with funeral home and original furniture store, Dorothy Frook retires. In 2015, eldest son James (Jay) and his wife Danielle after working as funeral directors in Kitchener and Guelph, move home to join the business.
2020
Cameron's
We welcome a new era to the long and storied history in our community; Cameron's Cremation & Funeral Service. After nearly 20 years, we are starting a new decade with a new look. Our new logo was developed based on a design by our late son, Wes Cameron. Over the past 26 years, our family has since worked hard to create a level of service, compassion, and creativity for our community.