Local funeral home to undergo name change

DAYTON–Craig and Nikki Corbeill, owners of three area funeral homes including Hubbard-Rogg Funeral Home here, have announced plans to change the names of their businesses to not only reflect their local, family ownership, but also to reassure each community served that the very same people who have cared for the local community's funeral needs over the past 20 years or so are still here and will be into the future.

Corbeill Funeral Homes & Crematory will be the new name on the locations in Colfax, Pullman and Dayton, and the same friendly faces will remain, according to Craig Corbeill. While some internal changes may help simplify some of the operation, very little else will change and each location will continue to serve as they have for the last 125 years.

Corbeill was first licensed as a mortician in his hometown of Kellogg, Idaho, 30 years ago in 1991. For over 25 years he has been serving families in eastern Washington.

Hubbard-Rogg Funeral Home began in 1905 and has been caring for people in Columbia County ever since. Longtime funeral director George Touchet had enlisted the help of Craig over the last five years so he could enjoy some much deserved time off. The Dayton community has embraced Craig and his staff with open arms and the Corbiell's look forward to continuing to have a presence in Dayton for many years to come. In July, the Corbiells purchased Hubbard-Rogg Funeral Home and at that time a consideration for changing the name of the growing business really came to light.

Craig and Nikki purchased Bruning Funeral Home in 2001 and are proud to be only the fourth owners in its long and storied operation in Colfax. Since 1895 Bruning Funeral Home has been caring for people all over Whitman County. That history is certainly not lost on the Corbeills and they are continuing to curate and cultivate a funeral service museum that will someday showcase the caretakers of this industry that have come before them and the heritage they have left behind.

Kimball Funeral Home in Pullman has operated since 1908 and has a long history of three generations of the Kimball family taking care of their friends and neighbors. The Kimball way of service with dignity has always been a benchmark that the Corbeills and their staff have strived to achieve. "It is a great honor to continue in a legacy that is so honorable and we never take that lightly," Corbeill said.

"We hold the utmost respect for tradition and what each family has done in creating their funeral homes before us," he said. "This was a difficult decision and one we didn't take very lightly at all. With the same dedication to our communities and our people as those who came before us we really felt like it was time to have our name over the door.

"With some serious soul searching and deliberation, careful thought given to those families from before, and consideration for our family going forward, this seemed like the right time," Corbiell said. "We sincerely appreciate all those who have gotten to know us over these years and promise to never take for granted the incredible trust you place in us. It is our pleasure to serve in our communities and it is our hope and desire that we earn that trust on a daily basis."

Corbeill Funeral Homes & Crematory, with locations in Colfax, Pullman and Dayton, will continue to be ready to serve when called upon with Craig and Nikki Corbeill as owners, Bob Warnock, funeral director, Baily Mackleit, funeral director and embalmer intern, and Gabe Keller, funeral director intern. Together this group of caring individuals brings professionalism, compassion, and dignity to a job they love.