Story Photos
 Malcolm and Clair Groulx have opened the Groulx Family Mortuary, which serves all of Columbia County. Roger Werth / The Daily News
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Talking Business: Groulx brothers back on their own with new funeral home
Sunday, July 6, 2008 11:47 PM PDT
By Erik Olson
Printable version
E-mail this articleCLATSKANIE — Thirty years after establishing themselves as the primary funeral home in Columbia County, brothers Clair and Malcolm Groulx will be their own bosses once again.
The two certified morticians have opened Groulx Family Mortuary on 25381 Wonderly Road between Rainier and Clatskanie.
“We just wanted to be back on our own,” Clair Groulx, 58, said.
In December 1978, fresh out of mortuary school, the brothers moved from California to open Haakinson Groulx Mortuary, with locations in Clatskanie and Rainier. Three years later, Malcolm Groulx was diagnosed with a serious illness. He became very sick in 1995, and the brothers sold the business to the Loewen Corporation but stayed as funeral directors.
The mortuary was sold twice more to other big companies, and the brothers decided they were tired of working for someone else. They quit Haakinson Groulx at the end of last year, and they’re competing against their old employers as the only two licensed morticians in Columbia County.
The brothers are on call almost all the time, sometimes heading to the scene of an accident or a home to remove a body. It’s difficult work, dealing with death all the time, but it’s work they know is important.
“You’re helping people in the worst time of their life, and you’re helping them get through a very difficult situation,” Clair said.
The mortuary offers cremations, full-service funerals, graveside memorials and celebrations of life. A full-service funeral can cost as much as $4,000, but the Groulx brothers say they can find ways to offer discounts for those who can’t afford it.
“Families aren’t numbers that come through our door. They’re people,” Malcolm Groulx said.
The regular business hours for the Groulx Family Mortuary are weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (503) 556-2323.
Electricians celebrate move
Hamer Electric in Longview is celebrating its new facility at 35855 Industrial Way, in the McNulty Industrial Park, with a grand opening on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The business recently moved from its former headquarters at 126 Industrial Way.
“We’ve worked hard to establish Hamer Electric as a vendor of choice in this community. The response has been very satisfying,” said Rob Ward, manager of the company’s St. Helens Division.
Hamer Electric was started as a residential contracting company in 1971 by James A. Hamer. The company has since expanded to include commercial and industrial projects, and it has branches in Woodland and St. Helens, Ore.
Correction
In last Monday’s column, the wrong address was listed for the Home Electronics Store. The business is located at 2025 Ninth Ave., suite 100.
Talking Business is a weekly column about business openings, closings or major changes. Contact reporter Erik Olson for any business news tips at eolson@tdn.com or at 577-2510.
Diesel wrote on Jul 7, 2008 12:31 AM:
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