Tom and Debbie McNutt, owners of McNutt Funeral Home in Conroe, truly care about people, and the last thing that a person needs during a difficult and vulnerable time is to be taken advantage of, Debbie McNutt said.
 

The McNutts purchased the former Conroe Memorial Park Cemetery, 1600 Porter Road, in 2007. The property was originally owned by the Metcalf family in the 1940s and then by the Cashner family before Service Corporation International (SCI) bought it.
 

Tom McNutt bought the property from SCI in hopes to offer families in Montgomery County affordable funerals and cremations.
 

He has worked in the cemetery field for more than 30 years and his vision, in addition to owning the cemetery, was to open a family-owned and operated funeral home and crematory.
 

Tom McNutt currently serves as general manager, along with his wife Debbie, a retired Conroe ISD teacher. Both work together to oversee the day-to-day operations of the business. Their children — Crystal McNutt, Cotton McNutt, Mike Brock, Tito McNutt and Kristie Stiles — serve on the board of directors.
 

In the spring of 2011, the funeral home and crematory became operational and is the only on-site crematory in Conroe.
 

“Most families are greeted by Mr. McNutt prior to meeting with the funeral director, Cora McClean,” Debbie McNutt said.
 

Tom McNutt also has a four-legged business partner that rides with him to work each day.

“Studies have shown pets are helpful with grief, therefore the family Corgi, Teddy, is sometimes there for grieving families,” she said.
 

Debbie McNutt said that Teddy has a special sense that he knows when someone needs to be comforted.
 

“He senses peoples’ needs. One mom lost her son. Teddy would go and sit by her. He’s a big part, a fixture,” she said. “He goes everywhere with Tom.”

One thing the couple does understand is loss. The couple lost a a 30-year-old daughter in 2009 because of complications with diabetes.

“It has made us more aware of how unexpected death is,” Debbie McNutt said. “People need someone they can trust and make the process as easy as possible to make decisions; to guide them through the process.”
 

The McNutts felt it was time to expand their facilities as the volume of services have increased over the past year. Their current chapel holds about 50 people.
 

“Many families wanting both traditional services and those who choose cremations want a memorial service, therefore the need for a second and larger chapel has become necessary,” Debbie McNutt said.
 

The new, 4,000-square-foot chapel will accommodate 250 people and will house new offices for the funeral home.

“We’ve done everything out of pocket, with no debt,” she said.
 

Last year, McNutt Funeral Home performed 707 cremations and only 75 burials.

There is a huge increase in cremation because it’s more economical.
 

“About 35 percent of Americans in the nation are choosing cremation over traditional burials,” Debbie McNutt said.
 

Claiming to be the most affordable funeral and cremation services in Montgomery County, their packages and services begin at $600 for a direct cremation, $3,000 for cremation with a viewing and a service, $4,500 for a traditional funeral and $6,500 for a complete traditional funeral plus burial property.
 

“We try to accommodate each family’s needs and wants,” Debbie McNutt said. “We keep our costs as low as we can. We might not make a lot of money. Our goal is to pay it forward. It’s a whole lot like a ministry.”
 

For more information on their services, call 936-756-2724.