L. Wayne "Sandy" Rouse

May 20, 1938 - September 16, 2010

Our company began when Sandy Rouse took a job at Edwards Funeral Home in Snow Hill, NC, what is today Taylor-Tyson Funeral Home. Just 17 years old, Sandy worked seven days a week for little pay. A few years later he graduated from Dallas Institute of Funeral Service to return to Snow Hill. At the age of 21, he was asked to be the Greene County Coroner, where he served 12 years.  He also served 10 years in the State Medical Examiners System. In the 1960s while serving as Greene County Coroner, Sandy noticed an increase for the demand of Embalming and Transportation. He became the first trade embalming service in the state and after establishing his own building at his own expense, it was destroyed by fire a few years later.

In 1993, after Pitt County had asked him to continue his service, Sandy opened the doors as Rouse Removal, Embalming, and Transportation Service. A few years later he opened an additional office in Raleigh, NC.

After more than 50 years in the funeral service profession Sandy retired and occasionally helped his son Wayne Rouse, who followed in his father's footsteps. He retired to his home place on Highway 13, two miles outside of Snow Hill, which he purchased in 2006. The 100+ acre farm was home to Sandy and his three children, Wayne, Steve, and George. There he fostered his love of horses and animals. George worked with his father prior to his death in 2003, and Steve owns an established commercial restaurant equipment business in New Bern.

Rouse Mortuary Service & Crematory is truly a family business. Sheila Rouse, Wayne's wife, works in the Greenville office, and Sheila's brother, Clayton, works as a transporter and crematory operator. 

Sandy was proud of his accomplishments and his business motto lives on for Rouse Mortuary Service & Crematory... We Can Handle It and We Can Still Do One More!