Our History
Carl R. Stephenson, who purchased the stately Goodman home on McEwan Street, established the Stephenson Funeral Home in 1949. Carl and Virginia Stephenson restored this home, built in 1891 by banker and hardware dealer William H. Goodman, to its former elegance. A large chapel was added to the original structure in 1967.
The firm merged in 1968 with the Doherty Funeral Home, a firm established over 75 years before. The name changed to the Stephenson-Doherty Funeral Home.
On September 1, 1975, the Stephenson-Doherty Funeral Home was purchased by Lawrence D. Wyman Sr., and in 1976 became known as the Stephenson-Wyman Funeral Home. Lawrence Jr. joined his father as a licensed mortician in 1979.
Inside the funeral home the foyer is graced with the original 1880's oak staircase with rails and spindles of that period. The front door and many of the inner passage doors with ornate cast bronze hardware are all original to the house, as is the oak trim throughout. Beautiful stained glass windows grace several of the rooms. Antique furnishings of the 1900's are utilized throughout the beautifully decorated rooms. There is an original Hepplewhite Settee with Mother of Pearl inlay. It can be found in the organ room. The main Chapel is furnished with several Marble top tables, Victorian original and reproduction furnishings, and a Flemish Library Table with matching chairs. There is a comfortable Family Lounge area for family members to relax away from the main chapel. A small TV with family friendly videos is located there for young children.
At Christmas time the Funeral Home is decorated throughout, with the highlight being the Christmas tree trimmed with Victorian Era Decorations.
In 1998 Lawrence Jr. purchased the funeral home from his father. Since that time the Front Porch has been restored to its original Victorian Charm, with the addition of a Handicapped Access Ramp to accommodate the needs of our community.
In the Summer of 2006 the new Stephenson-Wyman Funeral Home, Farwell Chapel was opened in Farwell, Michigan.
This completely new facility was built with the comfort and dignity of the families that we will serve in mind. The Farwell Chapel is a barrier free facility with all parts of the building handicap accessible. The Farwell Chapel features two beautifully decorated parlors, which if needed can be combined into one larger room. An all-inclusive merchandise room displays products for both our Burial and Cremation families.
A spacious lounge area, including a refrigerator and television help to make your time at the Funeral Home less stressful. The Funeral Home is situated directly next to the Farwell Village Park, which amongst other things possesses a wonderful playground and covered pavilion.
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Nicholas L. Wyman, Funeral Director/Owner
Nicholas Wyman follows in the footsteps of his Father, Grand Father and Uncle, becoming a third generation Funeral Director. Nick is a graduate of Clare High School where he excelled on the Football Field and Baseball Diamond. Following High School, Nick attended Alma College and then continued his mortuary studies at Wayne State University in Detroit. Nick was married to his High School Sweetheart, Krista Haynak in October of 2016. He enjoys trout fishing in Montana and Northern Michigan, home remodeling.
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Lawrence Wyman, Jr., Funeral Director/Owner
Lawrence "Larry" Wyman, Jr. is a second-generation funeral director. He grew up living in a funeral home and was always interested in mortuary science. He graduated in 1975 from Grand Rapids South Christian High School. He attended Grand Rapids Community College, Mid-Michigan Community College, and graduated from Wayne State University in 1979. He joined his parents in the family business after graduation. He married his wife Carey in 1976, and they have two children; Emily and Nicholas. Larry was the Operations Manager for Clare County Emergency Medical Services, where he had served in a part time capacity as an EMT and Paramedic from 1975 until he retired in 1998 to purchase and operate the funeral home following his father's retirement. He enjoys his work, fishing and hunting, wild game and stream habitat management. He and Carey attend the Clare United Methodist Church and are active on several committees and ministries. Larry had been a member of the Clare Lions Club and has served as the clubs president, and has been the District Diabetes Awareness Chairman for Lions of Michigan.
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Michael Fetzer, Funeral Director
Michael Fetzer has been employed by the Stephenson-Wyman Funeral Home since 1993. Having started out by washing cars, and mowing the lawn Mike’s interest in Mortuary Science led him to attend the Mid Michigan Community College in Harrison, and the Wayne State University in Detroit. Mike graduated from the Wayne State Department of Mortuary Science in 1996 with a B.S. in Mortuary Science. In 1997 he became a licensed Funeral Director. Mike married Molly Simons from Harrison in 1995; together they have a daughter Mia Jolynn born in March of 2002. Mike lives near Farwell; he is an active member of the St. John's Lutheran Church in Clare.
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Carey B. Wyman, Executive Business and Financial Secretary
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Lawrence D. Wyman, Sr., Funeral Director Emeritus
Lawrence "Larry Sr." Wyman, Sr. has been active in the Funeral Industry since he was a teenager growing up in Grand Rapids. Since selling the Funeral Home, Larry Sr. can still be found helping out on most services to make sure that the "boys" are still providing the same level of care and compassion that he built his business upon. Larry Sr. and his wife, Marcia live in Clare and are active members of the Clare United Methodist Church.
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Patricia Mogg, Secretary
Patricia Mogg has been a mainstay at our Farwell Chapel for many years, handling the secretarial duties. She is an active member of the Farwell Church of Christ. Pat and her husband Bruce live near Farwell.
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Byron Good, Funeral Assistant
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Rich Rodgers, Funeral Assistant
