Gorsline-Runciman Funeral Homes - Mason

04/22/2026

Today, we honor the administrative professionals who support our Ball-Dunn Chapel each day.
Through their diligence and attention to detail, they help guide families with care and consistency.
We are grateful for all they do to support our team and our community.

04/22/2026

Roots run deep... in families, in communities, and in the lives we remember.

This Earth Day, we’re reminded that every life leaves something lasting behind, continuing to shape the world in meaningful ways.

04/17/2026

We take time this week to honor the lives of those entrusted to our care at Ball-Dunn Chapel in Mason.

This week, we remember Frank John Dziesupek Jr., Ruth Donna Hanson, Melissa Jo Cade, Carol Marie Hatch, Cathy Spicer, Gary Lee Smalt Sr., George Martin Kushmaul, and Joyce Pearson.

These individuals were part of the fabric of our community... each leaving behind memories, relationships, and a legacy that continues through those who knew and loved them.

It is our privilege to serve these families and to be part of a long tradition of care in Mason.

Full obituaries and service details can be found on our website.

04/15/2026

"It reminded me of something we see in funeral service all the time. People don’t always hold onto the “big” things. Sometimes it’s small physical objects that carry the memory of a place or moment like a piece of fabric, a favorite chair, a blanket, a coffee mug."

Well said, The Modern Mortician! Thank you for all that you do.

Travel day thought from PDX ✈️

If you’ve ever flown through Portland, you probably recognize the famous airport carpet in the photo. Here's how it ties into funeral care. For years people took photos of their shoes on it before flights, during layovers, or when they landed. It became a weird little tradition.

When the airport replaced the carpet in 2015, people were genuinely upset. The airport ended up selling pieces of the old carpet and people bought them to frame, keep as souvenirs, or even turn into shoes and wallets.

It reminded me of something we see in funeral service all the time. People don’t always hold onto the “big” things. Sometimes it’s small physical objects that carry the memory of a place or moment like a piece of fabric, a favorite chair, a blanket, a coffee mug.

Even an airport carpet can end up becoming a keepsake. 🤷🏻‍♂️

04/08/2026

We’re honored to support a special community event happening tomorrow evening in Mason.

The Mason Area Historical Society will be hosting a free presentation titled “Funerals, Furniture, and Family,” exploring the rich history behind the Ball-Dunn Chapel and the families who helped shape it.

Guest speaker Bruce Dunn, who is and was an integral role in the history of Gorsline-Runciman Funeral Homes and whose family has deep roots in Mason, will share stories tracing back to 1868. His presentation highlights a time when funeral service, furniture making, and even ambulance transport were closely connected in small-town life, and how those traditions have evolved over the years.

🕰 Thursday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m.
📍 Mason Area Historical Museum
200 E. Oak Street, Mason

Admission is free, and all are welcome.

We’re grateful to be part of this history and this community, and we hope you’ll join for an evening of reflection, learning, and local heritage.

Mason Area Chamber of Commerce
Mason Michigan Hometown USA

“Funerals, Furniture, and Family” Ball-Dunn Chapel History to be Discussed at April 9 Meeting ----

Bruce Dunn currently lives in Harbor Springs, but his roots are over two hundred miles south in the city of Mason, Michigan. His family was prominent in the 19th and 20th-century history of his mid-Michigan hometown. At a free presentation at the 7:00 p.m. meeting of the Mason Area Historical Society on Thursday, April 9, 2026, he will talk about his family’s funeral home and furniture businesses that started in 1868.

Gorsline-Runciman Funeral Homes, the current owner of the Ball-Dunn Chapel in downtown Mason, sponsors the event. The discussion will follow a short business meeting, and it will be in the Society’s Virginia Schlichter Auditorium at the Mason Area Historical Museum, 200 E. Ash Street. Admission is free, and the public is invited.

Perhaps the Mason funeral home began in 1868 because the practice of embalming — especially after the American Civil War — transformed the profession. Soldiers needed to be transported home over long distances, and embalming made that possible. After the war, embalming became more common in civilian life, increasing the need for specialized knowledge and facilities.
By the mid-1900s, the business was known locally as Ball Funeral Home, located on South Jefferson Street. In 1942, the chapel at the Ball Funeral Home hosted the first Mass of the newly formed St. James Catholic mission on Christmas Day.

A. Bruce Ball, owner of the funeral home, also operated a retail furniture business. Many early funeral providers were closely connected to furniture stores—and even to ambulance services. Cabinetmakers and furniture retailers already had the tools, materials, and woodworking skills needed to construct caskets. Also, funeral services are unpredictable. A small-town funeral home might only handle a limited number of services each month, while furniture sales provided a steady, retail-based income stream.

Another surprising historical connection is between funeral homes and ambulance services. In the early 20th century, there were no municipal emergency medical systems like we have today. When someone was injured or seriously ill, transportation to a hospital was often arranged through local funeral homes because they had hearses — vehicles designed to transport people lying down. Funeral directors were among the few people in town equipped and willing to handle the transportation of the sick or injured.

By the mid-20th century, cities and counties began developing dedicated ambulance and emergency medical services, employing trained paramedics and specialized equipment. As a result, funeral homes gradually stepped away from ambulance operations, and furniture stores had long since ceased their role in casket-making for funerals.

A major turning point came in 1972, when the Ball-Dunn Funeral Home merged with the Gorsline-Runciman organization, a larger regional funeral service provider. Today, the facility continues as Ball-Dunn Chapel, located at 621 South Jefferson Street in Mason, and is also part of the Dignity network.

The Dunn family’s role in Ball-Dunn Chapel comes directly through marriage into the Ball family. Lorna Ball Dunn (1921–2016) was the daughter of A. Bruce Ball. She married Glen “Bud” Dunn, who became a central figure in the business and community as president of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association (1958–59), as a board member of Mason State Bank, and was active in Kiwanis, Masons, VFW, and the American Legion.

The Mason Area Historical Society is a nonprofit organization that relies on memberships and donations. They ask you to consider donating to help ensure that events like this can continue to be offered in the future.

04/06/2026

Before it was known as Ball-Dunn Funeral Home, it was simply the A.B. Ball Funeral Home.

These incredibly detailed photographs, taken in the 1930s, show the Mason funeral home during its earlier years. In the R.C. Leavenworth Photo Collection at the Archives of Michigan, the building is identified as “Ball Funeral Home.”

Even nearly a century ago, the structure that so many Mason families recognize today was already standing, serving the community.

It’s remarkable to see how much of the architecture remains familiar: the brick exterior, the entryway, the quiet presence on the corner.

We’re grateful to the Archives of Michigan and the R.C. Leavenworth Photo Collection for preserving these pieces of Mason’s history.
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Michigan History Center
Mason Area Historical Society

04/05/2026

This Easter season, we are reminded of the quiet ways renewal finds us.

Through generations of families, traditions, and shared memories, this season brings a sense of connection that continues on.

Wishing our Mason community peace and renewal this Easter.

04/03/2026

In our community, we look out for one another... and that includes planning ahead.

Prepaid cremation is one way to make things easier for your family when they need it most. By making arrangements in advance, you can:

• Remove difficult decisions during an emotional time
• Take care of financial details ahead of time
• Ensure your wishes are clearly understood
• Protect against rising costs
• Provide lasting peace of mind

It’s a simple step that can make a lasting difference.

If you’d like to learn more, we’re always here to help. Contact us today to set an appointment with our preneed counselor, Mandy Tefft.

04/01/2026

April is Autism Awareness Month.

This month is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate individuals on the autism spectrum, and to continue building a more understanding and inclusive community for all.

Every person experiences the world in their own unique way. By leading with patience, compassion, and acceptance, we can help create spaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and supported.

We are grateful for the organizations in our community who support and advocate for individuals and families, including Autism Alliance of Michigan.

03/27/2026

As we move through this week, we pause to honor and remember the lives of those who have been entrusted to our care at Ball-Dunn Chapel in Mason.

Each name represents a life deeply loved and a story that will continue to live on through family and friends.

Melissa Jo Cade
Carol Marie Hatch
Cathy Spicer
Gary Lee Smalt Sr.
George Martin Kushmaul
Joyce Pearson
Gerald Thornton Luther
Janeita Ray Bloom

It is our privilege to walk alongside these families, offering care, support, and space to remember those who mean so much to them.

We hold each of these families close in our thoughts in the days ahead.

03/26/2026

This 1967 Lansing State Journal article caught our eye because it shows something easy to forget today: in many communities, funeral homes once helped fill the gap in emergency transportation.

At the time, Ball-Dunn in Mason planned to continue providing ambulance service because it mattered to the people of this area. When families needed help fast, there weren’t always the systems and resources we have now, and local funeral directors were often among the few who had the vehicles, equipment, and readiness to respond.

Reading this today is a reminder of the long-standing role funeral service has played in caring for neighbors, not just in moments of loss, but in moments of urgent need.

Emergency medical care is now provided by dedicated EMS agencies, as it should be, but we still appreciate this glimpse into a time when community care looked different and when stepping up simply meant doing what was needed for the people you served.

03/24/2026

The death of a loved one can feel disorienting, especially if it was unexpected. The emotions can be overwhelming, and knowing what to do first isn’t always clear.

If you’ve never had to think about what happens in the first 24 hours after someone dies, you may feel stressed, confused or even panicked. Those feelings are completely normal.

Here’s something we gently remind Mason families: slow down.

Unless there are specific religious traditions requiring immediate arrangements, most families do not have to make every decision right away. There is usually time to gather your thoughts, call a family member, sit quietly, or simply rest.

In those first hours, focus on just a few essentials:
• Notify close family members
• Ensure children, elderly parents or pets are cared for
• Contact a funeral home when you feel ready

After that, give yourself space.

Lean on your support system. In a close-knit community like Mason, people often want to help... even if they’re unsure how. Let them make the calls, bring a meal, or sit with you.

And consider keeping a small notepad nearby. Grief can bring brain fog or racing thoughts. Writing things down helps lighten the mental load.

The most important thing to remember is this: you do not have to do everything at once.

When families reach out to us at Ball-Dunn, our role is simply to guide them at their pace, not to rush them. We’re here to answer questions, handle the details when you’re ready, and give you room to focus on what matters most: honoring the life of someone you love.

If you ever find yourself unsure of the next step, even in the middle of the night, you can call us. We’ll walk through it together.