Eric M.D. Bell Funeral Home and Cremation Services

03/21/2026

There are some families who become a true part of our own story, and the Lanford family is certainly one of them.

Just two months after the purchase of the funeral home, we had the privilege of caring for Mrs. Lanford. Since that early chapter in our history, the Lanfords and their extended family have remained dedicated and loyal friends. As we have grown from a small local funeral home to a regional provider, their unwavering support has been a vital part of our journey. It has been a sincere honor to care for several members of this wonderful family over the years.

Today, we gather at Hope Community Church in Brownsburg to lay Mr. Lea Lanford to rest. He was truly one of the kindest, sweetest gentlemen one could hope to meet. To honor a life well-lived, he will be carried in grand style in our 1955 Cadillac funeral coach.

None of this would be possible without a dedicated team. A special thank you goes out to Leah, who is back at the funeral home providing heartfelt care to another family, and Donna, who has been traveling back and forth between both services to ensure everything is perfect. We are also grateful for our friend Tyler, who stepped in to help today while Megan is home with the princesses.

We may be larger these days, but at the end of the day, it remains a family and friends affair, dedicated to serving others with the same personal touch we started with.

Thank you to the Lanford family for your years of friendship, trust, and for being such an important part of our story.

03/13/2026

It is a sincere honor for the Eric M.D. Bell Funeral Home family to share that Eric was invited to join the Board of Directors for Fairview Cemetery in North Salem this evening.

Fairview is truly one of the treasures of Hendricks County—a place of deep history and quiet dignity. To be able to serve alongside such dedicated and well-intentioned board members is a responsibility accepted with great humility.

North Salem remains a cornerstone of the communities we serve. Eric looks forward to bringing his own 30+ years of personal experience in the funeral profession to this role, ensuring that Fairview remains a peaceful, vibrant sanctuary and a worthy final resting place for generations to come.

03/13/2026

All are encouraged to keep the Frazier Family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

View Leslie A. Frazier's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

03/08/2026

Please keep Don’s family in your prayers during this difficult time.

View A. “Don” Neely's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

03/08/2026

Please keep the Michael family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

View Larry Ivan Michael's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

03/08/2026

Please keep the Swain family in your thoughts and prayers during this time of loss.

View Laura “Annie” Swain's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

03/08/2026

Thoughts and prayers are appreciated for the Lazaro family during this difficult and unexpected time of loss.

View Mike Lazaro, Jr.'s obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

03/08/2026

Please keep the Smith family in your heart during this very challenging time of loss.

View Robert Alexander Smith's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

03/08/2026

All are encouraged to keep the Blackburn family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

View James Alfred Blackburn's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

03/01/2026

Our History: A Legacy of Compassion Since 1913

On March 1, 1913, Oscar and Esther McConnaha received their very first call—a moment that marked the beginning of a 113-year tradition. That call was for 19-year-old Julia E. Warren, who passed away after a brave four-year battle with tuberculosis. Julia’s story was one of immense family tragedy; her mother, Laura Ellen Rushton Warren, had already lost her husband to a train accident and three of her five children in just eight years. It was out of this profound need that our legacy of service was born.

The Early Years

In those early days, funeral service looked very different. Until 1924, when the funeral home moved into its first dedicated building, Oscar and Esther served families directly in their own homes. While Oscar served as the funeral director, his wife, Esther, was the embalmer—a true pioneer for women in the profession. Today, we still proudly display her original portable wicker embalming table in our museum, alongside our historic horse-drawn hearse.

Generations of Stewardship

The business eventually passed to Oscar and Esther’s daughter, Margaret, and her husband, Robert (R.F.) Gregory, becoming Gregory Funeral Home. In 1978, the home was purchased by David A. Hall, a nationally acclaimed embalmer who also directed Indiana University’s Anatomical Donation Program. Under his leadership, it became David A. Hall Mortuary.

Carrying the Torch Today

In June 2017, Eric Bell purchased the funeral home, and since 2019, we have operated as Eric M.D. Bell Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
Today, husband-and-wife owners Eric and Megan Bell, along with their dedicated team—Adam, Ruth, Donna, and Leah—continue to open the same doors that Oscar and Esther did over a century ago. Though the names on the building have changed, our core mission remains the same: to care for our neighbors during their most difficult hours with the same honor and tradition that began in 1913.

02/14/2026

Happy Valentine's Day to our beloved community.

We hope your day is filled with good company and sweet memories. Today we’re celebrating all the love in our community—the kind we share here on earth and the kind we keep in our hearts for those in Heaven.

Wishing you a beautiful day,
Megan and Eric Bell—owners, directors, and valentines.

02/12/2026

Please keep the Bealmear family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time of loss. To share thoughts with the family please click the link to his memorial page below.

View Steve Bealmear's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.