Stricklin/Snively Mortuary dates back to 1905 when Edgar and Kate McFadyen opened McFadyen Mortuary. The firm was one of the few Long Beach undertaking parlors in operation at the time. The mortuary was first located at 135 East Third Street, presently the site of the Southern California Edison Company. It continued on that location until 1919 when the firm moved to 1952 Long Beach Blvd, then called American Avenue. This new location was some distance from the mainstream of Long Beach proper. To counter balance this potential handicap, the McFadyens operated their own livery stable, a practice not uncommon for the more progressive businesses of the time. Funeral procession transportation by carriage was available for three dollars, and a surrey could be rented for fifty cents more. After Mr. McFadyen died in 1928, his widow continued the business until it was sold to Bill and Louise Sheelar in 1948.
In 1966 the mortuary was acquired by the Stricklin family. Ray and Randy Stricklin, who brought nearly 30 years of mortuary experience to the new business, assumed the daily operation with an excellent staff.
In 1979 the Long Beach Redevelopment Project began to change the very face of the city. At that time Patterson & Snively Mortuary, which had been located at the corner of Sixth and Locust Ave. since 1914, was forced to relocate. Wilbur Snively, owner of that firm, then joined the mortuary on Long Beach Boulevard and the new Stricklin/Snively Mortuary was formed.
In 1980 at an expense of more than a million dollars, a total renovation project was completed. The newly remodeled mortuary included a greatly expanded chapel area, five spacious drawing rooms, many indoor and outdoor garden areas and a beautifully landscaped parking lot to accommodate vehicles during the large funeral services.
Early in 1980 a new service was added to the mortuary with the completion of S & S Flowers. Located adjacent to the main lobby of the funeral home, the shop was established to offer convenient selection of flowers for families served by our mortuary, as well as their friends and relatives.
Another new development was completed in 1983 with the opening of the Long Beach Crematory. In an effort to provide the most complete range of funeral service options, Stricklin/Snively Mortuary installed its own cremation facility. The crematory is now managed and operated by Stricklin/Snively’s own staff.
In the early nineties both the Coon and Souder and Holton and Son Mortuaries were acquired and merged with Stricklin/Snively Mortuary.
In 1997 the Stricklin Family merged their business with Stewart Enterprises, one of the premier death care companies in America. Randy Stricklin continues with the company as President of the Western Division and Senior Vice President of Stewart Enterprises.
For more than a century, the professionals at Stricklin/Snively Mortuary have served the funeral needs of the Long Beach community with the finest in personal mortuary care. Honesty, quality and personal concern are Stricklin/Snively Mortuary traditions which have been followed throughout our history. We pledge to continue those traditions.
