Keaton’s Mortuary

Personalized funerals

Our mission at Keaton's Mortuary is to help families create personalized funerals and memorials. This approach keeps us open to traditional religious rites as well as contemporary gatherings that deeply reflect a person's life. That means that whether you want a basic cremation with ashes scattered in a personally meaningful place, a funeral in our cozy chapel with cemetery burial nearby, or a modern celebration of life with live music, favorite foods and a send-off that expresses the passions of yourself or your loved one, we are happy to deliver.

Want an afternoon ice cream social? Or maybe an evening wine and cheese gathering is a better fit. Were you thinking about an equestrian-themed funeral complete with dancing ponies and attendees all in riding boots? If you can imagine it, we can make it happen.

Cremation services

Not everyone knows that there are many cremation options. If you are interested in cremation, the funeral home team can explain the process and different options. From a direct cremation without a memorial service or a witness cremation to a full funeral service before or after the cremation and more, we help you understand this increasingly common choice—and handle all of the cremation arrangements.

Your trusted provider

It is our privilege to serve families in San Rafael and the surrounding Marin County community. Please contact us if you need immediate assistance or if you would like more information about our funeral and cremation services.

History

The history of our funeral home began in 1920, when J. Ray Keaton and his partner, Fred A. Dusel, purchased the F.I. Sawyer Co. from Dr. Sawyer and operated it at the corner of 4th and E Street in San Rafael, California. In 1924, they relocated the funeral home to its current location on 5th and E Street, renaming the business Keaton and Dusel Mortuary. In 1933, Keaton bought out Dusel and changed the funeral home’s name to Keaton’s Mortuary.

Professional funeral care in San Rafael

J. Ray Keaton and his son, Frank, both held the Marin County coroner and public administrator positions: J. Ray from 1920 to 1950 and Frank from 1950 to 1966. Frank and his brother, Harold, and sister, Margaret, operated the funeral home with their father until J. Ray’s death in the mid-1950s. The Keatons also operated a funeral home in Sausalito from the 1940s until the 1960s, at which time they sold the property.

In the 1960s, the Keatons purchased what is now known as Keaton’s Redwood Chapel of Marin in Novato, California. Frank and Harold Keaton, along with a new partner, Claude Wundrow, operated both funeral homes in San Rafael and Novato until Harold and Claude died in 1989. At that time, Frank sold the funeral homes, yet remained on in a managerial role until his death at 90 years of age in 2002.

Meeting our community’s needs

Today, we are a member of the Dignity Memorial® network of funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers. At Keaton’s Mortuary, we continue to provide premier funeral services to the families of San Rafael and Marin County.