Mauk & Yates Funeral Home, Inc., has been serving families in central Pennsylvania for over 100 years. Our roots go deep within the community of Altoona and surrounding areas, and they continue to grow as we are in the fourth generation of service.
On April 1, 1909, Newton E. Roher and John S. Mauk formally founded a funeral home in the Juniata section of Altoona, Pennsylvania, naming it Roher and Mauk. The business was opened in a three-story building that housed a floral shop on the first floor, offices and a casket selection room on the second floor, and a large meeting room on third floor. In 1922, the funeral home was one of several buildings destroyed by fire. The building was rebuilt on the same site, opening for business one year later, and being used exclusively as a funeral home.
In 1931, Mr. Roher retired. It was then that Mr. Mauk formed a partnership with Walter J. Yates, Sr., and the business became known as Mauk & Yates. Mr. Yates' wife, Edith Shilling Yates, was the first licensed female embalmer in Altoona.
Mr. Mauk died in 1965, and his two sons, J. Preston and Robert P., continued to operate the partnership with Mr. Yates.
In 1970, Mr. Yates retired, and the business was incorporated by the Mauks, and became formally known as Mauk & Yates Funeral Home, Inc, with J. Preston Mauk as President, and Robert P. Mauk as secretary/treasurer.
In 1975, John S. Mauk's grandson, Robert A. Mauk, joined the company, moving the firm into its third generation of service. He was named Vice President two years later.
Ten years later, Robert P. Mauk retired, and Robert A. Mauk became president and supervisor. Robert P. Mauk remained a consultant with the company until his death in 1990, as did J. Preston Mauk until his death in 2002.
In 2014, Kelly Jo (Walter) Burkett joined the firm and received her Pennsylvania funeral director and embalmer license. She attained her B.S. in Science from Penn State University in 2010 with a Minor in Business and Liberal Arts and graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 2011. After graduation, she completed her apprenticeship and became Licensed Mortician white residing in Maryland. From Maryland, she moved to South Carolina and worked for the Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes for almost two years, gaining exceptional experience for a large call volume business. Her desire to serve families in her home community of Altoona prompted her to move back to the area.
Now in our 107th year, we proudly serve central Pennsylvania with four generations of trusted, compassionate service.
