SIKESTON -- A funeral home at Sikeston is under new ownership.

Jim Blanchard, who has been involved in the funeral home business more than 20 years, and his wife, Dianne Blanchard, have purchased Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel at 403 N. Kingshighway.

Blanchard Funeral Chapel will be a family business. His wife, Dianne, will play an active role in the business, and two sons, Brad, a junior at Southeast Missouri State University, and Brent, a sophomore at Sikeston High School, will help when they can.

Blanchard worked at a Doniphan funeral home while in high school. Following graduation, he worked at a funeral home in Naylor before attending mortuary college in Chicago, graduating in 1969. he joined a funeral home in Sikeston more than 18 years ago.

Blanchard does not plan drastic changes for the operation. He said the existing business was a successful one. "We're taking an existing business with a fine local reputation and will try to build on it," he said. The former business was owned by Mark Amick, Scott Amick and Jack L. Burnett.

Virginia Wimberley, who has served as secretary-receptionist for Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel, will remain on the staff. She will be joined by her husband, the Rev. Ted Wimberley, who recently retired. Wimberley, a licensed funeral director, formerly worked at Landess Funeral Home in Campbell and Malden. Also joining the operation is Jerell Griffin, a retired banker, who will assist the staff in a variety of capacities.