Let’s be honest. Sunset Hill and Herr Funeral Homes should be considered legendary. Why, you ask? Well, not only has the trifecta been maturing for the last century and a half, but legendary people have been put to rest by the trio too.
From the home of the largest catsup bottle in the world – Collinsville, Illinois – came one of the most legendary high school basketball coaches of all time, some would argue. And just two days before his 94th birthday, this legend sadly left our beloved catsup capital, as well as almost a century of memories behind.
Throughout the 32 years that Coach Vergil Fletcher put his blood, sweat and tears into the Collinsville Kahoks basketball team, he helped bring 20 conference championships home, and led the Kahoks to a 747-171 record and a whopping 14 state tournaments, even earning two state titles (1961, 1965) during his career.
In 1970, he was named the National High School Basketball Coach of the Year, and was later awarded the honor of being inducted into both the National High School Sports Hall of Fame and the National High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Now if that doesn’t amount to a sports legend, I don’t know what does.
But it doesn’t end at his successful record as a basketball, football, track, or cross country coach. Coach Fletcher was often regarded as “inspiring,” “impacting,” and “strongly supportive,” by not only his students, but by the entire community.
And even more impressive was his ability to maintain success in his personal life too. It seems like Coach made quite the father, grandfather, and husband by his personal stats – he shared six children with his wife, had 15 grandchildren, and had been married to his high school sweetheart for 71 years.
So imagine how special Sunset Hill and Herr Funeral Homes felt when they were asked to not only hold Coach Fletcher’s funeral service, but to also bury this local legend. I would think that says something pretty great about the trifecta.
After the crowded and more than two-hour Mass in Collinsville, twenty of Coach Fletcher’s former players that were asked to be honorary pallbearers carried out the legend. Coach Fletcher’s final resting place was reached by the never-ending funeral procession after a quick detour along Vergil Fletcher Drive, a street leading to Vergil Fletcher Gymnasium at the high school. I can’t imagine a more appropriate route.
Albeit the trio has served some legendary people, you can’t underestimate the stories and legends that the Sunset Hill and Herr Funeral Homes themselves hold. All three funeral homes have some of the most legendary pieces of history hanging throughout hallway after hallway. Does that pique your interest? I guess you’ll have to keep checking back to hear more about the legends of the funeral homes…
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