R obert L. Moore trained in Omaha to be a mortician, working briefly in Omaha before moving to Hastings where he worked for the Volland family. He purchased a funeral home in Sutton and later moved to Friend and opened a mortuary where Brandt Carpet is now located in downtown Friend. Robert Moore died in 1965 however his son, James had returned to Friend in 1960 along with his wife Carla after serving in the military and purchased the business from his father. In 1976, James expanded his business "territory" when he purchased the Masonic Building in Beaver Crossing and converted the main floor into the Beaver Crossing Funeral Home, which currently is used today as a chapel and visitation facility. In 1980, James expanded again, when he formed a partnership and purchased the existing mortuary business in Milford. Eventually he purchased full ownership of the Milford facility. They converted the garage into a chapel and added an extra visitation room, which can be opened to expand the chapel area. James operated the funeral home for 32 years before retiring and selling his growing business to William J. Lauber in 1992. When William purchased the business, he changed the business name to Lauber Funeral Service, Inc. dba Lauber-Moore Funeral Homes. William continues to operate full service funeral homes in Milford and Friend and the visitation/chapel service in Beaver Crossing. In 1996, a remodeling of the Milford facility was completed which increased the office and family consultation area and upgraded the chapel facility. In 2010, we added a cremation merchandise area that allows families who choose cremation an opportunity to select goods and services as it relates to this form of disposition.