MORLEYS FUNERAL HOME SINCE 1961 – CELEBRATING 60 YEARS
On 16th October 1961, local couple Basil and Betty Morley fulfilled their long-held dream and established Morleys Funerals in Garbutt. They acquired a building in Dearness Street and converted it into a Funeral Parlour and continued operations there for 39 years, during which time Basil and Betty established a huge reputation for quality funeral Service for the people of Townsville.
Hugely successful, it was decided that a new larger Funeral Home was required to offer better facilities and in 1999 the only purpose-designed Funeral Home in Townsville was built to be one of the most outstanding funeral homes in Australia.
Since then, Morleys Funeral home has undergone updates to keep pace with the quality service of the Morley tradition. The funeral home has several chapels, The Lakes Chapel, The Courtyard
Chapel and the Lakes Function Room all designed to enhance quality Funeral services and after-service refreshments.
The funeral home also has several consultation rooms, Viewing Chapels, large coffin and casket display room, a safe and secure modern mortuary and on-site car parking for 180 vehicles.
With over 200 years of combined staff local experience there is no better local knowledge available in Townsville.
Basil and Betty’s family have been involved in the funeral home over those sixty years and the family is still involved in providing the traditional quality service to the community. Son-in-law Ray Valdeter joined the business in 1971 and has continued as Manager for over 50 years.
The family has followed Basil and
Betty’s dream and today Ray is still Manager and local Director, his Son Rhys, daughter Maxine, son-in-law Larry Newman, and Betty and Basil’s great grandchildren Dylan and Roark are part of the local team of many local highly experienced and passionate staff to continue the Morley tradition.
Sadly, Basil passed away in 2017, but Betty and Basil loved the fact that Morleys are into their 4th generation of Funeral service in Townsville.
In 2019, the family chose to sell the business to Propel Funeral Partners, on the condition that the Morley generations and the top-class local Funeral staff would remain to continue the business as usual.
The Morley Family retained ownership of the property and continue to operate the business in the same traditional way that locals have come to expect from Morleys.
60 years is a long time and we wish to thank all the families who have allowed us to assist them through the difficult time of coping with their loss.