Our History
Melancon's Funeral Home is a locally owned and operated funeral home. Formerly known as Heritage Funeral Home, the name change took effect December 1, 2010, with the addition of Craig Melancon. Craig has served the families of Southeast Texas for more than 40 years. He was named "Funeral Director of the Year" in 2010, by the Texas Funeral Directors Association, and is known state wide as a "leading professional" in the death care industry.
The location was originally purchased in 2006 by the Hauck family. Melancon's Funeral Home, located at 1605 Avenue H in Nederland, has a rich history of serving the people of Southeast Texas. There remains a true commitment shared from past to present in providing the highest level of service to each family. We pride ourselves in "caring...as only a neighbor can."
In 2006, many improvements were made to the facility to better serve the community. Along with these improvements comes the commitment of service beyond expectation. Plans have already been made to increase the square footage of the facility in the near future. This is evidence of our commitment to continue to serve the families of Southeast Texas for generations to come.
We believe our work is a "mission of service" and consider it a privilege to help families during a most difficult time in their life. Melancon's Funeral Home offers a complete range of services and merchandise in comfortable surroundings. Our professionally trained and licensed staff stands ready to provide sensitive, caring service, and strive to exceed the expectations of each and every family.
Our communities are wonderfully diverse with different backgrounds, and we consider it a privilege to meet the needs of those families with heartfelt understanding in "honoring the ones you love." In your time of need, let us help you create a lasting memorial tribute for your loved one.
Melancon's Funeral Home is also proud to be associated with Oak Bluff Memorial Park Cemetery and Memory Gardens of Jefferson County Cemetery, through the same local ownership. Because of this, we can provide families the convenience of a funeral home and burial gardens together. Monument and memorial packages are available to assist you with memorializing your loved one at an affordable price.
We are the only locally owned and operated funeral establishment that can provide complete funeral and burial services. Please contact us today for more information.
We are here to serve you!
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Craig Melancon
Craig Melancon was born in Port Arthur, Texas on June 12, 1949. At the age of 16, he began working at Clayton-Thompson Funeral Directors in Port Arthur. The young ambulance attendant became interested in funeral service and enrolled in four years at Commonwealth School of Mortuary Science in Houston. After graduating in 1971, Craig returned to work for Clayton-Thompson. In 1992, he made a career change and began traveling the state of Texas and Louisiana for The Champion Company, a funeral supple company. In 1995 Craig was called back to his profession joining the Broussard family at their new location in Nederland until he joined the Hauck family in a joint venture of Melancons Funeral Home in Nederland, Oak Bluff Memorial Park in Port Neches and Memory Gardens of Jefferson County. Throughout his career, Craig has served as a board member for several organizations, such as the American Red Cross, Crime Stoppers, B.A. "Booty" Ritter Senior Citizen Center, and the Nederland Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he served on the finance council for St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, and is an active member of the Port Neches Knights of Columbus #2461 where he served as grand knight and district deputy. He is an active member of the Texas Funeral Directors Association. Craig has served on many committees for the association and is a past president and board member of the Southeast Texas Region. Craig has been chairman of two past State Convention Committees, where he devoted much time and effort to its success. Craig was instrumental in starting the John Cathy and the George Poston Memorial Golf Tournaments. He served two 3-year terms on the TFDA Services, Inc. Board of Directors and was selected to receive the distinguished "Funeral Director of the Year" award at the annual TFDA convention in Galveston in June 2010. His family includes his children, Mindy, Courtney and John. He also has four grandchildren, Britton, Lauder, Hudson and Cambree.
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Jay Kolb, Funeral Director / Embalmer
Jay was born in Nederland at Mid-Jefferson Hospital in August of 1970. He has called Nederland his home all of his life. He is married to his wife, Michelle and has three children; Kelsi and Kody, both of Nederland and Anthony Lozano and his wife, Ashton of LaPorte. Jay and his wife, Michelle also have four grandsons; Anthony, II., Aric, Adrian and Sabastian; and one grand- daughter, Adalynn. Jay is a Funeral Director and Embalmer here at Melancon’s Funeral Home and has worked along side of Craig Melancon in Funeral Service for many years. He has always felt that being a funeral director and assisting families during one of the most difficult times in their lives as his passion in life. He has learned from and shares Craig’s certainty that “Personalization is the key to a meaningful celebration of one’s life”. He also believes that “Personalization is of upmost importance to the funeral service in both honoring someone who has passed and helping the family through their first steps of healing.” Jay graduated from the Commonwealth Institute of Mortuary Science in Houston, Texas in 2005 where he earned his degree in Mortuary Science with the awards of Honors and Distinction. He then went on to successfully complete the National Board Examinations to earn both his Texas Funeral Director's and Embalmer's Licenses. Jay looks forward to serving the families within his community and the surrounding areas. https://vimeo.com/276260117/cca03c0484
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Michelle Lee Kolb, Funeral Director / Embalmer
Michelle Lee Kolb, was born and raised in Houston, Texas and is now proud to call Nederland her home. She completed her studies at Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service in Houston, Texas where she earned her degree in Mortuary Science. Michelle then went on to successfully pass the National Board Exams to earn both her Texas Funeral Director and Texas Embalmer Licenses. Michelle has over 16 years of experience in the funeral industry where she has compassionately assisted countless families during the most difficult times of their lives. Michelle is married to Robert Jay Kolb, who is also a Texas State Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer and together they have five children, A.J., Kelsi, Clarissa, Kody and Eric; and four grandchildren, Anthony, Aric, Avril and Sebastién. During her leisure time, Michelle enjoys fishing, cruising, traveling and spending time with her family. Her passion in life is serving others and Michelle has been serving the families of the Mid-County area for over 8 years. She looks forward to continuing to serve the families of the Mid-County and surrounding areas as part of the Melancon’s Funeral Home Family.
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Kevin Thompson, Funeral Director / Embalmer
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Ivan Watson, Provisional Funeral Director / Embalmer
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Troy Daigle, Funeral Director / Embalmer Apprentice
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Amy Rogers, Office Manager
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Donna Lumpkin, Administrative Assistant / Graphic Design
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Maddi Watanabe, Weekend Administrative Assistant
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Tabitha Prowse, Weekend Administrative Assistant
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Robert Clark, Director's Assistant
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Loren Za, Funeral Assistant / Visitation Attendant
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Lester Royer, Funeral Assistant
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Bob Wohner, Funeral Assistant
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Terri Melancon, Funeral Assistant
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Kelly Pruitt, Funeral Assistant
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Charlotte Melancon, Funeral Assistant
