Waco Memorial Funeral Home, Cemetery & Cremations

01/09/2026

Larry Dale Wells

Larry Dale Wells, 81, of Waco passed away Friday, January 9, 2026. Services will be Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Waco Memorial Funeral Home with interment to follow at Waco Memorial Park.

A complete obituary for Larry will be posted soon.

View Larry Dale Wells's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

01/08/2026

Thank you to all who attended today’s Greater Waco Chamber’s Networking Forum! We were honored to welcome community leaders in our funeral home and learn about businesses in our area.

01/07/2026

Our team had a great time playing Bean Bag Baseball at Stoney Brook of Hewitt today!

01/07/2026

Families ask us all the time whether their child should attend the funeral, and our answer is almost always yes, though parents know their child best. Children benefit from being part of these important moments, even when they're hard to understand.

Funerals give kids a chance to say goodbye in their own way, ask the questions that are spinning in their heads, and see that adults cry and feel sad too. They get to be surrounded by people who loved the same person they did, and that connection often helps them make sense of what death means. Most importantly, they learn that grieving together is how families heal.

01/05/2026

Claudell Overton Torrence

Heaven gained a beautiful angel on January 3, 2026 as Claudell Overton Torrence was welcomed home. Claudell was born in Waco, on August 31, 1925 to Louis Edwin Overton and Ludie Jaynes Overton. She attended Waco schools and graduated from Waco High School in 1942. As part of the ‘Greatest Generation’, she wanted to serve her country so she became radiology technician at Connally AFB. During that time, she went on a blind date with Clifton Sheppard Torrence, the love of her life. On February 9, 1946, they eloped and enjoyed 62 wonderful years.

Cliff traveled with his job and he took his family with him until they settled in San Angelo. Claudell resumed her career as a radiology tech at Shannon Hospital. When the state began requiring technicians to be licensed, she took the exam and was one of the oldest women to pass the test on the first try. She was very proud of this accomplishment. They remained in Angelo until their children both graduated from San Angelo Central High School and Angelo State University.

Cliff’s final position led them to Plano where they retired. This gave them the opportunity to stay near their family and make wonderful memories.

Claudell was preceded in death by her husband, Cliff, her parents, her sister, Pat Mason, brother-in-law Warren Mason, and niece Lynn Mason. She is survived by her daughter Cathy Feist (James), her son Craig Torrence (Rosie), grandchildren Laurie Shipman (Michael). Valarie Jackson (Mark), Cliff Torrence, Drew Torrence (Heather), her great-grandchildren Cody Shipman (Amira), Ben Jackson (Lyxi), Dylan Shipman (Delaney), Tori Jackson, Jett Torrence, Sheppard Torrence and Leah Torrence, and her Nephew Stan Mason (Kathi) along with several great nieces and nephews.

View Claudell Overton Torrence's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

01/05/2026

We're adding to the team! It's a full-time position for someone who enjoys working with the public and educating them about our services. Click on the link for more details. https://recruiting.ultipro.com/SIG1005SIGM/JobBoard/25f0a774-289e-4deb-a0c0-2982887ab0ba/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=20a1d428-373a-4e68-969a-4b8a61ef42ef

01/05/2026

Join us at our sister funeral home, Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, the second Saturday of the month for a FREE grief seminar. Details below.

🌱 2026 Grief Talks at Hope Again Counseling 🌱

Grief doesn’t follow a timeline—and neither does healing.
As we move into 2026, I’m honored to continue our monthly Grief Talks on the second Saturday of each month, creating a steady, supportive space to learn, reflect, and connect.

These talks are educational, gentle, and welcoming—whether your loss is recent, long ago, or hard to define.

📍 Held monthly on the 2nd Saturday
🕙 10AM-12PM
🤍 Open to anyone walking through loss

You don’t have to grieve alone.
Healing happens in safe spaces—and this is one of them.

01/04/2026

What would you want people to hear at your funeral or celebration of life?

Maybe you want your favorite hymn sung, or maybe you'd rather have everyone listen to that song you played on repeat for years. Some people choose scripture passages that shaped them, others prefer poetry or even a passage from a book they loved. Your service works best when it sounds like you.

Your family will remember hearing those specific songs and words long after the funeral ends. Telling them what feels right gives them confidence they're honoring you the way you'd want. And if you don't have strong preferences, letting them know they can choose freely is a gift too.

01/02/2026

Back with a Facts Friday! Do you have a question about funerals, cremations or cemeteries? Leave us a comment or a message 💙

12/31/2025

Susan Marie Holland

Susan Marie Holland, 67, of Round Rock, Texas, passed away on Saturday, December 27, 2025, in Austin.

Susan grew up in Michigan before moving to Waco, Texas, with her family at age 15. She graduated from Richfield High School in 1976. Her Michigan roots remained close to her heart, and she often fondly recalled the cabin her family built on Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula and the many days she spent hunting for agates along its rocky shoreline. She also deeply valued her Finnish heritage and loved sharing homemade pasties, a hearty meat-and-vegetable pastry once favored by copper and iron miners, with her family.

Guided by her love of children and her commitment to being present for her own family, Susan opened a home daycare business that allowed her to raise her daughters while also running a warm, nurturing childcare program. She cared for countless children over the years and continued operating her daycare until 2013.

Susan found joy in simple, meaningful pleasures. She loved reading, cooking, and crocheting, often creating thoughtful handmade gifts for those she loved. She devoted countless hours as a Hospice Patient Visitor, offering comfort and companionship to individuals and families during some of life’s hardest moments. After COVID, she carefully reduced her volunteer hours to protect her own health and the health of those she loved.

Above all, Susan adored her family. Her grandchildren were her greatest joy, and she cherished every visit, every milestone, and every laugh shared together. She also had a special bond with the family dogs, who were always close by for snuggles and affection.

Susan was preceded in death by her father, Richard Maurice Lahti; her mother, Senia Marie Lahti; her sisters, Karen Lynn Lahti and Maureen Diane Lahti; and her brother, Steven Dwight Lahti.

She is survived by her three daughters: Jennifer Lynn Holland, Rachel Marie Holland, and Stephanie Michelle Holland; her four grandchildren: Serena Holland, Trent Layne Thomas, Audrey Cody Demarest, and Spencer Aaron Dyson; her brother, Wayne Douglas Lahti; her sister, Sharon Renee Lesson; her nephew, Grant Richard Lesson; and her niece, Echo Lesson.

Services:

Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Waco Memorial Funeral Home. A celebration of Susan’s life will begin at 12:00 p.m. immediately following the visitation.

View Susan Marie Holland's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

12/31/2025

Audrie Laneal Berry

Audrie Laneal Berry, beloved mother, grandmother, and sister passed away peacefully on December 22, 2025 at the age of 91, surrounded by family. She was born in Ardmore, Oklahoma on November 24, 1934, to Musa and John Thomas Bailey. She was one of seven children.

Audrie married David Earl Berry on November 27, 1954. Together, they had three children and built a life based on the importance of faith, family, love, and happiness.

She was renowned for her many skills, including her remarkable talent as a seamstress, often creating beautiful clothes for her children. An avid reader and amazing cook, Audrie's delicious food, especially her chocolate cake, was cherished by all who had the pleasure of enjoying it. Her expertise extended to caring for her multitude of indoor plants, reflecting her nurturing nature.

Affectionately known as "Grandmama" to her grandchildren and "Deal" to her family, Audrie was known for her infectious laugh and her warm, caring heart that made everyone feel at home. She held a special place in the hearts of many nieces and nephews who lovingly called her "Aunt Deal".

She leaves behind to cherish her memory her children, Diane Dunlap, David (Randy) Berry, and Lynda Dempsey; her sisters, Carmen Lavelle Dabney (Aunt Wow) and Rhonda Lanore Proctor; eight grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; in addition to a great number of great-great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Audrie was preceded in death by her husband, David Earl Berry; her parents, Musa and John Thomas Bailey; her sister, Della; her brothers, Donnie Bailey, Tommy Bailey, and David Bruce (Uncle Shot) Bailey; as well as her nephew, David Bailey.

Her life was defined by kindness, quiet strength, and unwavering love, a legacy that will live on through generations of family who cherished her deeply.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Cornerstone Baptist Church, 1601 S. Robinson Drive, on Friday, January 9, 2026, at 11:00 AM, followed by lunch for family and guests. A graveside service will be at 2:00 PM at Waco Memorial Park.

View Audrie Laneal Berry's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

12/30/2025

Bruce Wayne Monroe

Bruce Wayne Monroe passed away on December 20, 2025, after living with Parkinson’s disease. He was 72 years old. Bruce was born on January 16, 1953, in Spokane, Washington, while his father was stationed there with the United States Air Force. He later returned to Waco, Texas, where he was raised and attended school. He graduated from Richfield High School in Waco in 1971 and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Baylor University in 1995.

Bruce spent his career at Central Texas Iron Works, where he began as a welder and worked his way up to Project Manager. He oversaw steel projects both locally and internationally, including a nine-month relocation to Thailand.

In 1974, Bruce married Jamie Porter, and together they raised four children.

Bruce volunteered with the Heart of Texas Parkinson’s and Caregiver’s Support Group and served as its President in 2023. Bruce had a lifelong love for working with his hands. He enjoyed building and repairing things and took pride in figuring out how they worked. A couple of his most notable projects was he built a violin entirely from scratch and made beds out of steel using his welding expertise. These projects were a true reflection of his patience, skill, and attention to detail. When he was not in the workshop, he could often be found riding his motorcycle, enjoying the freedom of the open road, or spending time hunting, where he appreciated the quiet, focus, and connection to the outdoors.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth Monroe and Sybil Monroe, and his brother, William Monroe.

He is survived by his brother, Charlie Monroe (Cheryl); his children, Kirk Monroe (Amber), Lisa Briscoe (Raymond), Shelly Monroe, and Clinton Monroe; the mother of his children, Jamie Monroe; his grandchildren, Lily Pelchat, Kenneth Monroe, Harper Briscoe, and Roman Briscoe; nephews Aaron, Adam, Matthew, and Mark Monroe, sons of his late brother William; nephew Hunter Monroe and niece Nicole Monroe, children of his brother Charlie; and other extended family members.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on January 16, 2026, at Waco Memorial Funeral Home.

In keeping with his wishes, Bruce donated his body to science through the Willed Body Program.

View Bruce Wayne Monroe's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.