Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes - Williamston

11/01/2025

Williamston Heritage and History Series: From 128 W. Grand River to Today

This present-day photo shows 128 W. Grand River Ave., where it all began. The building that once held the Gorsline & Sons Furniture and Funeral Home still stands proudly — a tangible link to a century of Williamston history.

The ornate storefronts, tin façades, and pressed-brick architecture remind us how many lives and businesses have passed through these doors. While the Gorsline family’s work has grown far beyond this block, their story — of faith, service, and family — is forever tied to this street.

A lasting legacy, still proudly serving Williamston.

Side by Side photo property of Loewen Studio & Gallery, who has done a beautiful job of reviving such a historic space.
Special thanks to Digging Down in Dimondale of the standalone brick building photo.

10/28/2025

Williamston Heritage and History Series: The Store That Grew With the Town

As Williamston expanded through the 1930s and ’40s, so did Gorsline Bros. Furniture Store.

Advertisements like this “Challenge Sale” flyer from the era offered everything from daybeds to dining sets — proudly labeled “Quality Furniture at Moderate Prices!” The Gorsline name became synonymous with craftsmanship and service, trusted by families across Ingham County.

Shown is a postcard from 1910, with the drug store in the eventual furniture store.

While the furniture showroom was later remodeled and modernized, its heart remained the same — a local, family-run business rooted in respect and reliability.

A business built on quality — and a name built on trust.

Special thanks to Tom Beachnau for providing the drawing of the furniture store.
Special thanks to Williamston Museum at the Depot for the Gorsline Bros. advertisement.

10/24/2025

Williamston Heritage and History Series: Main Street Williamston, Then and Now

Downtown Williamston has changed with every generation — yet if you look closely, the spirit of the past is still here.

This photo, taken around the 1920s, shows Gorsline Bros. Furniture & Funeral Home among the bustling storefronts on Grand River Avenue. The horse-drawn carriages had just begun to share the street with early automobiles, and the Gorsline family was already a trusted name in both home furnishings and funeral service. If you look at the far left of the 1921 photo, the Gorsline Bros awning appears. Included is a screenshot of approximately the same angle, today, courtesy of Google Maps.

Over a century later, the same stretch of Main Street remains a symbol of community connection.

Where Williamston’s story — and ours — began.
Special thanks to Fred Bassett for sharing the 1921 photo.

Williamston Museum at the Depot

10/20/2025

Williamston Heritage and History Series: Where the Gorsline Legacy Began

Before the name Gorsline became part of Michigan’s best-known funeral homes, it was a name painted on a storefront in downtown Williamston. If you look closely at the approximately 1915 image, you can see "F.A. Gorsline & Sons" painted on the side of the building.

In 1903, Floyd A. Gorsline purchased a small furniture and undertaking business on West Grand River Avenue — today, 128 W. Grand River Ave. The family lived and worked right above the shop. Here, Floyd and his sons sold furniture, built caskets, and served as undertakers for local families.

This building became Williamston’s first Gorsline enterprise — the foundation for what would grow into the Gorsline-Runciman family of funeral homes that still serve Mid-Michigan today.

A legacy that began with craftsmanship, care, and community.

Special thanks to Fred Bassett for sharing the 1911 photo.

Williamston Museum at the Depot

10/17/2025

Today is National Pasta Day — and we’re reminded that comfort can come in many forms.
Whether it’s a favorite recipe passed down through generations or a simple bowl shared around the dinner table, food has a way of bringing people together and sparking cherished memories.

We’re grateful for the small, familiar comforts that keep loved ones close... one meal, one memory, one story at a time. Have a favorite pasta recipe? Share it in the comments! 🍝

10/08/2025

Did you know our roots in the Williamston community stretch back over 120 years?

In 1903, Floyd A. Gorsline and his sons began what would become a lasting legacy of care and compassion. Starting with a small furniture and undertaking business - complete with a horse-drawn hearse and services led by Floyd himself - the Gorsline family served Ingham County with dedication and integrity.

As we reflect on this rich history, we’re proud to continue serving the families of Williamston with the same commitment that began a half century before that 1953 newspaper article was written in the State Journal. Now, we're sharing that newspaper article written 72 years ago, to the day, with you!

Thank you for trusting us through generations. It is our honor to walk beside you during life’s most meaningful moments.

Full credit for this wonderful find goes to Timothy Bowman and the Historical Society of Greater Lansing. (https://www.facebook.com/groups/137660544586)

10/06/2025

We were truly honored to serve the Enfield family.
Tonight, our friends at Sunnyside Cafe in Williamston are hosting a special event, Soup Together, in Mr. Enfield's honor.

🍲 All-You-Can-Eat Soup for a Cause
📍 Sunnyside Café, Williamston
🕓 4:30–6:30 PM
✨ Tonight’s proceeds will benefit the Williamston Museum at the Depot in honor of the Paul Enfield family.

This wonderful community-style gathering is a beautiful reminder of how Williamston comes together to support one another.

Thank you, Sunnyside Café, for your kindness and generosity — and thank you to everyone who joins in support this evening. 💛

Celebrate the life of Paul Enfield, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes.

10/01/2025

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to honor survivors, remember those we’ve lost, and stand beside the many families touched by this disease. At Gorsline-Runciman Funeral Homes, we are committed to supporting our community with care, compassion, and hope. Together, we can spread awareness, encourage early detection, and continue to work toward a future without breast cancer.

09/26/2025

This 1921 baseball uniform, recently donated to Williamston Museum at the Depot, was once worn by Claude Gorsline, catcher for the Williamston town team in the Tri-County League. Some of these uniforms were later handed down to the Williamston High School boys baseball team.

Claude was a gifted athlete who even turned down a professional baseball contract to remain devoted to his family’s calling in the funeral profession. By the 1920s, he was already stepping into the work that his father, Floyd A. Gorsline, had begun in Williamston. Together, the Gorsline family became known not only for their athletic spirit and ties to the community, but also for their compassion, dedication, and service to families during life’s most difficult moments.

Today at the Gorsline-Runciman Williamston Chapel, we honor this legacy. Just as Claude once chose to dedicate his life to caring for his neighbors, we continue that tradition of service - rooted in Williamston’s history, and carried forward with the same commitment to family and community.

Flashback Friday. This baseball uniform dates to 1921 and was used by the town team men as an entry into the Tri County League. Some of these uniforms were later used by the Williamston High School boys baseball team. This uniform was donated to the museum last year and was worn by Claude Gorsline, the catcher on the town team. Gorsline turned down a professional baseball contract to remain in the funeral business in the 1920s.

09/25/2025

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲
This sketch of the Williamston Chapel, drawn in the late 1960s–early 1980s, highlights the roots of our story.

In 1903, Floyd A. Gorsline purchased a local undertaking firm dating back to the 1880s and founded F.A. Gorsline and Sons in Williamston. At that time, the business was also a furniture store — a common combination in small towns — and funerals looked very different. Horse-drawn hearses carried families to the cemetery, and a complete service cost $35, with $2.50 for the opening of a grave.

By 1922, the firm moved into its present Williamston location, where generations of families have since gathered to remember their loved ones. The highest standards of quality and professionalism — established by Floyd and carried on by his sons — became the hallmark of F.A. Gorsline and Sons, and those values continue to guide us today.

09/23/2025

We’ve all seen heartfelt moments in movies or shows where someone leaves behind a message for their loved ones, like the opening scene of After Life where a husband cherishes videos his wife recorded before she passed. In real life, these gestures can be even more meaningful.

At Gorsline-Runciman Funeral Homes, we have seen families deeply moved by “leave behind” gifts, ways to share love, encouragement, and memories after you are gone. These can be as simple as a handwritten letter or as lasting as a piece of memorial jewelry.

Some touching ideas include:
🌷 Prearranging flower deliveries for special dates
✉️ Writing cards for future birthdays or anniversaries
📖 Creating a family history book or memory album
💍 Gifting thumbprint jewelry to keep a loved one close
🌍 Setting aside funds for a dream trip
⚰️ Preplanning your funeral or cremation to ease the burden

These thoughtful acts can comfort grieving hearts and keep your love present in their lives for years to come.

If you would like help planning meaningful ways to be remembered, from personalized keepsakes to complete funeral prearrangements, we are here to guide you every step of the way.