Our History

DEAN-LOPEZ FUNERAL HOME

Helping families since 1869

Two people sit in a small cart pulled by a goat in front of a wooden building, in a vintage black-and-white photograph.

As a small boy with a wagon and a goat, Benjamin Lopez started his business career. He was only nine years old when he arrived in Key West from the Bahamas, but he possessed the ambition to make his life a success. Bennie went about town with his goat and wagon, soliciting jobs, delivering groceries, or anything else that might come his way. 

 

As he prospered, he bought a horse and a wagon and continued with his delivery business.

Two vintage black-and-white photos showing men standing beside horse-drawn carriages in front of a building.

The Morrow Undertaking business was established in 1869 at 619 Fleming Street. As a teenager, Benjamin helped Robert Morrow by delivering caskets to the cemetery. In return, Mr. Morrow taught his friend the undertaking business. When Robert Morrow died, Benjamin Lopez bought the business. That was on February 21, 1899. Benjamin moved the business to Duval Street for a few months and then to the corner of Eaton and Bahama Streets. In 1904, the business was moved again to 413 Bahama Street where it was located for many years.

A black-and-white photo shows a horse-drawn funeral hearse with a driver, standing beside a man in a formal suit.

On July 6, 1899, Benjamin married Miss Eveline L. Knowles, a native of the island. Benjamin Lopez died on October 9, 1922. After his passing, Mrs. Lopez hired Benjamin’s half-brother, G. Frank Sawyer, to manage the business until his death in 1931. G. Frank Sawyer had two sons, W. Warren Sawyer and Benjamin F. “Big Hearted Benny” Sawyer, and they continued managing the business. In 1954, Eveline Lopez died and left the business to W. Warren Sawyer. Mr. Sawyer and his wife, Nellie Bethel Sawyer, continued to run the funeral home and ambulance service for the Key West community. 


The Sawyers had three children, Donna, Nancy and Frank who were involved in the family business.

Two black-and-white photos: one showing a building with cars, another showing a person standing on a sidewalk.

In 1953, J. Robert Dean came to Key West and married the Sawyer’s daughter, Donna. He became involved in the daily operation of the funeral home. In 1958-59, a new modern funeral home with a large chapel, family room, air conditioning and parking was constructed at 418 Simonton Street.

 

W. Warren Sawyer died in January 1972 and Bob Dean bought the business in 1974. The following year the funeral home name was changed to Dean-Lopez Funeral Home. The Dean’s with their children James, Jennifer, Jeffrey and Jerry continue serving the community. Donna Dean passed away in July 2016. Bob Dean continues to own and operate one of Monroe County’s oldest businesses.

Three photos showing staff and hearses at the Dean-Lopez Funeral Home over several decades.

Many Key West residents are familiar with the love story of Carl von Cosel and the young Elena Milagro de Hoyos. Carl was so obsessed with Elena that when she died, he kept her corpse in his home for a number of years. When her body was on view at the Lopez Funeral home in 1940, it was viewed by as many as 6,800 people. This true story has become a part of the lore and mystic of Key West and the Lopez Funeral Home.

A portrait of a man in a suit next to a vintage black-and-white photo of a commercial storefront building.