Doak Howell Funeral Home & Cremation Services

Veteran services at Doak Howell Funeral Home & Cremation Services

Veteran families in Shelbyville, TN can turn to Doak Howell Funeral Home & Cremation Services for honors and benefit coordination. In their own words: "Doak-Howell Funeral Home provides specific services for honoring veterans. Owner Matt Doak is a retired Marine Corps member, indicating direct experience and understanding of military funeral traditions and benefits." On-site amenities include chapel (seats 190) and well-lit parking, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists a quoted rate for basic burial and $1,325 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.

Veteran-related services offered include veteran services, memorial merchandise, burial, cremation, and graveside service. Each service is coordinated with the family and, where applicable, with the deceased's last unit or branch honor detail.

On-site facilities of note include chapel (seats 190). These spaces accommodate full military honors details, family gatherings before and after the service, and the placement of the United States flag during the visitation period.

Published pricing at Doak Howell Funeral Home & Cremation Services: direct cremation from $1,325. That places direct cremation roughly 29% below the Tennessee median ($1,865). Veterans who served on active duty for at least 24 months may qualify for VA burial allowance to offset funeral costs — this home accepts assignment of those benefits where eligible.

The nearest VA national cemetery is Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery in TN, approximately 52 miles from Doak Howell Funeral Home & Cremation Services. Doak Howell Funeral Home & Cremation Services can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.

Tennessee has approximately 641 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Doak Howell Funeral Home & Cremation Services is among them.

Frequently asked questions

What does a funeral at Doak Howell Funeral Home & Cremation Services cost for veteran families?

From its published general price list, direct cremation starts at $1,325. Eligible veterans can offset these costs with a VA burial allowance, and burial in a VA national cemetery is provided at no charge.

Where is Doak Howell Funeral Home & Cremation Services located, and can it coordinate a veterans cemetery burial?

Doak Howell Funeral Home & Cremation Services is located at 739 North Main St. in Shelbyville, TN. You can reach the home at (931) 684-5011. Staff can coordinate burial with nearby VA national and state veterans cemeteries.

What services does Doak Howell Funeral Home & Cremation Services offer veteran families?

Doak Howell Funeral Home & Cremation Services provides service options, service pricing, personalization, veteran services, pre-planning, and can arrange military funeral honors for eligible veterans.

Does Doak Howell Funeral Home & Cremation Services help veterans with VA burial benefits?

Doak-Howell Funeral Home provides specific services for honoring veterans. Owner Matt Doak is a retired Marine Corps member, indicating direct experience and understanding of military funeral traditions and benefits.

What sets Doak Howell Funeral Home & Cremation Services apart

Operates out of a converted 1920-era home, providing a distinct, non-commercial atmosphere.
Features a chapel with seating for 190 people and three dedicated visitation rooms.
Offers a family lounge-kitchen area for private family use during services.
Multi-generational family ownership and active involvement, with Matt, Ephraim, and Caleb Doak holding key roles.
Staff members have diverse community service backgrounds, including a retired Marine Corps member and active firefighters.
Provides specific services for veterans and specializes in preneed and monument sales.

Military & veteran services offered

★Veteran Services

★Memorial Merchandise

★Mausoleum Entombment

Burial & cremation services

Burial

· Burial
· Graveside Service
· Committal Service

Cremation

· Cremation
· Ash Return to Family

On-site facilities

· Visitation Rooms (3)

· Chapel (seats 190)

· Lounge Area

· Kitchen Area

· Well-Lit Parking

· Handicap Accessible Facilities

· Handicap Accessible Restrooms

Affiliations & specializations

Industry affiliations

· Arnold Wilbert Vault Company
· Wilbert Licensees

Specializations

· Veteran Services
· Cremation Services
· Monument Sales

Branches of service supported

Based on the home's stated services and specializations, Doak Howell Funeral Home & Cremation Services has documented experience supporting the following branches:

Marines

EverSettled · After the Veteran Funeral

The veteran's spouse may qualify for VA Dependency & Indemnity Compensation.

DIC is a tax-free monthly benefit for surviving spouses, dependent children, and (in some cases) parents of veterans whose death is service-connected. EverSettled walks veteran families through DIC eligibility, survivor pension, life-insurance claims, probate, and the federal-account paperwork that follows.

Begin Veteran Estate Settlement

How honors are coordinated

Military funeral honors are guaranteed at no cost for any veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. The funeral home arranges the honors detail by contacting the deceased's last unit or the nearest active-duty installation of the appropriate branch and submitting the DD-214 to verify eligibility.

For requests less than 72 hours from service time, families can call the Department of Defense's expedited honors line at 1-877-MIL-HONR (1-877-645-4667). See the full honors protocol.