Thursday, April 25, 2024
Many people facing death might be focused on getting their financial affairs in order or tending to relationships that might need healing.
But the biggest concern of one elderly woman was that her grandchildren think she was cool.
She turned to Scott London to make that happen.
London, former sheriff of Eddy County in southeast New Mexico, has a business called Cycle Funeral Services. He transports the remains of the dearly departed in a windowed, tubular “hearse” hitched to his Harley Road King.
The 85-year-old grandmother whose last wish was fulfilled by London may not have written ‘become a biker’ on her bucket list but she basically became a biker after kicking the bucket.
London is now a Hood County resident. He moved here with his wife Michelle and 13-year-old daughter May a week before school started.
His arrival wasn’t the first time his unique hearse had been in Granbury.
London and his wife had heard of Granbury and had long wanted to visit, he said. They decided to do so after traveling to Michigan in 2016 to pick up London’s new hearse. There is a guy there who makes the unusual coffin carriers, he said.
“We were on the way home with the hearse when my wife said, ‘Do you want to swing by Gran-bury?” London said.
The former sheriff, who retired after 20 years in law enforcement, said he started thinking of a sideline funeral business after attending the requiem of a friend who was carried to the cemetery by a horse-drawn hearse.
“My wife and I have always felt compelled to attend funerals to pay respects,” London said.
At first, London considered a horse-drawn hearse but Michelle quickly nixed that idea because they would have to buy a horse as well as a bigger place. Plus, horses have to be fed.
“She said, ‘I’d rather you do a motorcycle hearse,” London recounted. “I enjoy horses and I enjoy motorcycles, so for me it all worked out and it was a win-win.”
London said that he has been riding motorcycles for more than a quarter of a century. He has owned two Harley Road Kings.
Now that he has settled into their new home in Gran-bury, the former lawman is ready to advertise his hearse services. He said that he has visited local funeral homes with the hearse and was given a warm reception.
London said that as he was showing the hearse to a representative of Wiley Funeral Home, “a woman pulled off of 377 to say how much she appreciated it. She and her husband have been motorcycle enthusiasts for years, and to see that type of tribute available was just emotional for her.”
London said that he charges $800 for transports, plus mileage if the distance is greater than 35 miles.
Although the service mostly appeals to bikers, others, such as the grandma who wanted to be cool, appreciate the uniqueness of being hauled by a Harley.
London said that his hearse’s glass windows offer a touching view of the flag-draped coffins of veterans and first responders.
He said that a plate in the center of the hearse allows for urns to be secured and viewable during transport.
London said that he stores the hearse in “a big box trailer” at his home, which is no big deal to May, an eighth grader at Acton Middle School.
“She’s used to me doing things that not everybody else does,” London said.
kcruz@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066, ext. 258
The hearse’s glass windows offer a touching view of the flag-draped coffins of veterans and first responders.
