Construction company buys mortuary building

From 1897 until recent years, the structure at the corner of West Railroad Avenue and Seventh Street in downtown Shelton has been home to mortuaries.

Frank Willey established Mason County's first undertaking business in a plain wood building before replacing it with the current brick building in 1926. According to the Mason County Historical Society, three or four owners used it as a funeral parlor/mortuary until it became available for lease by other businesses.

Skokomish Valley-based Gravity Construction Services is the new owner after purchasing the building for $550,000. The company offers on-site consultations and design services for new construction and renovations, including backyard decks, open kitchen and living concepts for entertaining, and handicap accessible bathrooms. The company was in Tumwater for five or six years before relocating to Skokomish Valley.

Richard Nunn and Keith Everson are the owners. Everson grew up in Shelton, and graduated from Shelton High School in 1992 before moving to Tacoma.

"I've been looking at that building since I was a kid," he said in an interview with the Shelton-Mason County Journal.

The structure "is older than any person alive in Shelton," Everson pointed out.

"It's a fixture in Shelton," he said.

Nunn is a native of Grays Harbor County.

"We're excited to breathe some new air down here," he said.

Everson said he hopes the company moves in March or April.

The county will move into the top floor and space on the first floor will be converted for businesses to lease, he said.