Our Family

Will Traxson realized his calling to serve others and walk alongside families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives in 1993 while attending college in Coffeyville, Kansas. At the time, Will was working part-time at a small-town funeral home, helping wherever he was needed—from caring for the grounds and washing cars to assisting with visitations. It was during those early days that someone recognized something special in him and told him that his heart, his smile, and his willingness to help others were making a difference.

Those words helped Will recognize that serving families was more than just a job—it was his calling. He made the decision to transfer to mortuary school in Dallas and began a career dedicated to helping others. Since then, Will has become licensed in three states and has spent more than 25 years serving families with compassion, dignity, and a genuine desire to help. His journey began with simple acts of service at a small-town funeral home and has grown into a lifelong commitment to being there for families when they need someone they can trust most.

For Will Traxson, serving families is much more than a profession—it is a ministry and a calling. He is blessed with four daughters, Jadeyn, MaKayle, Torryn, and Kensley, who are an important part of his life and his inspiration to serve others. Will believes that God places each of us in certain places and in the lives of others for a reason. Through that belief, he and his team strive to walk alongside families during some of the most difficult moments and important decisions they will ever face. Their goal is to provide compassionate guidance, genuine care, and a steady presence when families need it most. In 2012, the Traxson family moved to Athens and purchased Hannigan Smith Funeral Home. Since then, they have been proud to call Athens home and have embraced the community through their church family at Life Fellowship and through countless hours of volunteer service throughout Henderson County.



In 2018, the Traxson family expanded their service to the area by purchasing Chandler Memorial Funeral Home in Chandler, Texas, from the Golden family. Today, the Traxson family and their dedicated team of co-workers continue to serve families throughout Athens, Chandler, and the surrounding communities. Together, they are committed to providing the highest level of care, compassion, and personal service—while honoring the trust families place in them during life's most difficult moments.

What Makes Us Unique

We are proud to embrace traditional values, diversity and innovation in honoring the spirit and life of each person we serve. We offer a full selection of:
  1. Funeral and memorial services, ranging from traditional to uniquely innovative and personal
  2. Burial services and cremation options
  3. Celebrant Services
Letting go of a loved one is usually a very difficult process. In order to provide your family peace-of-mind, our funeral home offers complete care, so you can focus on comforting each other as you prepare to say goodbye to someone dear to you.

Although there are many decisions you may have to make, we assure you that we will guide you through the entire process every step of the way. We promise to help you:
  • Design the most fitting memorial or funeral service to honor their memory and pay tribute to their life achievements and experiences.
  • Select the most appropriate products, including a casket, burial vault, cremation urn, cemetery or mausoleum, to fit your budget and suit your needs and desires.
  • Write a fitting obituary to honor your loved one’s life experiences and social connections.
  • Assist in the publication of the obituary in the newspapers of your choice.
  • Create a Book of Memories™, a beautiful, permanent online memorial, where you and your friends can build a legacy of memories by archiving treasured photos and memories.
  • Welcome your family and friends to our funeral home for your planned services, including a viewing, visitation, funeral or memorial service.
  • Make all arrangements with regard to the services whether they are held at your place of worship, our funeral home, cemetery, or alternate gathering place.
  • Provide you with beautiful funeral print materials, including memorial folders, prayer cards and book marks. We also offer personalized note cards for you to acknowledge the emotional support you received from friends, co-workers and community members.
  • Provide an elegant hearse and funeral cars, as well as arrange for escorts.
  • Help in the selection and on-site arrangement of floral tributes.
  • Provide access to grief education and support materials, and referrals to counseling services.
  • Prepare all paperwork, including vital record statistics, permits, filing and obtaining death certificates, and assistance with life insurance, veteran’s benefits and Social Security claims.
We hope you will turn to us for compassionate care and impeccable service. Our pledge is to honor your loved one and family with dignity, respect and personal attention to every detail.