Planning a Funeral in Oklahoma City: What to Know About Howard Harris and Similar Services

When death occurs unexpectedly or after prolonged illness, families in Oklahoma City typically have between 24 and 72 hours to contact a funeral home and begin arrangements. This article covers what Howard Harris Funeral Home offers in the context of Oklahoma City's funeral service landscape, including pricing structures, facility locations, and how to evaluate options when time and emotion are both working against you.

The Role of Funeral Homes in Oklahoma City's Service Network

Funeral homes operate as operational centers for multiple services: body preparation and storage, funeral planning consultation, venue rental for services, and coordination with cemeteries and crematoriums. Oklahoma City has approximately 20 to 25 licensed funeral homes scattered across the metro area, ranging from single-location independent operators to multi-location chains. The choice of funeral home affects cost, convenience, and the quality of pre-planning support available to families.

Howard Harris operates as an independent funeral home with roots in Oklahoma City, distinguishing it from national chains like Dignity Memorial or Service Corporation International, which operate multiple locations under different brand names across the state. Independent homes often provide more direct relationships with ownership and can be more flexible on pricing for families with limited budgets.

Cost Structure and Payment Options

Funeral service costs in Oklahoma City typically break into three categories: basic services (preparation, embalming, use of facilities), merchandise (casket, urn, vault), and third-party expenses (cemetery fees, flowers, obituary placement). A full traditional funeral with viewing, funeral service, and burial in Oklahoma City ranges from $5,000 to $12,000 depending on casket selection and service scope. Cremation with a memorial service costs considerably less, typically $2,000 to $4,000.

When contacting Howard Harris or any funeral home, request an itemized General Price List, which funeral homes are required by federal law to provide. This list should separate basic service charges from merchandise costs and allows direct price comparison across providers. Some funeral homes bundle charges in ways that obscure the actual cost of services; itemization prevents this.

Howard Harris, like other independent funeral homes in Oklahoma City, may offer payment plans for families without immediate liquid funds. Verify whether the home accepts payment through life insurance settlements, Social Security funeral benefits (up to $255 per person), or Veterans benefits if applicable. These resources can cover significant portions of funeral costs and should be explored before entering into financing agreements.

Location and Service Area

Howard Harris maintains a location within Oklahoma City proper, which reduces travel time for families who need to visit the facility for viewings, planning meetings, or to drop off clothing or personal items for the deceased. Being located within the city proper, rather than in suburban areas like Edmond, Norman, or Midwest City, matters if family members lack reliable transportation or if elderly relatives need to visit multiple times during the arrangement process.

Proximity also affects logistics when coordinating with cemeteries. Oklahoma City has several major burial grounds: Calvary Cemetery (near Stockyard City), Fairlawn Cemetery (in central Oklahoma City), and Rose Hill Funeral Park (south of the city). Funeral homes closer to these locations can reduce coordination delays.

Pre-Planning and Documentation Support

A practical consideration often overlooked: funeral homes vary in how much pre-arrangement support they offer before death occurs. Some homes provide detailed planning consultations, allow families to pre-select caskets, and lock in current prices. Others offer minimal guidance until a death occurs and families are in crisis mode.

Ask whether Howard Harris or a competing funeral home offers a pre-need planning package. This typically includes a worksheet to record the deceased's preferences, burial plot location (if already owned), preference for embalming or cremation, and music or readings for the service. Pre-planning costs nothing and prevents the family from having to make dozens of decisions while grieving. Some homes offer modest discounts (typically 5 to 10 percent) on services selected in advance.

Cremation Services and Alternatives to Traditional Burial

If the deceased preferred cremation or the family is cost-conscious, verify whether the funeral home operates its own crematory or contracts with an outside facility. Homes with in-house crematories allow families to witness the process if desired (a meaningful ritual for some families) and reduce handling by third parties. Homes without crematories outsource to regional crematories, which increases cost slightly and removes direct oversight.

Oklahoma City also has direct cremation providers (cremation without a service or viewing) that charge $1,200 to $1,800, significantly less than traditional funeral homes. However, these providers typically do not offer viewing facilities or help with memorial services, making them suitable only for families who plan no formal service.

Staff Experience and Licensing

Oklahoma funeral directors must hold a state license from the Oklahoma Funeral Board. Verify that the funeral home and its director are current on licensure before committing. Directors with 20+ years of experience often manage complex situations more smoothly (arranging services for unclaimed persons, coordinating with medical examiners, handling veterans' burials) than newly licensed staff.

When to Contact Multiple Funeral Homes

Funeral service is not a competitive market in the way most consumers expect. Families often contact one funeral home out of proximity or referral and accept its first quote. Shopping multiple homes takes time families may not feel they have, but calling two or three homes in Oklahoma City for itemized price lists takes 20 minutes and can uncover price differences of $2,000 or more.

Contact Howard Harris, a second independent home, and one chain-affiliated location. Request the same service package from each (for example, full traditional funeral with standard casket, embalming, and visitation facility use). Compare itemized costs directly. This prevents paying premium prices for services available at lower cost elsewhere.

Practical Next Steps

If Howard Harris is under consideration, request an appointment to tour the facility and viewing rooms before death occurs. Seeing where services would take place, asking about parking for elderly family members, and meeting the staff removes surprises during the actual arrangement process. If death has already occurred, call immediately and request a funeral director meet with you at the funeral home or by phone to discuss options and costs before signing any agreements.