OUR COMPANY
Keith and Bernice Watts founded Watts Vault & Monument Company in 1957 in Montezuma, Iowa. Their son and daughter-in-law, Craig and Lyndal Watts took over ownership of the business in 1986. In June 1991, we expanded the operation with the purchase of Dude's Central Hawkeye Vault Company in West Des Moines, Iowa. In 1995, we also purchased E & D Vault of Chariton, Iowa. A new 35,500 square foot central manufacturing facility was built at 4920 Hubbell Avenue in Des Moines in 1999. We maintain distribution and sales facilities in Montezuma and Chariton
The third generation is also very involved in the family business. Son, Scott Watts manages the Des Moines operation. Daughter Angie Schiebel, handles the daily business and monument sales at our Des Moines office. Lori Bryan handles the same duties at the Montezuma office. Longtime employee Ed Jordan manages the Chariton facility and Matt Johanness manages the Montezuma facility.
In March 1998, James Russell, a licensed funeral director, joined the company as Marketing and Education Director. With his help we implemented the first, if not the only, education center for funeral directors and pre-need staff in the burial vault industry. James retired on December 31, 2018 but still stops in to deliver a birthday or holiday treat every now and again.
Watts' offers a complete line of burial and cremation products. Trigard, Doric, Eagle, and Clark Steel burial vaults are maintained in inventory to serve the needs of funeral directors throughout Iowa. As a retail monument company, our granite now comes from all over the world. We offer a wide selection of both granite and bronze memorials to families in all price ranges. We are also an Iowa distributor of Cherokee infant and child caskets. We maintain an inventory of our most popular styles, sizes and colors.
In January 2004, Lowell Coburn, a licensed funeral director, joined the company as a sales consultant. With his help we are able to offer many different cremation products, urns and jewelry.
In February 2004, we expanded to the east with the acquisition of a building in Iowa City. There we have a facility, a large indoor and outdoor display of memorials and employees to help families when purchasing a memorial. Elizabeth Lockhart and Brennan Walter are on staff to help with your permanent memorial needs
We are very excited about the new additions to our company. With a very knowledgeable staff of employees, the company today handles over 4000 interments per year throughout Iowa. Our customers and the families they serve, remain key to our company. Service, quality products and a fair price are the backbone of this company!