History

Kays-Ponger Funeral Homes and Cremation Services have been serving families in the Charlotte County area since 1907 when it began as McClelland Funeral Home. In 1972, Founding Directors, Edward Ponger and Ronald Kays, both long time Charlotte County residents, merged the Kays Funeral Home and Ponger Funeral Home into a partnership that together serviced all of Charlotte County.   Mr. Ponger and Mr. Kays share a legacy of community involvement that has spanned several decades and continues to this day.

In 2005 the Funeral Homes merged with another longtime Charlotte County resident when Michael Uselton, Managing Partner of Remembrance Services of Florida, LLC acquired the firms. Mr. Uselton calls Punta Gorda his hometown, having grown up next to the Punta Gorda chapel and graduating from Charlotte High School. His transition into new ownership has been very natural because of his personal history with the firm.

The Kays-Ponger “family” of chapels and cemetery consist of Kays-Ponger Funeral Homes, Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda, Lemon Bay Funeral Homes, Englewood and Venice, Southeastern Crematory in Punta Gorda and Gulf Pines Memorial Park in Englewood.  Mark Kays, LFD serves as General Manager while Edward Ponger continues to remain in an active role at the funeral homes. 

The staff of Kays-Ponger Funeral Homes and Cremation Services is honored to assist all of our families and promises to provide the highest level of service to each family we serve – a commitment made by every member of our staff.    Our promise is to provide service beyond expectation before, during, and after the service. We guarantee your satisfaction with a 100% Service Guarantee.