Lockley, Fred.  "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the
Sea." Vol. 3.  S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928.  p. 

BRUNING-HOWELL-SKEWES, INC.

     Bruning-Howell-Skewes, Inc., owns one of the most complete and modern
mortuaries of the northwest. The business is one of the newer enterprises of
this character in Portland but already a liberal patronage has been secured and
the future promises success to the company.
     M. Newton Howell, who is the president of the company, was born in Visalia,
California, a son of D. P. Howell, who at one time was coroner of Stanislaus
county, California. He turned his attention to the undertaking business in
Modesto and under his father's direction M. Newton Howell became an undertaker.
He afterward went to Oakland, California, where he was employed for a time, and
later in San Francisco he worked for N. Gray & Company, having the largest
undertaking establishment in that city and one of the largest in the country,
with the highest type of trade. At the time of President Harding's death in
September, 1923, Mr. Howell was one of the funeral directors who were called
upon to take charge of the funeral and both by the trade and the medical
profession was highly complimented for the skill which they showed in that
connection. He is known as one of the most able undertakers on the coast, doing
his work in the most thorough and scientific manner and accomplishing results
that are thoroughly satisfactory to those who employ him. He is an expert in
plastic surgery and among the members of his profession he ranks very high
because of the skill which he has developed. In December, 1924, he came to
Portland, where he was associated with the firm of Holman & Lutz for three
years, acting as the funeral director and embalmer for that house. In 1927 he
established his present business, which is carried on under the name of
Bruning-Howell-Skewes, Inc., of which Mr. Howell is the president and general
manager.
     In 1900, Charles H. Skewes arrived in Portland from Salt Lake City and here
entered the employ of J. P. Finley & Son. In 1911 he and his wife purchased a
corner at Third and Clay streets and the following year erected the present
building now utilized by Bruning-Howell-Skewes, Inc., and there began business.
Mr. Skewes was continuously associated with the enterprise until 1927, when he
sold most of his interest and the present company was organized.
     The third partner in the enterprise is L. L. Bruning, who conducts an
undertaking business in Colfax, Washington, where he spends most of his time,
occupying a high professional position in that state. He was formerly president
of the Washington State Funeral Association and for four years served as a
member of the Washington state hoard of embalmers under Governor Hay. He removed
to Washington from Nebraska and for a time was connected with the firm of Smith
&. Company of Spokane, having the largest undertaking establishment in that
section. He then went to Colfax, where he still makes his home. The building
occupied by the company in Portland covers a half block and a recent purchase
was made of an adjoining lot which is now used by the firm as a free parking
space. Plans are being made for an enlargement of the plant at a later date.
Even now theirs is a very complete and modern mortuary and they have the finest
equipment of hearses and motor cars, with every facility to care for their
patrons and meet the demands of the public.
     Mr. Howell continues as the active head of the business in Portland and has
won a place of prominence in his chosen field of labor. He married Mrs. Isabelle
Story, of Dallas, Texas, and they are well known here. Mr. Howell is a member of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World and the Loyal
Order of Moose, and that he is interested in the city's progress and development
is shown by his membership in the Portland Chamber of Commerce.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2009 by Diana Smith. Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.