Temple Granite Works

If you grew up in or around Temple, there’s a good chance the folks at Temple Granite Works have served your family. The monument company located on South Main Street on the edge of Downtown has created tombstones for thousands of local loved ones.

Temple Granite Works is a fourthgeneration family business created in 1917 by F.S. Walker. Today, it is owned by his great-grandson, Scott Morrow.

“F.S. was a stonemason in Scotland and he emigrated to Vermont in 1911,” Morrow said. “He wasn’t especially fond of New England winters, so he moved to Texas. He had met a man in Vermont who was originally from Florence, Texas.

F.S. decided Central Texas sounded pretty good.”

“It worked out well,” Morrow added with a smile. “He met my great-grandmother — she was from Florence, also.”

Walker and his bride moved to Temple and opened Temple Granite Works. He partnered with members of the Terrell family who had owned a monument shop in Temple during the 1890s.

The business was initially located on Adams Avenue near First Methodist Church, but moved to its present-day location in the 1920s.

“He needed to be near the railroad,” Morrow explained. “Back then, granite was shipped by train, and it was easier to unload it near the tracks than to haul it across Downtown.”

Back then — like today — granite used by the Temple monument maker came from across the country and from quarries overseas.

“My great-grandfather left behind a legacy of handout monuments of granite, marble and stone,” Morrow said. “You can find his work in cemeteries throughout Central Texas — especially at Hillcrest here in Temple.”

Alfred Lastovica opened his doors in 1950, in downtown Temple with the help of his wife, Joan. Once the store was running smoothly, Joan returned to her career as a registered nurse. The Lastovicas were blessed with three sons and one daughter The boys followed in Alfred Sr.’s footsteps.

Johnny’s irst day at the store was the day after his graduation from Kilgore College in 1974, where he earned his degree as a Certiied Horologist and Jewelry Repairman. Alfred literally handed his son the keys to the store, and left the next day for a much needed weeklong vacation! Johnny quickly learned how to manage Lastovica Jewelers.

Billy came on board in 1981, after earning his B.B.A. at Sam Houston State University as well as a degree at Kilgore in 1981, where he mastered jewelry crafting and casting. Alfred Jr. is a GIA Certi ied Gemologist in Houston

When you visit the store, you’ll also meet Johnny’s wife Diane, and Billy’s wife, Helen. The Lastovicas are experts in assisting you in the selection of that special item.