Remembering Our Colleagues

Selected Independent Funeral Homes expresses its condolences to families within our Association who have lost a loved one.

2009

Robert P. Shackelford Jr.,
former President of The Shackelford Corporation, Savannah, TN, died November 23. Mr. Shackelford served as the Secretary-Treasurer of National Selected Morticians, 1985-86. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bobbie Jo, and is survived by their two children; Lisa Shackelford Thomas, President of the firm, and Robert Shackelford III, Secretary; and four grandchildren, Robert Joseph Thomas, Kathryne Thomas Guinn, Preston Shackelford and Autumn Shackelford.

John J. Rezac Jr.,
former funeral director at Lonsdale Funeral Home, now White Funeral Home, Lonsdale, MN, died October 18. He is survived by his wife, Eileen; sons, Richard and Randall Rezac; grandchildren, Jacob, Lucas, Kristine, Diana, Jade and Paula; and sister Elsie Bastyr.

Dale S. McCaw,
Director of McCaw Funeral Service, Ltd., Lloydminster, AB, died October 17. He is survived by his wife, Dana; children, Joel, Tessa, Brett and Cara McCaw; father, David McCaw, President of the firm; brothers, Glenn, Secretary-Treasurer of the firm, and Reg, Mark and Kurt McCaw; and step-brother Doug Baynton.

David L. Ferris,
father of David W. Ferris, President of Ferris Funeral Home, Simcoe, ON, died October 3. He also is survived by his wife, Jean, and several nieces and nephews.

Jean Marie Mack,
Vice President of Mack Funeral Home, Inc., Robertsdale, AL, died September 29. She is survived by a son, Huey Mack Jr., President of the firm; daughter-in-law, Sherri Mack, Secretary-Treasurer of the firm; and daughter, Linda Mack.

Ann M. Doran-Forauer,
great-grandmother of Wendy Dimitri, Director of Membership for Selected Independent Funeral Homes, died September 26. Mrs. Doran-Forauer also is survived by her sisters, Marge Dewey and Olga Ready; five grandchildren and eight other great-grandchildren.

Robert G. Sellers,
President of Sellers Funeral Home, Inc., Chambersburg, PA, died September 13. He is survived by his sons, Robert Sellers Jr. and William Sellers, supervisor at the firm; daughters, Roberta Sellers and Betsy Steinbrink; sister, Helen Gillan; daughter-in-law, Kristin Sellers, secretary at the firm; and three grandchildren.

Jerry O. Lowery,
Co-owner and Vice President of Woodfin Memorial Chapels, Murfreesboro, TN, died August 17. He is survived by his wife, Ginger; son, JerryLowery Jr; daughter, Virginia Maria; and brothers, Jimmy, Bobby, Steve and Roger.

Mary Ann Synk,
sister of John M. Busch of Busch Funeral and Crematory Services, Parma, OH, and aunt of James H. Busch and J. Mark Busch, President and Vice President of the firm, respectively, died August 9. Mrs. Synk also is survived by her husband, John Synk; sons, Gregory M. Avis and Todd F. Avis; daughter, Susan L. Kuhns; step-sons, John Synk Jr., Tim Synk and Kevin Synk; stepdaughters, Maureen Karlstad, Catherine Necroto and Tricia Lorince; thirty-three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Margaret L. Becker,
wife of Daniel Becker, CEO of Davidson-Becker Funeral Home, Inc., Struthers, OH, and mother of Kelly Becker, President of the firm, died July 28. Mrs. Becker also is survived by three other daughters, Kim Horyn, Kandace Hagendorn and Kate Becker; son, Daniel Becker; sisters, Mary Enders and Caroline Williams; brothers, Rev. Fred Trucksis and John Trucksis; and nine grandchildren.

Eugene P. Amos,
Chairman of the Board of the Amos Family Funeral Home, Shawnee, KS, died July 24. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Zoll Amos; son, Gregg Amos; daughters, Joni Pflumm and Amy Ruo; sister, Paula Ramona Upton; six grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Faith B. Anthony,
mother of Mark Anthony, President of Anthony Funeral & Cremation Chapels, Rochester, NY, and past Board Member of Selected Independent Funeral Homes (1997-99), died June 4. Mrs. Anthony also is survived by two other sons, Craig Anthony and Brian Anthony; sister, Kathleen Humphrey; and brother, Peter Clicquennoi.

Grace W. Evans,
President of McSwain-Evans Funeral Home, Newberry, SC, died May 21. She is survived by her son, Greg Evans, Vice President of the firm, and her daughter, Gena Evans, Secretary.

Margaret E. Vair,
mother of Jane Bissler, Aftercare Coordinator at Bissler & Sons Funeral Home, Kent, OH, and mother-in-law of Richard T. Bissler, President of the firm and Past Secretary-Treasurer of Selected Independent Funeral Homes, died May 16. Mrs. Vair also is survived by two sisters, Dorothy Paisley and Melinda Force; two sons, Lyn and William Vair; five grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

Huey A. Mack Sr.,
President of Mack Funeral Home and Crematory, Robertsdale, AL, and Past Board Member of National Selected Morticians (1995-1998), died May 15. He is survived by his wife, Jean, Secretary of the firm; a son, Huey A. Mack Jr., Vice-President, and his wife, Sherri, who also is Secretary; a daughter, Linda Lou Mack; a sister, Judy Linam; a brother, Arnold Mack; five grandchildren; and one great grandchild.

Irene O. Miller
died May 14 at age 100. She is the mother of John Miller (wife, Grace), Vice President of Goodwin Funeral Home, Frankfort, IN, and Past Board Member of National Selected Morticians (1992-94). Mrs. Miller also is survived by another son, Norman Miller; and a grandson, Bill Miller (wife, Sonya), President of the firm.

Daniel G. Warner,
Funeral Director at William H. Clark Funeral Home, Inc., Stroudsburg, PA, died May 4. He is survived by his wife, Betty; daughter, Debbie Reish; a granddaughter and great granddaughter. He was preceded in death by daughter, Dana K. Warner.

Waunelle Dickers Sims,
wife of C. Neil Sims Sr., President of Sims Funeral Home, Douglas, GA., died March 7. She also is survived by son, Georgia State Representative Chuck Sims, Vice President of the firm; daughter, Mary Lou Holmes; and five grandchildren.

Donald R. Collins Sr.,
former President of Collins Funeral Home, Scottsburg, IN, died March 1 after a long battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth A. "Sue" Collins, former Secretary-Treasurer of the firm; two sons, Kevin R. Collins, President, and Donald R. Collins Jr., Secretary; and daughter, Elizabeth A. "Beth Ann" Collins-Brown.

Guy B. Roberts Sr.,
father of Guy B. Roberts Jr., Manager of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Biloxi,
MS, died Feb. 24. He also is survived by his wife, Iris; daughters, Charmaine Landry, Darnell Iachino, Robin Mullen and Laurie Pinette; twenty-two grandchildren; and twenty-seven great grandchildren.

Lucile Speaks Hardy,
sister of Roland R. Speaks, founder of Speaks Family Legacy Chapels, Independence, MO, died February 21. She worked at the firm for 56 years as a funeral director and accountant. Following her retirement, she continued to serve as hairdresser until 2007.

Richard D. Geib Sr.,
President Emeritus of Geib Funeral Homes, Crematories & Remembrance Centers, New Philadelphia, OH, died Feb. 20. He is survived by his wife, Lois; son, Richard D. Geib II, President and owner of the firm and Past Board Member-Elect of Selected Independent Funeral Homes; and granddaughter, Anne Geib Hanner, and her husband, Brian. Both are Vice Presidents of the firm.

Dolores O'Halloran Countryman,
former owner and operator of O'Halloran and Murphy Funeral Home, St. Paul, MN, died February 19 at the age of 106. She is survived by her daughter, Eline Breon, and sons Patrick O'Halloran and John O'Halloran, owner of the firm.

2008

Helen L. Grisell,
former vice president of Grisell's Funeral Service and Crematory, Moundsville, WV, died December 30. She is survived by a son, Sidney E. Grisell, Chairman of the firm; a brother, Donald J. Chambers; and seven grandchildren including Connie Grisell Twigg, President and Treasurer, and Elliott Grisell, Secretary.

Ralph S. Turner,
President of A.S. Turner & Sons, Decatur, GA, died December 29. He is survived by his son, Fred C. Turner, Secretary-Treasurer of the firm, and a daughter, Patricia Turner.

Virginia T. Shannon,
Secretary and Bookkeeper at Shannon Funeral Service, Shelbyville, KY, died December 14. She is survived by her husband, William L., Chairman of the firm; two sons, John S. Shannon, President, and Robert L. Shannon, III, Secretary-Treasurer; and five daughters, Peggy Soulsby, Jane Husband, Nancy Stoner, Mary McGillen, Virginia Adkins.

Paul L. Gravenor,
President of Paul L. Gravenor Home For Funerals, Inc., Ephrata, PA, died December 10. He is survived by three daughters; Karen A. Leonhard, whose husband, John, is Vice President of the firm; P. Kristin Martzall; and Kathy L. Kiefer.

Betty Ruth George,
wife of the late A. Millard George, founder of A.Millard George Funeral Home, London, ON, died November 15. She is survived by a daughter, Sandra.

Irvine G. Smith,
Chairman of the Board of Frank E. Smith Funeral Home & Crematory, Lancaster, OH, died November 11. He is survived by two sons, Frank R. Smith, President of the firm, and David S.Smith.

Theodore C. Auman III,
President and CEO of Theo. C. Auman, Inc., Reading, PA; past member of the Board of Directors of National Selected Morticians (1976-79); and a past trustee and chairman of the NSM Insurance Trust, died November 9. He is survived by a daughter, Cynthia King, and a son, Theodore W. Auman.

Paul H. Buchanan Jr.,
a principal and board member of Flanner & Buchanan Funeral Centers, Indianapolis, IN, and former Chief Judge of the Indiana Court of Appeals, died November 6. He is survived by his wife, Ruth; two sons, Brian K. Buchanan, President of the firm, and Bruce W. Buchanan, Secretary; daughter, Lucinda B. Pfeifer; stepchildren, Melissa Mau and Mark Flint; five grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.

Dana F. Myers,
sister of Liz I. Ferguson, Vice-President of Dickins Funeral Home, Batesville, MS, died October 27. She also is survived by her mother, Betsy; husband, Wayne; and two sons, Daniel and Taylor.

Ethel M. Eaton,
mother of James D. Eaton, President of Eaton Funeral Home, Sullivan, MO, died October 18. Mrs. Eaton also is survived by three other sons, Harrison W., Charles E. and John Eaton; and a daughter, Mary Eleanor Farrell.

Edward J. Trump Sr.,
father of Edward J. "Eddie" Trump Jr., Vice-President of Horne Funeral Service, Inc.,
Christiansburg, VA, died October 6. Mr. Trump also is survived by his wife, Jean; three daughters, Kathy Harvey, Debbie Akers, Shelby Main; and another son, Jerry L. Trump.

Robert T. Foard Sr.,
founder of R.T. Foard Funeral Home, P.A., Chesapeake City, MD, died October 2. He is survived by his wife, Jayne, co-founder of the firm; a son, Robert T. Foard Jr., President of R.T. Foard & Jones, Inc., Newark, DE; and a daughter, Paula Foard Lutz.

Richard Russell,
father of Michael Russell of Federated Insurance, a partner in the Selected Resources Management Assistance Program, died October 1.

Daniel J. Belford,
brother of Thomas J., President of John A. Gentleman Mortuaries, Omaha, NE, died September 23. Daniel Belford also is survived by his wife, Jean, and son, Joseph T. Belford.

Jean E. Schueneman,
mother of Mark H. Schueneman, President of Schueneman-Tumbleson Funeral Home, Inc., Kewanee, IL, died September 16. Her husband, Herman C. Schueneman preceded her in death on August 8. They are former owners of Cavanaugh & Schueneman Funeral Home.