funeral director, G.C. Williams Funeral Home, Louisville, Kentucky, died November 30, 2023, at age 81. Crenshaw started working for G.C. Williams in 1965 while still a student in mortuary school. He excelled as a student and served his apprenticeship under his mentor, Calvin Winstead. Crenshaw then went on to become the general manager, vice president, president and eventually owner and operator of the funeral home.

Crenshaw was a member of the Kentucky Association of Morticians, Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky, National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association and NFDA.

funeral director, J.D. Garneau Funeral Complex, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, died December 2, 2023, at age 42. Bourgeois was managing director of J.D. Garneau and very involved in his community. He was chairman of the Calmlet Suicide Prevention Foundation Board of Directors, a member of the CAB du Rivage, member of Knights of Columbus (Deputy Grand Knight), member and former president of Rotary Club of Trois-Rivières and a member of the Jean-Noël Trudel Community Recreation Centre Board of Directors.

He is survived by his great friend, André Lemarier; parents Johanne and Rémi; brother Dave; and beloved niece Aurélie.

retired funeral director and president, The Wood Mortuary, Greer, South Carolina, died November 12, 2023, at age 85. Wood graduated from Presbyterian College and was a U.S. Army veteran and third-generation funeral director, following his grandfather, John D. Wood, and father, Richard H. Wood Sr., as president of The Wood Mortuary Inc. and Wood Memorial Park. He is survived by wife Sharone, daughters Teresa and Tina, and a grandson.

part-time funeral director, Andrews Mortuary, Wilmington, North Carolina, died November 12, 2023, at age 89. Sheets graduated from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and formerly worked at Vogler Funeral Home in Winston-Salem and Coble Funeral Home in Wilmington. He is a past board member and president of the North Carolina State Board of Funeral Service and was also a sales rep for Toccoa Casket Company in Georgia.

He is survived by wife Elizabeth, daughters Felicia and Stephanie, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

retired funeral director and owner, Hutcheson’s Memorial Chapel & Crematory, Buchanan, Georgia, died November 6, 2023, at age 64. Hutcheson attended West Georgia College and graduated from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service. He also attended Coosa Valley Tech, where he received his EMT basic and paramedic certifications. He and his wife, Patty, then opened their first funeral home in Buchanan. They went on to open a second location in 2013 in Temple.

Hutcheson was elected Haralson County coroner and proudly served in that capacity for four terms. He served as a member of the Buchanan City Council for two terms, the Buchanan Housing Authority for more than 30 years, the Haralson County Development Authority for 19 years, and more than 20 years on the Carroll/Haralson Airport Authority. Hutcheson was also a member of Buchanan Masonic Lodge #78 F&AM.

Hutcheson was a member of the Georgia Funeral Directors Association, serving as president in 1999, and was a member of the Academy of Graduate Embalmers for many years, as well as a member of NFDA and the Cremation Association of North America. He was a member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice for 26 years, where he earned the certified funeral service practitioner designation and served on the academy’s Board of Trustees for six years and as president for two years.

He is survived by wife Patty, daughter Kathryn and two granddaughters.

retired funeral director and owner, Brown Funeral Homes, Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, died September 15, 2023, at age 64. Brown graduated from Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and later took over the family business from his father. In 2001, he and his wife purchased Ronald C. Sheaffer Funeral Home in McAlisterville and established what is now known as Brown Funeral Homes Inc. of Mifflintown and McAlisterville.

Brown served as the fifth generation and ninth funeral director of the Brown family since the firm’s inception in 1845. He was also very proud of his son, Nicholas, for becoming the sixth-generation funeral director who continues the family tradition. Brown was a member of the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association and the Juniata Valley Funeral Directors Association, where he served as current president.

He was a member of Union Lodge #324 F&AM Mifflintown; the Harrisburg Consistory A.A.S.R.; Mifflintown Lions Club, where he served as past president; past ­treasurer and board director of Juniata County Library; and past board of directors for Mifflin-Juniata United Way, where he had served as campaign chairman for Juniata County. Brown also served on the board of directors of Pennian Bank Fermanagh branch and was currently vice chairman of the main board of directors at Pennian, where he also was chairman of its Trust Committee and a member of the Personnel, Asset Liability, and Credit Administration committees.

Brown is survived by son Nicholas, sister Kelly and brothers Robert and David.

funeral director, W.L. Case & Company Funeral Chapel, Saginaw, Michigan, died September 21, 2023, at age 76. Tapley began his career in Iowa as a teacher of students with special needs. Later, he worked for several funeral homes in Michigan (Utica, Bay City and Saginaw). He began his career with W.L. Case and Company in September 2003 and retired in January 2016. Tapley continued to help out at W.L. Case until August 2023. He is survived by wife Martha; children Suzanne, Christopher and Joshua; and four grandchildren

retired funeral director and former owner, Rossi Funeral Home, Canton, Ohio, died September 20, 2023, at age 96. Rossi attended Cleveland College of Mortuary Science and served in the U.S. Army in Korea. Upon returning, he worked alongside father Adam Sr. at Rossi Funeral Home. After the death of their father, Rossi and brother Marion worked side by side for more than 50 years. Rossi and his wife volunteered at the Ohio Funeral Directors Association Convention and enjoyed many friendships over the years. He was a member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association and NFDA, and a contributor to the OFDA SAC [scholarship program] and OFDA PAC. He was formerly president of OFDA District 16 Funeral Directors and, at the time of his death, served as chairman of the board. Rossi was a member of the Masonic Lodge and Knights of Columbus, among many other civic organizations. He is survived by wife Anita; sons Jim, Stephen and Kenneth; ­brother Marion; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

funeral director and owner, Robison-Bahnmiller Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Saline, Michigan, died September 17, 2023, at age 80. Robison became a skilled drummer, joining with the million sellers Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Johnny and the Hurricanes, which he toured with after high school. In 1962, the band headlined at the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany, where The Beatles were their opening act. Robison later attended Bowling Green University and Ohio University and graduated from Toledo University with a Bachelor of Science degree. As an undergrad, he worked part time for a local funeral home, where his interest in mortuary science was inspired. But the call of the outdoors was strong and he began graduate courses in landscape architecture at the University of Michigan. Ultimately choosing mortuary science, Robison graduated with high honors from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and returned to Michigan, joining Muehlig Chapel in Ann Arbor and beginning a career of more than 50 years as a funeral director. Overlapping his studies, he served in the U.S. Air Force. In 1983, Robison and family relocated to Saline in anticipation of his becoming the next owner of Bahnmiller Funeral Home. Eight months later, the dream was realized with the closing of the sale of the firm and Robison set out to serve the Saline community with an uncanny ability to remember who was related to whom, where they lived and where their family members were buried. Robison is survived by wife Alison, children Emily and Stephen (a funeral director with the firm), and four grandchildren.

funeral director and owner, O’Brien-Sullivan Funeral Home, Novi, Michigan, died September 9, 2023, at age 87. O’Brien began his career as an apprentice at Ted C. Sullivan Funeral Home. After serving his country during the Korean War, he returned to work and earned his degree from the Wayne State University Department of Mortuary Science. O’Brien worked with Sullivan for decades and grew the business to O’Brien-Sullivan Funeral Home. His dedication to the profession extended to his active involvement with the Michigan Funeral Directors Association, NFDA and other organizations. O’Brien was also known for his civic involvement, including membership in the Novi Lions Club, Knights of Columbus and Order of Alhambra. He is survived by children Mark, Bridget, John, Colleen, Marianne and Ron; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.