funeral director and owner, Eackles-Spencer & Norton Funeral Home, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, died June 18, 2020, at age 75. Spencer was a graduate of Potomac State College and American Academy McAllister Institute of Mortuary Science in New York City, which was the beginning of his 50+ years in funeral service. He also served many years in the Army National Guard. He is survived by wife Renee and daughters Stephanie and Megan.

retired funeral director and former co-owner, Shuford-Hatcher Funeral Home and Frederick Memorial Gardens, Gaffney, South Carolina, died June 22, 2020, at age 76. Hatcher attended Limestone College, was a former board member of Palmetto Bank and a member of Gaffney Elks Lodge. He is survived by wife Sally; son Michael; daughters Trivette, Edith and Haley; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; and brother Tom.

funeral director, Duksa Family Funeral Homes, Newington, Connecticut, and current Connecticut Funeral Directors Association president, died June 29, 2020, at age 48. Scott, a cum laude graduate of Western New England College and Simmons Institute of Funeral Service, fulfilled his dream by providing comfort to thousands of people during his 25 years of funeral service and funeral home management in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York, most recently (15 years) as senior licensed funeral director/embalmer and director of public relations with Duksa Family Funeral Homes. He was a certified funeral service practitioner, certified preplanning consultant and certified cremation services provider.

Scott was an active member and past board member of the Newington Chamber of Commerce and Rotary International Club of Newington, and more recently, of New Britain-Berlin, of which he was president-elect, slated to serve in 2021. He was a proud recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow in 2017 for his contributions to his community.

Scott is survived by partner Patrick, parents Roy and Frigga, ­brother Christopher, stepmother Mary Ellen, stepsisters Patricia and Andrea, and stepbrothers James and Thomas.

retired funeral director and former owner of Schoenfeld Mortuary, Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado, died June 20, 2020, at age 83. Schoenfeld was a graduate of Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science after attending Marquette University in Milwaukee for two years. He then worked as a funeral director and owner in Wisconsin until 1972, when he moved to Colorado and was married.

The couple moved to Grand County, 120 miles northwest of Denver, to buy the mortuary in Hot Sulphur Springs, which they operated for 32 years. Schoenfeld also worked for the Grand County government as EMS director for many years, as elected county coroner for 30 years and as a member of the Grand County Hospital Health Advisory Board.

Schoenfeld was active in the International Coroners Association; he served as past president and board member. He was past president of the Colorado Coroner’s Association and served on the association’s board of directors and as an instructor in the coroner training program.

Schoenfeld was awarded the Funeral Service Mentor Award by the Colorado Funeral Directors Association in 1998 and served as association president in 2003.

He is survived by wife Joan; daughters Peggy, Tammy and Jayne; son John; 13 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and sisters Pauline, Lorna, Beverly and Sally.

funeral director/owner, Flanagan-Watts Funeral Home, Marietta, Oklahoma, died June 30, 2020, at age 51. Flanagan pursued his education on a music scholarship and earned an associate degree in business administration from Murray State College. He then earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, graduating cum laude from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Flanagan continued his education at Dallas Institute of Funeral Service, earning an associate degree in funeral service in 1996. He was a member of Pi Sigma Eta, the national morticians fraternity, and in 2019 was asked to be Dallas Institute’s commencement speaker. During the celebration, the school also presented him with its Distinguished Service Award. He was a 2004 graduate of Love County Leadership Class #1.

Flanagan worked for Anderson-Kennedy Funeral Home in Marietta, and encouraged by mentor John Kennedy, he became a licensed director and embalmer for the state of Oklahoma. He worked for Kennedy Funeral Home until 2000, when the Watts family purchased the firm and he became managing partner of Flanagan-Watts Funeral Home. In 2001, he became owner and operator of Flanagan Monument Sales of Marietta.

Flanagan was a member of NFDA and the Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association, for which, since 2011, he has served on the association’s board as District V chairman, District V governor (three years), secretary/treasurer, vice president, president-elect and president (2019-20). Flanagan was very active in the community, including the Marietta Lions Club, Love County Chamber of Commerce, Love County United Way, Love County Health Center Foundation, Love County Emergency Food & Shelter Program and the Lakeview/Prairieview Cemetery board.

He is survived by his daughter, Kaylee, son Mathew, parents G.W. and Erma, and brothers Chris and Chet.

retired funeral director and founder, Teague Funeral Service, Charlottesville, Virginia, died May 15, 2020, at age 83. Teague proudly served his country in Korea as a cryptographer in the U.S. Army.

He managed Preddy Funeral Home in Charlottesville, which led to the founding of Teague Funeral Service. His professional leadership roles included president of the Virginia Funeral Directors Association and member of the Virginia Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers, Virginia Health Regulatory Board and the NFDA Board of Governors representing Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and the District of Columbia. Teague also served as chair or president of many organizations, including Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad, Chamber of Commerce, Jaycees, United Way, Kiwanis, Senior Center, American Heart Association and Multiple Sclerosis Society. He was honored by the community with many awards, including Jaycees Outstanding Young Man, Multiple Sclerosis Silver Hope, Kiwanian Walter Zeller and Paul Goodloe McIntyre awards.

He is survived by wife Mary Jayne, son Joseph William Jr., daughter Cynthia, three grandchildren and sisters Peggy, Nancy and Bobbi.

retired funeral director and president and CEO, New Golden Gate Funeral Homes, Milwaukee and Racine, Wisconsin, died May 27, 2020, at age 82. Reid began in funeral service in 1956 with Williamson’s Funeral Home. From there, he developed his skills and knowledge with Bethea Raphael Funeral Home. In 1979, he joined Watkins funeral home, where he served as a chief assistant to the funeral director.

In 1981, Reid co-founded Reid and Yandell Funeral Home, which eventually became the first Golden Gate Funeral Home in 1986. In 1993, Golden Gate Funeral Home changed to New Golden Gate Funeral Home and Reid became sole owner and operator of Reid’s New Golden Gate Funeral Home in 2008. In 2012, Reid’s New Golden Gate Funeral Home opened up its second location in Racine, and a third location has been established in Milwaukee. He is survived by wife Mary and daughters Sheila and Phyllis.

former owner and retired funeral director, Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, Greenville, South Carolina, died May 20, 2020, at age 85. McAfee graduated from Davidson College and followed his father and grandfather in funeral service. He was a member of Knights of Columbus and Msgr. Andrew K. Gwinn Council 1668, Fourth Degree, and former member of Downtown Rotary Club, Commerce Club, South Carolina Funeral Directors Association and NFDA. He is survived by sons Thomas F. IV and John, and four grandchildren.

retired funeral director, Charles R. Step Funeral Home, Redford, Michigan, died May 24, 2020, at age 90. Kourmadas was also a former Michigan Funeral Directors Association district director and MFDA 777 Club member. He is survived by brother John.

retired funeral director and owner, Daniels Funeral Home, Burlington, Wisconsin, died May 29, 2020, at age 92. Daniels was a former member of National Guard Battery A, 126th Field Artillery Battalion, 32nd Division. He began working with John Schuette at both Schuette Funeral Home and Schuette Furniture Store. Daniels graduated in 1952 from Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science, receiving his Wisconsin funeral director and embalmer licenses. He became a partner in 1954 with Schuette, Werth and Daniels Funeral Home, and in 1975, with his wife, purchased the business. In 1991, a new funeral home was built. In 1996, McCarthy-Koenig Funeral Home was purchased and later consolidated into the Schuette-Daniels location in 1997. In 1994, Polnasek Funeral home in Union Grove was purchased by Daniels and his wife and became Polnasek-Daniels Funeral Home. He retired in January 2008.

Daniels served four terms on the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association Board of Directors and served as secretary and treasurer for one term each. He was a member of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce since 1954, serving twice as president, and active in many other community services, including Rotary Club since 1954; Burlington Rescue Squad for 25 years, where he earned Gold Badge membership; Burlington Savings and Loan board member; Knights of Columbus; and former treasurer of Cub Scout Packs 134 and 334.

He is survived by wife Doris; children Marjorie, Michael, Mark, Matthew (also a funeral director), Marian, Marlene, Madalyn, Marilee, Marvin, Mitchell, Marcel, Marti and Monte; foster children Greg and Michael Pieters; 45 grandchildren; and 63 great-grandchildren.