funeral director, founder and CEO, Smith & Thomas Funeral Homes, Chicago, Illinois, died June 11, 2025.

She was a Jehovah’s Witness and viewed as a trendsetter in the funeral service profession. Smith is the only woman in Illinois to have successfully operated three locations. A portion of the street on which her main location stands has been renamed Smith & Thomas Way, and two Illinois cemeteries have a Mary Smith Way on their grounds.

Smith is survived by children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

funeral director, Charles W. Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Sachse, Texas, died June 25, 2025, at age 85.

Griffin completed two years of college, including mortuary school, and had a funeral service career that spanned nearly six decades. He served in the U.S. Navy as a hospital corpsman for four years and was a longtime member of the Texas Funeral Directors Association.

Griffin and his wife attended the First Baptist Church of Garland, where Griffin served as a deacon and usher. He was also an active member of the Barnabas Sunday school class and Intercessory Prayer Ministry.

Griffin is survived by wife Martha, son Tracy, daughter Len, three grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

former president and chairman, Marsellus Casket Company, died June 26, 2025, at age 86.

 Marsellus enjoyed a 40-year career with the casket company that bore his family’s name. He became president in 1978 and chairman in 1993, and was the fourth generation to lead the company.

He lived and worked in Syracuse, New York, all of his life. He attended local schools, then graduated from Deerfield Academy and the University of Virginia.

After serving in the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps, he began his career with Marsellus Casket Company, known for its high-end hardwood caskets, including the President model, a mahogany casket with a high-gloss finish and pearl-colored velvet lining. Throughout his life, he enjoyed and supported volunteerism and creative philanthropy.

He served in leadership positions and as a trustee and director of local civic organizations, including the American Red Cross (both locally and nationally), Crouse Hospital (for 30 years), ESF Foundation, NYS Parks Central Region, M&T Bank Central Region, NYS State Fair, Syracuse Rotary Club (for 60 years) and former Syracuse Chamber of Commerce (for which two of his great-grandfathers, John Marsellus and Robert Dey, served as past presidents). He was recognized with a lifetime achievement award from the Casket & Funeral Supply Association.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Candace; daughter Bettina; son Derrick; and grandchildren

retired funeral director and former president, Dawson Funeral Home, East Liverpool, Ohio, and father of funeral director and current Dawson Funeral Home President Frank Dike Dawson, died June 20, 2025, at age 89.

Dawson attended Baldwin Wallace College before serving two years in the U.S. Navy. Upon his return, he began working in the family funeral business and later graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. Dawson was responsible for the expansion and renovation of the funeral home facilities as well as the Dawson Family Center.

He is survived by wife Gretchen; children Belinda, Alisa, Frank Dike, and Clifford; eight grandchildren; and twin great-grandchildren.

funeral director and former owner, former Miller-Bowersox Funeral Home, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, died June 20, 2025, at age 76.

A graduate of Millersville State Teachers College, Bowersox taught for two years, then pursued mortuary science at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. He began his career at Heller’s Funeral Home, Lewistown, Pennsylvania, then moved to Grove Funeral Home in Waynesboro. He and his wife purchased the business and later changed the name to Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home. They also went on to purchase what would become Miller Funeral Home in Greencastle and Bowersox Memorials. Bowersox retired in 2010 and sold the business to his son and daughter-in-law; however, he stayed active in the business for the remainder of his life.

Bowersox recently had been attending Five Forks Church, and was a longtime and active member of Faith United Methodist Church, where he held many leadership positions. He was a member of numerous local organizations, including Acacia Lodge #586, Zembo Shrine, Franklin County Shrine Club, Scottish Rite Valley of Williamsport Consistory, and Waynesboro Fish and Game. He also served as campaign chairman for the Franklin County United Way, and was a former member and past president of the Waynesboro Lions Club.

He is survived by wife Barbara; children Scott K. Purnell, James S. Holdermann, Jeremy A. Bowersox and Wendy A. Bowersox; and seven grandchildren.

funeral director and owner, Ramsey Funeral Home, Harbor Beach, Michigan, and father of funeral director Ryan Ramsey, died May 21, 2025, at age 76.

Ramsey attended Ferris State College, graduated from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and joined the family business upon licensure. He served in the U.S. Army, including the First Cavalry Band, from 1971 to 1973. Ramsey enjoyed singing and was lead singer of the Cattail Bay Muskrats, a staple of many parades throughout the Thumb of Michigan.

He managed the Eastern Huron Ambulance Service since its inception, and he served on numerous boards and organizations. He was a life member of American Legion and AMVETS and member of the Harbor Beach Rotary Club for more than 50 years.

Ramsey belonged to Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic Church and the former First Baptist Church of Harbor Beach. Warren served on various City of Harbor Beach committees. He was a member of the International Order of the Golden Rule, Harbor Beach Athletic Association and Huron County Medical Control Authority.

Ramsey is survived by wife Arlene; sons Ryan, Ross, Shaun and Clark; and nine grandchildren.

funeral director, founder and past owner, Gompf Funeral Service, Cardington, Ohio, as well as father of Gene Gompf; father-in-law of LeAnne Gompf; and grandfather of Michalene, Gregory and Geoffrey Gompf, all funeral directors, died May 13, 2025, at age 99.

Gompf served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He became a licensed funeral director after graduating from the Cleveland College of Mortuary Science. Beginning his career with Shaw-Davis Funeral Home in Columbus, Ohio, he devoted 76 years to funeral service. He later worked at Curl Funeral Home in Cardington, Ohio, for 36 years.

Two significant events marked a turning point in Gompf’s career: the passing of longtime funeral home owner Marjorie Curl and the tornado that destroyed Curl Funeral Home. In response, Gompf and his wife opened Gompf Funeral Service in their own home. They later built a facility, which continues to operate.

Gompf was active in numerous organizations. He was a proud 32nd Degree Mason and member of Masonic Lodge #384 in Cardington and, later, Masonic Lodge #206 in Mount Gilead. Additionally, he was a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Columbus; Aladdin Shrine Temple of Columbus; and Cardington Community Methodist Church. He also was a longtime member of the Cardington Rotary Club, from which he received the Paul Harris Award. Gompf was a devoted 76-year member of the Jenkins Vaughan Post 97 of the American Legion. He served on the Farmers’ Citizen Bank board of trustees and was a founding board member of the Morrow County MMRD. He also was a member of the Cardington Community Improvement Corporation.

Gompf is survived by son Gene, daughter Julie, eight grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and close friend Betty Newcomer.

retired funeral director and former owner, Jenkins Funeral Home, Colebrook, New Hampshire, died May 17, 2025, at age 83.

Jenkins graduated from the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service in New York City, then became a licensed funeral director and embalmer in New Hampshire. He purchased Jenkins Funeral Home from his mother and operated it until 1999.

 Jenkins was a certified swimming instructor for the American Red Cross. He also served as an American Red Cross home service officer in Colebrook and the surrounding areas during the Vietnam War. He was a member and past master of Evening Star and member of the Colebrook Country Club. Jenkins belonged to Trinity United Methodist Church.

He is survived by wife Beverly, son Dennis, two granddaughters, one grandson, five great-grandchildren and twin brother Brian.

funeral director; wife of Walter L. Crox Sr.; and mother of Walter Crox Jr., Ben Crox, Jennifer Evans and Monica Crox, all funeral directors, Covenant Funeral and Crematory, Chattanooga, Tennessee, died May 14, 2025, at age 77.

Crox graduated from the University of North Carolina and was among the first Tennesseans licensed in dental assisting, intraoral assisting and dental radiography. Crox was an instructor at Fayetteville Technical Community College, where she taught dental assisting and dental hygiene. She studied funeral service at Milwaukee Area Technical College and Fayetteville Technical Community College, and was licensed as a funeral director in North Carolina and Tennessee. She managed funeral prearrangement programs in North Carolina, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Crox and her husband founded Covenant Funeral Service in 1998. She was a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (an earned designation), a 50-plus member of the Order of Eastern Star, as well as a member of Harmony Chapter Asebi Court, Ladies Oriental Shrine and the Ocoee Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She belonged to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.

Crox is survived by husband Walter; sons Walter Jr. and Ben; and daughters Bambi, Jennifer and Monica.

retired funeral director and mother and mother-in-law, respectively, of former owners Jay and Paula Ferguson, Ferguson Funeral Home, Plain City, Ohio, died May 5, 2025, at age 95.

Ferguson was a faithful member of Plain City Presbyterian Church, where she served as an elder, deacon and member of Lena Robinson Friendship Circle. She also served the Presbyterian Women’s Association, taught Sunday school in her younger years and sang in the choir in her later years. Ferguson was a retired elementary school teacher in addition to a retired funeral director.

Ferguson is survived by children Rita, Johna and Jay; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandson.