funeral director, Ratterman Funeral Home, Louisville, Kentucky, died July 7, 2024, at age 71. Fowler, in addition to his work in funeral service, was a deacon in his church and brought that part of himself to all he did. He was a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus and belonged to the Fraternal Order of the Eagles and St. Paul’s Men’s Club, serving as president from 1988-92. He was a member of St. Paul Church for 47 years and a deacon there for 12 years. He held many positions at his church, including serving on the parish council and worship committee.

Fowler is survived by wife Kathy, daughters Shannon and Jamie, two grandchildren and mother Mary.

funeral director and owner, Claussen Funeral Home, Lake Mills, Wisconsin, and co-owner, Dunlap Funeral Home, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, died June 25, 2024, at age 79. Claussen attended Wayne State College and graduated from Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science. He purchased his first funeral home and this year observed 55 years as owner/operator. He became co-owner of Dunlap Funeral Home when his father-in-law retired.

Claussen was a member and past president of Lake Mills Lions Club, past member of Lake Mills Masonic Lodge and Jefferson County Masonic Lodge, Sahara Shrine Club, Order of the Eastern Star, Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association, NFDA and South Central Funeral Directors Association. He trained five apprentice funeral directors, including daughter Carla, nephew Nathan and special current employee Lydia Hildebrandt.

Claussen is survived by wife Pamela; children Christin, Curtis and Carla; three grandchildren; and Lydia, granddaughter in heart.

managing funeral director, Geo. H. Rohde & Son Funeral Home, Cincinnati, Ohio, died May 14, 2024, at age 36. Mercier attended Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and served her apprenticeship at Rohde Funeral Home. She was extremely appreciative of the relationship she developed with Steve Rohde over their 16 years of working together. Mercier is survived by parents Michael and Susan, partner and fiancé Rachel Lyons, and sister Sarah.

apprentice funeral director, Kemp Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Southfield, Michigan, and Mid-America College of Funeral Service student, died May 28, 2024, at age 24. Curry is survived by his parents, grandmother, partner Melly, three brothers and a sister.

retired funeral director and former co-owner, Smith Family Funeral Chapels, Billings and Columbus, Montana, died June 4, 2024, at age 102. As a young man, Brown worked as a pipe welder, and in 1943, he enlisted in the Navy Seabees and was a deep-sea diver in the South Pacific. Brown attended Rocky Mountain College and graduated from San Francisco College of Mortuary Science, after which he entered a partnership of funeral directors and co-owned the Smith funeral chapels. He served on the Montana State Board of Funeral Directors for five years. Brown is survived by wife Marjie, stepdaughters Joni and Janet, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

funeral director and owner, Reser Funeral Home, Warsaw, Missouri, died May 1, 2024, at age 75. Miller attended Central Missouri State College and Kentucky School of Mortuary Science. He began his career in funeral service working for his father-in-law, John Reser, and became a partner in Reser Funeral Home.

Miller and his wife purchased Fred Davis & Son Funeral Home in Lincoln and the remainder of Reser Funeral Home in Warsaw upon John Reser’s retirement. Miller also served as the Benton County coroner for 28 years.

He served in the Jaycees, Optimist Club, Shawnee Masonic Lodge #653 AF&AM, Benton County Scottish Rite, Kansas City Valley of the Scottish Rite, Ararat Shrine Temple, Ararat Ole Cars and Warsaw Shrine Club. He also served many years on the Lincoln, Fristoe and Shawnee cemetery boards and was a 50-year member of the Missouri Funeral Directors Association and a former board member of the Missouri Funeral Trust.

Miller is survived by wife Shawn, sons Jimmy and Weston, and six grandchildren.

funeral director and owner, Hayes Funeral Home, Hitchcock, Texas, died April 12, 2024, at age 88. Hayes began his career in funeral service when he opened Hayes Funeral Home in 1972. The early days of his funeral business included an ambulance service, as was then common. At the end of his life and with more than 50 years in the funeral industry, his business had also expanded to include Hayes Grace Memorial Park Cemetery, as well as a crematorium.

Hayes was a member of many organizations, including past president of Eagle Mountain Lions Club and Hitchcock Lions Club; Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce, where he was named Man of the Year; Hitchcock Chamber of Commerce; Santa Fe Flying Club; Santa Fe Historical Foundation; National and Texas Rifle associations; former vice president of Santa Fe Friends of the Library; member of Texas First Bank Board of Directors; and past president of Santa Fe ISD School Board.

Hayes is survived by children Allen (funeral director at Hayes Funeral Home), Edward and Cynthia; his grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

funeral director and owner, Covington Funeral Home, West Atco, New Jersey, died May 4, 2024, at age 56. Covington attended Philadelphia Institute of Art and Design, where he majored in architectural design. He moved to the Virgin Islands and worked as an architect until 1995 when Hurricane Irene destroyed his business. Relocating to New Jersey and pursuing his childhood dream, he enrolled in Mercer County Community College to become a funeral director.

Covington was an apprentice at Greenidge Funeral Home in Atlantic City and stayed on once licensed. He then became manager of Tunsil Funeral Home in Palmyra. In 2009, he founded Covington Funeral Home and forged a reputation for being an excellent mortician.

Covington served as president of the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association (2015-16) and was a NFDA Policy Board representative for New Jersey; president of West Jersey Funeral Directors Association (2009-11); member of NFDA, the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association and Garden State Funeral Directors Association; and a lifetime member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice.

Covington is survived by wife Laurie, son Orlando III, mother Anna, sister Yevette and brother Edwin.

funeral director and owner, Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Youngstown, Ohio, died April 10, 2024, at age 60. Reardon graduated from Xavier University and later from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, where he served as a class officer.

In 1987, Reardon began his professional career as a funeral director at Higgins Funeral Homes. The Reardon name was added in 1999 when he and his wife and business partner became the proprietors. Together with their son, Terrance, they own funeral homes in Austintown, Canfield, Poland, North Jackson and Salem. In addition, they assimilated the professional services of the Fabrizio and Fortunato funeral homes.

Reardon was a past NFDA Board of Directors at-large representative and a member of the NFDA Executive Board, as well as a member and past president of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association, and chairman of the OFDA Master Trust Committee.

Reardon served as president of the Cardinal Mooney High School Alumni Association and was a current member of the school’s board of directors. Reardon also took part in numerous career days and was a frequent classroom speaker in studying life and death issues. He was awarded Alumni of the Year in 2004.

Reardon was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and Mahoning Valley Gaelic Society, where he previously served as president. In recognition of his contributions to the preservation of Irish heritage and culture, Reardon was awarded Gael of the Year in 1996 and Ancient Order of Hibernians Irishman of the Year in 2024. He was also a member of Knights of Columbus and the Canfield Rotary Club, where he previously served as president.

He is survived by wife Judy; children John, Terrance, Bailey and Delaney; two granddaughters; two sisters; and two brothers.

retired funeral director, Anton B. Urban Funeral Home, Ambler, Pennsylvania, died January 28, 2024, at age 92. Urban graduated from Drexel University with a bachelor’s degree in home economics, and also from Eckels College of Mortuary Science. She continued assisting families until her retirement in 2018.

Urban served on the board of the former Visiting Nurses Association of Ambler, the Lioness Club of Ambler and the American Legion Auxiliary. She also volunteered with Ambler Ambulance Association as a dispatcher.

She is survived by son Peter (Skip) and her in-laws, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.