funeral director and owner, Sims Funeral Home, Douglas, Georgia, died January 22, 2025, at age 90. After graduating from high school, Sims was accepted to The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina in Charleston. He earned numerous honors and upon graduation was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery. He later joined the Georgia National Guard and fulfilled his commitment at the rank of captain.

Sims graduated from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and returned to Douglas, where he joined Sims Funeral Home and began his 65-year career in funeral service. He also served Douglas and the Coffee County community as coroner for 35 years and on Farmers Bank Board of Directors. Sims was president of the Douglas Lions club, where he was a member for more than 50 years and a Melvin Jones Fellow.

He is survived by children Mary Lou and Charles Jr., brother David, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

funeral director, Warren-McElwain Mortuary Chapel, Lawrence, Kansas, died January 12, 2025, at age 74. Larkin attended mortuary science school in Chicago and did his apprenticeship at Dunn’s Funeral Home in Des Moines. He owned and operated 36 different funeral homes in five states, 10 of which he began. He operated 13 Casey’s General Stores and through the years owned and operated (with various degrees of success and failure) a car wash, a clothing store, a monument company, an internationally famous nightclub in Costa Rica and several hotels.

Larkin was a member of Crest City Masonic Lodge, Elks Lodge and Rotary Club. He served the community on the Senior Housing Board and on the Southwestern Community College Board of Directors. He was a founding member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.; founding member of the Smithsonian Museum of African-American History and a member of NAACP.

After his divorce, he moved daughter Emily to Costa Rica to secure better care and climate for her. It was during this time that he met Victor, and after 18 years together, they were married on January 9, 2015, in Riverside, California. Emily predeceased her father in 2000.

Larkin is survived by spouse Vika, foster son Joe Herrera, three grandchildren and five sisters.

retired funeral director and former co-owner, Harvey Funeral Home, Ardmore, Oklahoma, died February 5, 2025, at age 94. Harvey and her husband owned and operated Harvey Funeral Home until 1988, when they retired.

She was a member of the Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association, NFDA, Order of the Golden Rule and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Harvey also served on several boards, including Ardmore Day Nursery and YWCA, and was a past president and board member of Cross Timbers Hospice.

She is survived by daughters ­Merla Jean, Barbara Lou and Lisa Lynn; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

funeral director, former owner and CEO, Fernald Funeral Home, Mount Desert, Maine, died January 20, 2025, at age 85. Fernald graduated from New England Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences to obtain his funeral practitioner diploma. He also served as a past president of the Maine Funeral Directors Association.

He was a member of Mount Desert Lodge 140 AF&AM, a 32nd degree Master Mason, president of Hancock County Shrine Club, active member of Royal Order of Jesters and member of Mount Desert Lions Club. Fernald volunteered as a board member for Ellsworth Chamber of Commerce, serving as president, and served as a board member of First National Bank. In his later years, he was the owner and operator of Maine Seaside Cottages.

He is survived by wife Ruth; children Katherine, Rebecca, Amy and Michelle; stepchildren Paul Brunetti and Sally Brunetti; eight grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He is father of the late James Fernald, also a Maine Funeral Directors Association past president.

retired funeral director and former owner, Suber Funeral Home (now Suber, Shively and Vernon Funeral Home & Crematory), Fletcher, Ohio, died January 3, 2025, at age 97.

During World War II, Suber served in the U.S. Navy. Then for 50 years, he carried on a family legacy as the third generation at Suber Funeral Home. He also owned and operated the Suber Hardware store his grandfather built.

Suber was a charter member of Fletcher Lion’s Club and served as Fletcher Fire Department chief for 32 years. He was a former member of the boards of the Miami County Health Department, Fletcher Board of Public Affairs and Fletcher Cemetery.

He is survived by daughter Janet; son John; stepchildren Nancy, Larry and David; seven grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

funeral director, Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Homes, Marion, Iowa, died October 14, 2024, at age 71. Lenger earned a degree from the University of Minnesota in 1979 and during his early years also spent time working at his father’s auto body shop, where he developed a strong work ethic and appreciation for craftsmanship. Lenger was also a pilot and EMT.

He is survived by wife Vickie, children Ryan and Beth, three grandchildren, a brother and two sisters.

funeral director and former chief executive officer, Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapels & Cremation Services, Minneapolis, Minnesota, died December 23, 2024, at age 92. McReavy studied mortuary science and graduated from the University of Minnesota. He grew one chapel to 17 chapels and four cemeteries serving the Twin Cities metro area.

McReavy also served as president of the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association and served on several boards, including Third Northwestern and Central Avenue banks, and was a 16-year trustee on the board of North Memorial Medical Center.

McReavy and his wife have been strong philanthropic supporters of the University of Minnesota, especially the men’s football, basketball and hockey programs and the women’s basketball and hockey programs. He was a member of Arcana Masonic Lodge and Zuhrah Temple of the Shrine, past president of the Zuhrah Patrol, Chief Masquer of Zuhrah and past president of Northeast Shrine Club, as well as the Northeast Kiwanis Club.

McReavy is survived by wife Kathleen; children Don, William Jr., Cyndi and Sandie; 11 grandsons; and 20 great-grandchildren.

funeral director, Davidson Funeral Home, Lexington, North Carolina, died December 25, 2024, at age 63. Hilliard began his four-decade career in funeral service as an apprentice at Davidson Funeral Home and earned his licensure after graduating from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service. Hilliard, whose leadership extended beyond his role as operations manager at Davidson Funeral Home, served as president of the North Carolina Funeral Directors Association and represented the state on the NFDA Policy Board.

More recently, he devoted himself to Cancer Services of Davidson County. His passion for service also shone through in his involvement with the Central Carolina Civitan Club, the Masons and the Oasis Shriners.

Hilliard is survived by wife Lisa and daughter Maria Jane.

retired funeral director and owner of Hayes Funeral Home, Elba, Alabama, died November 30, 2024, at age 85.

Hayes was actively involved in the Alabama Funeral Directors Association, serving as president. He was also selected to serve on multiple city boards and was often sought for his input on decisions that would affect the town of Elba and its residents. He had numerous years of service with various civic organizations and was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow designation through his service with Rotary International.

He is survived by wife Rebecca, daughters Katrina and Ceina, son Charles, seven grandchildren and a great-grandson.

Douglas Wayne Manning died January 27, 2025, at age 92, and his impact on the bereaved and vision for improving the deathcare profession will be felt for generations.

After high school, Manning entered the ministry and attended Oklahoma Baptist University, where he met Barbara Maddox. For 57 years, he and his wife had a partnership and foundational bond amazing to behold.

During the time Manning was a pastor, he became interested in the grief experience and concerned that there was little support or resources. His first book was A Minister Speaks About Funerals in 1978 and Don’t Take My Grief Away From Me in 1979, which launched his career in the life transitions genre. After his first book for caregivers, When Love Gets Tough: Making the Nursing Home Decision, he determined this was his calling and left active ministry to establish InSight Books.

Manning became an internationally known author and speaker on grief and elder care. He wrote 51 books and produced 27 audiotapes and videos. His resources have been used by individuals, churches, hospitals and hospices. He became well-known in funeral service, selling thousands of books and speaking at countless seminars and trainings.

In 1996, the company moved to Oklahoma City and Manning’s daughters took over day-to-day operations of publishing, speaking and training. In 1999, he co-created the InSight Institute Funeral Celebrant Training program with daughter Glenda. They traveled North America establishing a new way to consider what funerals could be. To date, more than 5,000 people have completed the training.

For countless individuals, colleagues and friends, Manning was always ready to listen, offer wisdom or make you think. For the rest of his story and his philosophy of life, consider his final autobiographical book, The Spiritual Journey of a Recovering Baptist.

He is survived by daughters Glenda, Kathy, Cindy and Sandra; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.