retired funeral director, founder and owner, James Crowder Funeral Home, La Marque, Texas, died August 4, 2024, at age 94. Crowder attended Landig Mortuary College in Houston and worked at Malloy & Son Funeral Home in Galveston as an ambulance driver, funeral director and assistant manager. With his first wife, Ann, they grew the business together, expanding across Galveston County with locations in La Marque and Dickinson. After Ann’s death, Crowder and three of his sons expanded once more to Webster before he retired in 2003.

Crowder received the Distinguished Service Award from the La Marque Junior Chamber of Commerce. After serving as chamber president, he was elected mayor of La Marque. His tenure as mayor led him to his next endeavor as La Marque City councilman, where he received the Outstanding Leadership Award from La Marque Chamber of Commerce and began his bid for his second term as mayor. He was again recognized for outstanding citizenship by Knights of Columbus. Crowder served as president of the Rotary Club and continued to participate in several civic organizations. In 1993, Crowder made another bid for political office and was elected mayor of Tiki Island. He has been a member of the board of directors of Gulf National Bank (now Texas First Bank) since 1983.

Crowder is survived by second wife Betty; sons John, James Jr. and Walter; stepson Erik; 15 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

retired funeral director; father of Randy Schoedinger; brother of Ohio Funeral Directors Association Past President David Schoedinger; uncle of Michael Schoedinger, OFDA immediate past president; and Kevin Schoedinger, all of Schoedinger Funeral & Cremation Service (six Ohio locations), died June 26, 2024, at age 83.

Schoedinger attended Ohio State University and graduated from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. He began his career at Schoedinger and, alongside father John, uncle Robert and brother David, grew the family business. Today, it is led by the sixth generation of the family – son Randy and nephews Michael and Kevin. He was a proud founder of OMNI, a group of funeral professionals from around the country.

Schoedinger served on numerous charitable and civic boards. He was a current member and past president of Columbus Kiwanis Club and past president/chairman of Columbus Day, the Upper Arlington Bicentennial Parade Committee and the Soap Box Derby. He served on the boards of Creative Living and Rosemont School for Girls and volunteered annually for Charity Newsies. He was a member of The City Club, where he was a past president, and a former member of The Young Men’s Business Club.

Schoedinger is survived by wife Joyce; children Laurie, Randy and Scott; eight grandchildren; and brothers David and Steven.

funeral director, Krestridge Funeral Home, Levelland, Texas, died June 23, 2024, at age 63. In 2014, Pence retired from WRR Radio and moved to west Texas to begin her second career in funeral service. She graduated from Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. She is survived by sister Marilyn and brother Steve

funeral director and co-owner, Branchburg Funeral Home, Branchburg, New Jersey; son of funeral director, owner and manager Anna Louise Bongiovi, Bongiovi Funeral Home Raritan, New Jersey; and brother of Jason Papavero, funeral director, co-owner and manager, Branchburg Funeral Home, died June 22, 2024, at age 58.

Papavero obtained his mortuary science degree from American Academy McAllister Institute in New York. Licensed in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, he served his community alongside his brother. Papavero served as president of the Middlesex and Somerset Counties Funeral Directors Association and on the New Jersey State Board of Mortuary Science. He was a member of the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association and NFDA.

He was a past member of Branchburg Rotary Club and member of the Somerville Elks and Knights of Columbus.

Papavero is survived by mother Anna Louise; children Alexis, Serena and Nicholas; brother Jason; and stepmother Carmen.

funeral director, son of firm owner Jean A. Moore and brother of funeral director Jared A. Moore, all of McCoy-Moore Funeral Homes, Bidwell, Ohio, died June 23, 2024, at age 57. Moore graduated from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and worked in the family business. He also owned Evans-Moore Realty, Gallipolis, Ohio, and was a former owner of Evans-Moore Insurance.

Moore was an active member of Gallia County Chamber of Commerce, Vinton Masonic Lodge 131, Gallipolis Shrine Club, Gallipolis Elks Lodge 107, Gallipolis H.O.G. Club, Gallia County Gun Club and Third Sunday Investment Club.

Moore is survived by wife Sarah, son Owen, daughter Leia, mother Jean and brother Jared.

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.