director/owner, Williams-James Mortuary, St Louis, Missouri, died April 28, 2022, at age 89. James attended Stowe Teacher’s College and also completed a medical technologist degree. Among her many “firsts”: first African American member of St. Louis County Board of Education, the first serving on the Berkeley School District Board of Education, first serving on the St. Louis County Schools board and the first medical technologist at St. Joseph Hospital in Alton, Illinois. James was a member of the St. Louis Gateway Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association, from which she had received honors.

She is survived by husband Leon, daughters Sheila and Stacie, six grandchildren, two bonus granddaughters and four great-grandchildren.

retired funeral director and co-founder, Voran Funeral Homes in Taylor, Allen Park and Dearborn, Michigan, died June 2, 2022, at age 94.

In addition to Voran’s dedication to families, he was an avid supporter of local schools, churches and organizations. He served the United States with honor, enlisting in the Merchant Marines immediately after high school and later serving in the military in World War II. Voran was a long-time member of the Allen Park Knights of Columbus, Allen Park Elks, Melvindale Exchange Club and the Moose Lodge.

He is survived by wife Barbara, daughters Eleana and Renee, son Fred Jr. and two grandchildren.

retired funeral director and former owner, Hughes (Mitchell-Hughes & LeMasters) Funeral Home, Marion, Illinois, died May 14, 2022, at age 79.

LeMasters graduated with a degree in marketing from Southern Illinois University before earning his degree in mortuary science. He spent most of his career in Texas and in Georgia, where he was born. In Marion, he served on the local school board and volunteered with Paradise Alley Players and Rotary Club.

LeMasters is survived by daughters Lisa and Anne, son Mitchell and five grandchildren.

funeral director and partner, Hudman Funeral Home, Port, Texas, died May 17, 2022, at age 50. Hudman, who attained the rank of Eagle Scout, graduated from Amarillo College with a degree in mortuary science. He was a partner in both Hudman Furniture and Hudman Funeral Home.

He is survived by wife Lichele, twin children Kyna and Kohen, parents Curtis (funeral director and partner in Hudman Funeral Home) and Julie, and two sisters.

retired funeral director and owner, McArthur Bros. & MacNeil Funeral Home, Ontario, Canada, and Winchester & Chesterville Funeral Homes, Alberta, died June 6, 2022, at age 79.

Curry, a dedicated funeral professional and first-class embalmer, was co-owner of Curry Bros. Funeral Directors and Ambulance in Antigonish before owning his funeral home in Ontario. He donated much of his time to the Kinsmen, a Canadian nonprofit service organization that promotes service, fellowship, positive values and national pride, and has held many positions within the organization over the years.

He is survived by son John Michael, daughter Lisa, three sisters and four brothers.

retired funeral director and owner, Wells Funeral Home, Batesville, Mississippi, died February 9, 2022, at age 75. Wells graduated from Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science, and after working at several funeral homes, he and his family moved to Batesville to establish Wells Funeral Home. He worked extremely hard to build a reputation of “Service With Dignity” and continued this type of service for more than 40 years. Wells held his private pilot’s license and would even return a grieving family’s loved one in his private plane.

Wells is survived by wife Dorothy, sons Thomas and Chris, and six grandchildren.

funeral director and owner, Viss Family Funeral Home, Copperas Cove, Texas, died May 7, 2022, at age 45. Viss worked for Edwards Funeral Home in Ranger, Texas, while attending Ranger Junior College. He then moved to Irving, Texas, and worked at Donnelly’s Colonial Funeral Home while he attended Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. For a few years after he was licensed, he worked in the funeral profession in the Dallas area.

Viss later joined the staff of Scott’s Funeral Home in Copperas Cove, where he became a very active member of the community and developed many deep friendships. He was a member of the Exchange Club of Gatesville, where he served as secretary and two terms as president. He also served on the Boys and Girls Club Advisory Board for six years. Viss served on the Gatesville City Council for eight years and was mayor pro-tem most of his term. He was a past and the current president of the morning Exchange Club and was actively involved in the Coryell County Child Welfare Board.

Viss is survived by daughter Emily, fiancée Heather Henderson, father Guy Viss, mother Doris Brown, and 14 siblings.

funeral director and owner, Williams-James Mortuary, St. Louis, Missouri, died April 28, 2022, at age 89.

retired funeral director and owner, Enfield Funeral Home, Norton, Kansas, died January 20, 2022, at age 58. Enfield earned his mortuary science degree at Kansas City Kansas Community College and then he and his wife returned to Norton, where they joined the family business and began working for his father. They later purchased, owned and operated Enfield Funeral Home until their retirement in January 2021.

Enfield was a past president of the Kansas Funeral Directors Association and a member of Pheasants Forever, Men’s Golf and Norton Car Club. He served on the Norton County Sheriff’s Reserves and for 25 years and volunteered for the Norton City Fire Department, from which he retired as captain.

Enfield is survived wife Diana, children Jody and Andy, six grandchildren, mother Dorothy, two brothers and a sister.

funeral director and owner, Johnson-Peterson Funeral Home, Saint Paul, Minnesota, died April 19, 2022, at age 70. Peterson also served as a past NFDA at-large representative and as past president of the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association.

He attended Winona State University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in art education but decided not to pursue a career in that field. Though he had started helping at the family funeral home as a young boy, the decision to go into funeral service didn’t come until a couple of years after college. It was then he decided to earn a degree in mortuary science at the University of Minnesota.

After graduation, Peterson continued to work alongside his father at Johnson-Peterson. Upon his father’s death, he took over both the funeral home in Saint Paul and the White Bear Lake location. Prior to his father’s passing, Peterson had made the decision to rebuild the White Bear Chapel to provide better accommodations for grieving families in the surrounding community.

Peterson also recognized the need for a grief camp for children and was the first board chair, past president and a founding father of Camp Amanda, now known as Healing Hearts Connection. While volunteering at the camp, he took photos, making sure to get prints of group photos for each camper to take home.

Peterson and his wife adopted a dog, Buddy, who became certified as a K-9 Good Citizen. This allowed Buddy to attend grief camp, and he helped console campers with his playfulness, love and genuine adoration for kids.

Peterson is survived by wife Sue; daughters Jessica, Amy and Kristy; stepchildren Adam and Amanda Olsen; five grandchildren; and a brother and sister.