funeral director and owner, Tomon & Sons Funeral Homes, Middleburg Heights, Ohio, died February 19, 2025, at age 73. A third-generation owner and operator, Tomon proudly carried on the 111-year-old family business for 50 years.

He also served as president of Middleburg Heights Chamber of Commerce and was named Middleburg Heights Business Person of the Year in 1996. Tomon helped found the Middleburg Heights Big Creek Run and was honored by the city with the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award for his tireless efforts to better the community.

Tomon is survived by wife Terry; children Michael, Ashley and Cody; and seven grandchildren.

funeral director, Heritage Funeral Chapel, Peoria, Arizona, died February 7, 2025, at age 52. Senn received his bachelor’s degree in mortuary science from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, then dedicated almost 30 years to funeral service in Ohio and Arizona. He is survived by mother Peggy Hamman, son Julian, five brothers and two sisters.

retired funeral director and vice president emeritus, E. Alvin Small Funeral Home, Colonial Heights, Virginia, died March 6, 2025, at age 98.

A U.S. Navy veteran, Small served aboard the USS Card in the North Atlantic and South Pacific during World War II. He then attended Echols Mortuary College in Pennsylvania. After graduation, he joined his brother at E. Alvin Small Funeral Home. He was appointed to the Virginia Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers by the governor and served a seven-year term, for part of which he was president. In 1990, Small and his brother turned the business over to their nephews, funeral directors Bryan Small and Louis Smith.

Small was a past president of the Kiwanis Club, of which he was a member for 60-plus years. He was a lifetime member of Kiwanis International and a George F. Hixon fellow. Also a lifetime member of the Capital District Kiwanis International, Small received a Tablet of Honor from Kiwanis International. The Kiwanis Club honored him, as well, with a Club Scholarship for high school students. Additionally, Small was a 60-plus-year member of American Legion, for which he served as service officer for 21 years, and a 50-plus-year member of Blandford Masonic Lodge.

He is survived by daughters Susan and Nancy, four grandchildren, one great-granddaughter and brother Ralph.

retired funeral director and former owner, Jacobs Funeral Home, Iron River, Michigan, died February 11, 2025, at age 80. He was the father of funeral director Paul Jacobs, current co-owner of Jacobs Funeral Home.

Jacobs earned his degree from Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science. He was employed by T.G. McCarthy Funeral Home in Pueblo, Colorado, then Muehlebach Funeral Home in Kansas City, Missouri. Jacobs relocated finally to Iron River and purchased Duvall Funeral Home, later renamed Jacobs Funeral Home. 

Jacobs was a third-degree Knight of Columbus and a former member of the Iron River Elks Lodge. During his career, he was a member of the Michigan and Wisconsin funeral directors associations.

Jacobs is survived by wife Toni, children Paul and Jennifer, and five grandchildren.

retired funeral director, Wrenn, Clarke & Hagan Funeral Home, Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, died March 1, 2025, at age 79. Hagan was a Vietnam War Marine veteran and son of late NFDA Past District Governor Joseph Hagan.  He is survived by wife Deborah, daughters Angie and Whitney, and three grandsons.

retired funeral director and former owner, Southwick-Good & Fortkamp Funeral Chapel, Columbus, Ohio, died February 11, 2025, at age 79.

Good was the husband of funeral director Becky Good and father of Barbara Good Fortkamp, both of whom worked at the former Southwick-Good & Fortkamp Funeral Chapel. He was, respectively, brother and brother-in-law of Donald and Beverly Good, funeral directors, Spring Grove Funeral Homes.

Good graduated from the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. After graduating from mortuary science school, where they met, Good and his wife moved to Columbus, Ohio, and ran Southwick-Good & Fortkamp Funeral Chapel.

Good was a member of the Ohio and Central Ohio funeral directors associations. He served as vice president of Phi Sigma Eta National Morticians Fraternity, vice president of the past Master Councilor of the E.T. Carson Chapter of the Order of DeMolay, and past president of the Civitan Club of North Columbus. He was a committee member and regular emcee for the Park of Roses Sunday Concert Series and also served on the board of advisors for Kinder Key of Columbus’ Nationwide Children’s Hospital. He was a former member of University Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, Valley of Columbus, Aladdin Temple Shrine and Northern Shrine Club.

He is survived by wife Becky, daughters Barbara and Elizabeth, and four grandchildren.

retired funeral director, Anamosa, Iowa, died November 30, 2020, at age 89. McBride attended Loras College in Dubuque and Indiana College of Mortuary Science and Management in Indianapolis. He was a licensed funeral director for more than 60 years, working throughout the state of Iowa; an active member of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association; and a longtime NFDA member.

McBride served in the U.S. Army Arctic Services Group from 1953-56, with two tours of duty stationed at Thule Air Base near the North Pole. He received the Cold War Service Medal and was a member of the Farley American Legion; he was also a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus.

He is survived by children Michael, Lynne, Margaret and Patricia.

retired funeral director and owner, Daniels Funeral Home, Burlington, Wisconsin, died May 29, 2020, at age 92. Daniels was a former member of National Guard Battery A, 126th Field Artillery Battalion, 32nd Division. He began working with John Schuette at both Schuette Funeral Home and Schuette Furniture Store. Daniels graduated in 1952 from Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science, receiving his Wisconsin funeral director and embalmer licenses. He became a partner in 1954 with Schuette, Werth and Daniels Funeral Home, and in 1975, with his wife, purchased the business. In 1991, a new funeral home was built. In 1996, McCarthy-Koenig Funeral Home was purchased and later consolidated into the Schuette-Daniels location in 1997. In 1994, Polnasek Funeral home in Union Grove was purchased by Daniels and his wife and became Polnasek-Daniels Funeral Home. He retired in January 2008.

Daniels served four terms on the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association Board of Directors and served as secretary and treasurer for one term each. He was a member of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce since 1954, serving twice as president, and active in many other community services, including Rotary Club since 1954; Burlington Rescue Squad for 25 years, where he earned Gold Badge membership; Burlington Savings and Loan board member; Knights of Columbus; and former treasurer of Cub Scout Packs 134 and 334.

He is survived by wife Doris; children Marjorie, Michael, Mark, Matthew (also a funeral director), Marian, Marlene, Madalyn, Marilee, Marvin, Mitchell, Marcel, Marti and Monte; foster children Greg and Michael Pieters; 45 grandchildren; and 63 great-grandchildren.

former owner, Kennedy Funeral Home, Marietta, Oklahoma, died February 27, 2016, at age 70. As a funeral home manager and owner, Kennedy had more than 35 years of experience. He attended East Central University in Ada and graduated from Dallas Institute Gupton-Jones College in September 1966. Throughout his career, Kennedy managed funeral homes in Ada and Hugo and owned funeral homes in Okmulgee, Bristow, Wetumka, Ardmore and Marietta; he retired in October 2000. He served eight years on the Oklahoma State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, with three terms as president; four years on the Bank of Love County Board of Directors; and on the Love County Chamber of Commerce Board of directors for four years. Kennedy served in the U.S. Army as a sergeant in the 1st Infantry Division, also known as the "Big Red One," from 1967-69, with one year of Graves Registration in Vietnam, for which he was awarded three Army Commendation Medals, three Bronze Stars, two Vietnam Service Medals, one Vietnam Air Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He is survived by wife Sue; children Tara, Amber and Travis; and seven grandchildren.