retired funeral director, New Hampshire Funeral Directors Association past president and former owner of Brisson & Kent Funeral Home, Newmarket, New Hampshire, died September 12, 2023, at age 98.

retired funeral director and former owner, Plummer Funeral Homes, Windsor and Augusta, Maine, died September 22, 2023, at age 95. Murphy was in funeral service for more than 72 years; he graduated cum laude from McAllister College of Embalming in New York and passed his state boards a month prior to graduation. He also served in the Maine Army National Guard during the 1940s. He was president of Plummer Funeral Home, which he had purchased in 1962, and he built another location in Windsor in 2004. Murphy was a member of and served in numerous community organizations, including the Maine Funeral Directors Association, where he served on its Disaster Response Team; NFDA; the Maine State Board of Funeral Service, serving as chairman (1976-77); and the Northeast Council of State Boards. In 1979, Murphy received the Calumet Club’s “Outstanding Citizen” award, the highest award given to a nonmember. He is survived by wife Gisele; sons J. Patrick, Timothy J. and L. Michael; daughters Barbara and Mary Kathryn; 12 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

funeral director, formerly of Schreffler Funeral Homes, Kankakee, Illinois, died August 23, 2023, at age 61. Hakeman obtained his associate degree in mortuary science from Worsham College. He continued his career in consulting and commercial functions, joining Champion Chemical Company in sales. Hakeman then moved to Federated Funeral Directors as a business consultant. He co-founded the Professional Funeral Alliance of Springfield, Illinois, evolving the industry’s long-term accounting and consulting methods. Hakeman spent the final years of his career as general manager of Schreffler Funeral Homes, where he presented many seminars that looked to develop funeral service and best practices nationally. In his community, Hakeman supported the 100th Club of Illinois, a nonprofit organization supporting families of fallen first responders. He volunteered to help build and repair homes with Kankakee’s Christmas in April Foundation, and he was a coach for his son’s athletic teams and a staunch supporter of his daughter’s dance ­academy recitals and competitions. He is survived by wife Valerie; sons Bricen and Brent; daughter Samantha; and brothers Robert, Richard and Ronald.

funeral director and owner, Sam Clark Funeral Home, Hiram, Georgia, died May 21, 2023, at age 74. In his early years, Clark worked at Martin’s Funeral Home in Dallas, Georgia, and later attended McKenzie College in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Clark served for two years in the U.S. Army in a leadership role in combat support and infantry training. Returning to Paulding County in 1975, Clark worked for the railroad for 10 years. In 1985, he started Clark Ambulance Service and ran it for 30 years. In 1992, he was elected coroner of Paulding County and served until 2016. In 1997, he built Clark Funeral Home & Chapel. Clark is survived by wife Leslie; son Timothy; stepchildren Sam, Lauren and Will; sisters Jeanette and Elizabeth; and brother John.

funeral director and owner of Bolin-Dierkes Funeral Home, Zanesville, Ohio, died September 21, 2023, at age 60. Dierkes attended Ohio University Belmont and graduated from Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. He also graduated from the Ohio Fire Academy prior to his being a licensed funeral director, serving as a volunteer firefighter. Dierkes served his funeral apprenticeship under the direction of Vernon J. “Butch” Rush. Following licensure as a funeral director and embalmer, he accepted a position at Bolin Funeral Home, with hopes of one day becoming the owner. After becoming partner in what is now Bolin-Dierkes Funeral Home, he fulfilled his dream and became the sole owner. Dierkes was an active member of and named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Zanesville Day Break Rotary, a member of LaFayette Lodge 79 F&AM and a past Monarch of Amrou Grotto Lodge 45. He served on various boards, including the West Muskingum School Board, Mid-East CTC and the Animal Shelter Society. He is survived by wife Erin; children Jesse, Joe and Cody (also a funeral director at the firm); three grandchildren; and mother Janice.

funeral director, Bittiker Funeral Homes, Carrollton, Missouri, died October 8, 2023, at age 68. Bittiker worked at Banquet Foods, sold Mary Kay Cosmetics and was the proud owner of Caren’s Cakes and Catering for more than 35 years. She served as treasurer and board chair for the Carroll County Ambulance District for 30 years and was the only board member who was a licensed EMT. She and her husband purchased the former Freeman Furniture building and transformed it into Bittiker Funeral Home. Bittiker then became a licensed funeral director, licensed funeral celebrant and certified crematory operator. While working at the funeral home and serving families, she dedicated endless hours to making sure all families’ needs were met. She is survived by husband Steve, son Steven II, daughter Carissa, three grandchildren and two great-grandsons.

funeral director and co-owner, A.A. Rayner & Sons Modern Funeral Service, Chicago, Illinois, and cousin of Charles Childs, past NFDA Policy Board member and at-large board member, died August 13, 2023.

founder, president, funeral director and embalmer, Kinnick Funeral Home, Youngstown, Ohio, died September 1, 2023, at age 87. Kinnick served as a paratrooper and Green Beret in the U.S. Army. After his time in the service, He enrolled at Youngstown University, where he earned an associate degree. He then graduated from Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.

Kinnick began his career in funeral service working at Schultz and Son Funeral Home. In 1973, he founded Kinnick Funeral Home in Youngstown and in 2014 oversaw the expansion of the business to Trumbull County, opening a second location in Girard. Kinnick provided compassionate service to many families throughout the Mahoning Valley for 60 years.

He was a member of many organizations, including NFDA and the Ohio Funeral Directors Association, where he was honored for 50 years of service in 2012. Kinnick was a member and past president of Tri-County Funeral Directors Association, a member of the Ohio Embalmers Association and a member and past president of the West Side Merchants and Civic Association.

He is survived by children Thomas (a funeral director at the firm), Judith, James and William; eight grandchildren, ­including Killian, also a funeral director at the firm; four great-grandchildren; and brother Donald.

retired funeral director and former owner, Hastings Funeral Home, Morgantown, West Virginia, died September 7, 2023, at age 97. Hastings attended West Virginia University and joined the U.S. Army Air Force, serving in World War II. He then attended Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and was a member of Pi Sigma Epsilon Honorary.

Hastings was a member of several civic and fraternal organizations, including Phi Delta Theta fraternity at West Virginia University, Sons of Italy, West Virginia Farm Bureau and Rotary International as a Paul Harris Fellow. Professionally, he was past president of the West Virginia Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association (1985-86) and longtime NFDA member.

He is survived by sons Edward and Dewey Samuel, five grandchildren and brother Robert.

funeral director, Moreland Funeral Homes, Westerville, Ohio, died September 6, 2023, at age 84. A U.S. Army veteran, Garee graduated from mortuary science school and went on to work at Jerry Spears Funeral Home, DeVore Funeral Home, Clark Grave Vault Company as a national sales manager, and most recently at Moreland Funeral Homes.

He was a member of The Bridge-Sunbury, Amvets, Sparrow Lodge, Scottish Rite, Valley of Columbus and Aladdin Temple Shrine. Garee also served as former zoning inspector for Trenton Township.

He is survived by wife Marsha, daughter Gina, son Rich, four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and brother John.