retired funeral director, Montebello, California, died April 3, 2021, at age 104. He was a past president of the Los Angeles County Funeral Directors Association and past trustee of the California Funeral Directors Association.

retired funeral director, Brown’s Funeral Home, Plainfield, New Jersey, died December 4, 2020, at age 92. Jones, a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War, graduated from Knoxville College in Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree and was a member of the Beta Phi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Following college, he moved to Brooklyn, where he was employed by the New York City Transit Authority.

Both his late mother-in-law, Adele M. Brown, and his late wife, Louise, were funeral directors in Plainfield. In 1955, Jones resigned from the Transit Authority and enrolled in American Academy of Funeral Service, graduating in 1956. Although he worked at Brown’s Funeral Home, he was employed as a graduate assistant for the Congress of Graduate Management Education at Columbia University. It was here that he visited historically black colleges and universities to interest students in getting their MBA degrees. Other employment included the NYC Civil Service Commission and Perry Funeral Home in Newark, New Jersey, where he served for 25 years, retiring in 2000. Returning to work at Brown’s Funeral Home, Jones had been the manager there since his wife died in 1982.

Other memberships include: life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and Plainfield Alumni Chapter, Stone Square Lodge #38 F.&A.M. Prince Hall Affiliate, American Legion Johnson Jeter Post 219, the Garden State Funeral Directors Association, the National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association, NFDA, the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association, and the Essex, Union and West Hudson funeral directors associations.

He is survived by son Tyree Jr., daughter Diane, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

funeral director, Wilson-St. Pierre Funeral ­Service & Crematory, Greenwood, Indiana, and father of Andy Clayton, Indiana Funeral Directors Association executive director, died March 24, 2021, at age 74.

A graduate of Indiana College of Mortuary Science, Clayton first worked for Usher Funeral Home in Indianapolis and later for Bedino Funeral Home, Patrick J. Ryan Funeral Home, and as senior vice president of Flanner and Buchanan Mortuaries. After officially retiring, he came to serve in a part-time capacity at Wilson-St Pierre.

Clayton’s reputation and influence as a funeral service leader would grow to be known nationally, as he mentored and served with countless funeral directors and funeral service leaders. He was a lifetime Certified Funeral Service Practitioner through the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice.

Clayton served 20 years as a Zionsville volunteer fireman and as president of the Zionsville Cemetery Association and Zionsville Little League, where he was awarded the prestigious McKamey Award for distinguished service. Clayton served on Zionsville’s Sullivan Munce Museum Board; Zionsville Rotary, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow; and Zionsville Jaycees, Lions Club and American Legion. He served six years in the Army Reserves.

Clayton was appointed by Gov. Evan Bayh to serve on the State Board of Funeral and Cemetery Service, a professional administrative board that ensures that laws protecting Hoosiers are adhered to and oversees funeral service compliance to those laws; he was chairman for two years of his overall eight years of service.

He created the Isaac Ball Fellowship through the Indiana Funeral Education Foundation. What started as one man, $1,000 and a simple dream has flourished into 160-plus Isaac Ball Fellows, nearly a quarter-million dollars in scholarship money and a legacy that will continue to forward learning opportunities. Clayton also served for many years on the board of the Funeral Service Foundation, and as chairman in 2003.

Clayton began volunteering his time and expertise to the Indiana Funeral Directors Association in 1988; he was its 115th president (1995-96) and represented Indiana funeral service as an NFDA Policy Board member for eight years.

Clayton is survived by wife Melinda, son David Andrew “Andy,” and one granddaughter and grandson.

funeral director, Speaks Chapels, Independence, Missouri, died January 21, 2021, at age 69. Townsend enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and retired as a master sergeant, having served in Germany and Nevada. He then began his second career as a funeral director and embalmer, graduating from Kansas City Kansas Community College with an associate degree in mortuary science. Townsend worked for more than 35 years at Speaks Chapels as a funeral director, embalmer and general manager until retiring from full-time service, after which he continued to work part time for Speaks. Townsend was the current Missouri Funeral Directors Association District 3 director. He was a member of Eastview Lions Club and president of Lobb Cemetery. He is survived by wife Patricia, daughters Carrie and Amanda, and four grandchildren.

funeral director, Schaffer Funeral Home, Defiance, Ohio, died January 3, 2021, at age 40. Wilson graduated from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and was a member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association and Ohio Embalmers Association. He is survived by wife Megan, children Emma and James, his parents, his sister and his grandmothers.

funeral director and owner, Perine Funeral Home, Shinnston, West Virginia, died February 5, 2021, at age 58. Perine attended Fairmont State College and Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. He was a funeral director in Shinnston and surrounding communities for more than 35 years and in 2005 founded Perine Funeral Home. Perine also used his musical talents to serve several local churches over the years and had a life-long dedication to Judson Baptist Camp. Perine is survived by wife Jacqueline; children Adam, Andrew, Allison and Alana; 11 grandchildren; and three siblings.

retired funeral director and former owner, Frank Family Funeral Home, Lidgerwood, North Dakota, died January 11, 2021, at age 85. Frank, who also served in the Montana National Guard for eight and one-half years, graduated from California College of Mortuary Science and did his internship with Cloyd-Gorder Mortuary in Sidney, Montana, continuing to work there until 1969. In 1970, he purchased Walby Funeral Home and then moved to Lidgerwood. He and his wife purchased Wipperman Funeral Home in Hankinson and had a funeral home built in Wahpeton, which they ran until 2002. The couple retired after the sale of the funeral homes but continued to help their son at the firm. Frank was a member of Lidgerwood American Legion Bullis Post 84 and the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association; he also served on the North Dakota Board of Funeral Service for eight years. He is survived by wife Marilyn, daughters Debra and Cindy, sons Kevin and Greg, 11 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and two great-
great-grandchildren.

licensed funeral director and owner, Cotton Funeral Service, Orange, New Jersey, died January 4, 2021, at age 82. Cotton worked in funeral service with his father and uncle and went on to graduate from American Academy of Mortuary Science. He opened and operated sites in Newark and Jersey City in addition to his firm in Orange. Cotton was a member of the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association and St. James Lodge 61 Free and Accepted Masons PHA for more than 50 years. Involved in multiple aspects of community service, in 2003, Cotton’s “Echoes” Grief Counseling was established to provide grief counseling to bereaved families free of charge. On June 18, 2013, the street in front of the Orange funeral home was named Macon T. Cotton Jr. Plaza in recognition of Cotton’s philanthropic endeavors. He is survived by wife Allyson, daughter Karen, son Macon III, a host of grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

funeral director, Bill Head Funeral Homes and Crematory, Tucker, Georgia, died December 10, 2020, at age 55. Byers, a Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science graduate, began managing his father-in-law’s business, Bill Head Funeral Homes; he and his wife later took over the business. He coached his son’s baseball teams and daughter’s softball teams, and his coaching impacted the lives of many. Byers was also a member of the board of directors at Lilburn Lions Club Park. He is survived by wife Andrea, son Jesse, daughter Emily and brother Gary.

funeral director, Langeland Family Funeral Homes/Memorial Chapel, Kalamazoo, Michigan, died August 23, 2020, at age 66. Bucknell, a graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science, had been employed for more than 30 years with Langeland as a licensed funeral director. He was an avid bowler and proud to be bowling coach for the Portage Central High School girls team. He is survived by wife Cindy; children Derek, Darcy, Kevin and Alex; and two grandchildren.