retired funeral director and founder, Teague Funeral Service, Charlottesville, Virginia, died May 15, 2020, at age 83. Teague proudly served his country in Korea as a cryptographer in the U.S. Army.

He managed Preddy Funeral Home in Charlottesville, which led to the founding of Teague Funeral Service. His professional leadership roles included president of the Virginia Funeral Directors Association and member of the Virginia Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers, Virginia Health Regulatory Board and the NFDA Board of Governors representing Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and the District of Columbia. Teague also served as chair or president of many organizations, including Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad, Chamber of Commerce, Jaycees, United Way, Kiwanis, Senior Center, American Heart Association and Multiple Sclerosis Society. He was honored by the community with many awards, including Jaycees Outstanding Young Man, Multiple Sclerosis Silver Hope, Kiwanian Walter Zeller and Paul Goodloe McIntyre awards.

He is survived by wife Mary Jayne, son Joseph William Jr., daughter Cynthia, three grandchildren and sisters Peggy, Nancy and Bobbi.

retired funeral director and president and CEO, New Golden Gate Funeral Homes, Milwaukee and Racine, Wisconsin, died May 27, 2020, at age 82. Reid began in funeral service in 1956 with Williamson’s Funeral Home. From there, he developed his skills and knowledge with Bethea Raphael Funeral Home. In 1979, he joined Watkins funeral home, where he served as a chief assistant to the funeral director.

In 1981, Reid co-founded Reid and Yandell Funeral Home, which eventually became the first Golden Gate Funeral Home in 1986. In 1993, Golden Gate Funeral Home changed to New Golden Gate Funeral Home and Reid became sole owner and operator of Reid’s New Golden Gate Funeral Home in 2008. In 2012, Reid’s New Golden Gate Funeral Home opened up its second location in Racine, and a third location has been established in Milwaukee. He is survived by wife Mary and daughters Sheila and Phyllis.

former owner and retired funeral director, Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, Greenville, South Carolina, died May 20, 2020, at age 85. McAfee graduated from Davidson College and followed his father and grandfather in funeral service. He was a member of Knights of Columbus and Msgr. Andrew K. Gwinn Council 1668, Fourth Degree, and former member of Downtown Rotary Club, Commerce Club, South Carolina Funeral Directors Association and NFDA. He is survived by sons Thomas F. IV and John, and four grandchildren.

retired funeral director, Charles R. Step Funeral Home, Redford, Michigan, died May 24, 2020, at age 90. Kourmadas was also a former Michigan Funeral Directors Association district director and MFDA 777 Club member. He is survived by brother John.

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.

funeral director/owner, Chapman Funeral Home, Hurricane, West Virginia, died May 14, 2020, at age 72. As the son of a founding funeral home director, Chapman’s career began with responsibilities such as routine maintenance, lawn care and automotive care. He later assisted his father with the early duties of a community ambulance service and other funeral home-related commitments.

Chapman was a graduate of Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, a member of Putnam Masonic Lodge 139 AF&AM, Scottish Rite Bodies, Beni Kedem Shrine Temple, Royal Order of the Jesters, Court 111, Rotary Club, Scott-Teays Lions Club and has served on numerous boards of directors throughout his career, including the West Virginia Board of Funeral Service Examiners. He was a member of NFDA, the West Virginia Funeral Directors Association, Preferred Funeral Directors International (past president) and many other professional and civic organizations. He received the 2020 Mayo Lester Award, acknowledging his lifetime dedication to the citizens of Putnam County.

Chapman worked with his father at the original Chapman Funeral Home (Winfield), and together they later established Chapman Funeral Home in Teays Valley. For many years Chapman and his wife also owned and operated Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home in St. Albans. They expanded their funeral home presence with new facilities, which include the only onsite crematory in Putnam County. In 2015, Affordable Cremations of West Virginia was launched to provide cremation services to all areas of West Virginia in the most economical fashion.

Chapman is survived by wife Debra; children Jennifer, John William IV, Jake, Ty, Tara, Jered, Morgan and Justin; mother Jennie; and 12 grandchildren.

retired funeral director and owner, Bryant Funeral Homes, Berlin, New Hampshire, died June 3, 2020, at age 89. Bryant served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. Following his return, he attended New England Institute of Anatomy, Sanitary Science and Embalming and began his 60-year career as a funeral director and embalmer. He returned home to Colebrook and opened Bryant Funeral Home, which he operated for several years prior to moving to Berlin in 1966 when he purchased Parker & Holmes Funeral Home. He later opened a chapel in Gorham and operated the renamed Bryant Funeral Homes in both communities until his retirement.

Bryant, an avid horseman, served on the boards of numerous organizations throughout the years, including the New Hampshire Board of Registration of Funeral Directors and Embalmers, as past president of the New Hampshire Funeral Directors Association and as a director for the Lancaster Fair, where he was instrumental in establishing the draft horse and pony show. He was a member and Past Master of Evening Star Lodge 37 F&AM, Bektash Shrine, Maine Funeral Directors Association (past president), NFDA, White Mountain Post 2520 VFW (life member), Dupont-Holmes American Legion Post 82 and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Bryant is survived by wife Beverly; son Edward, also a funeral director; daughter Darcy; grandson David, also a funeral director; granddaughter Brianna; sister Beverley; and brother Bruce.

funeral director, St. Bernard Memorial Funeral Home, Chalmette, Louisiana, died April 25, 2020, at age 79. Vickers graduated from Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Services in Houston and became a licensed funeral director and embalmer in 1965. He was manager of Lamana Panno Fallo Funeral Home until its acquirement by Stewart Enterprises and subsequently managed and worked for St. Bernard Memorial until opening and managing his own firm, Vickers, Verrette and Dornan, from 2000-05. He was also a past two-term president of the Louisiana Funeral Directors Association.

Vickers played an instrumental role in the recovery and restoration of numerous cemeteries after hurricanes Isaac and Katrina. He was an active member of the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT) Region VI for 20 years, as well as an instructor for the Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness.

Vickers also served as a lieutenant of the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, a collaborator of the Louisiana Job Training Partnership Act and a past president of the Rotary Club of St. Bernard, where he was founding chairman of the St. Bernard Junior Miss Scholarship Program.

He is survived by wife Meredith “Dee”; children John Joseph, Debra and Deral; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

retired funeral director and founder, Vermeulen-Sajewski Funeral Homes, and father of Jim Vermeulen, co-owner of Vermeulen-Sajewski Funeral Homes in Plymouth and Westland, Michigan, died April 12, 2020, at age 88. He is also survived by wife Sylvia, son Ken, daughter Krista, 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

retired funeral director and executive, A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home, Royal Oak and Troy, Michigan, died April 20, 2020, at age 96. His wife, Sally, died April 15 at age 92. They are survived by children Lisa, Marty and Tricia; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Rodgers was brother-in-law of the late Edward J. Lynch, past president of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association; uncle of Patrick E. Lynch, past president of NFDA and the Michigan Funeral Directors Association; and other family members at Lynch & Sons Funeral Homes.