Please congratulate Taylor Mendoza on being named Young Professional of the Year for the Panhandle Chapter of the Texas Funeral Directors Association. A licensed funeral director and embalmer for nearly seven years, Taylor began her career at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home in Midland and now serves families in Lubbock as a funeral director and embalmer at Combest Family Funeral Homes. She has become a respected and valued member of the funeral service community, known for her compassion, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to the families she serves. Beyond her daily role, Taylor has made a meaningful impact on the profession, serving on the Panhandle Funeral Director Association Board and advocating for the industry. She also recently founded the No Whispers Foundation, which supports families facing unexpected loss and helps cover funeral costs for child victims, ensuring no family navigates tragedy alone. Help us congratulate Taylor on this exciting and well-deserved honor.

Chelsea Henderson Named TFDA’s West Texas Funeral Director of the Year We are proud to share that Chelsea Henderson has been named Funeral Director of the Year for the West Texas Chapter by the Texas Funeral Directors Association. This honor recognizes individuals who exemplify compassion, professionalism, and a true commitment to serving families. Chelsea embodies these qualities in every aspect of her work. She currently serves families as a funeral director at Sunset Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home in Odessa, where her care and dedication make a meaningful difference each day. After raising her two children, Chelsea pursued her calling in funeral service, earning her degree in Mortuary Science from Northeast Texas Community College. During her studies, she faced the devastating loss of her son, yet returned with remarkable strength and determination, achieving Phi Beta Kappa honors. What sets Chelsea apart is the way she serves others. With quiet strength, compassion, and grace, she supports families through some of life’s most difficult moments, offering comfort and clarity when it’s needed most. Her commitment to lifelong learning, her devotion to her community, and her servant’s heart make her a shining example of what it means to be a funeral director. Please join us in congratulating Chelsea on this well-deserved recognition.

Jaime Trevino of Charlie Marshall Funeral Home has been named Embalmer of the Year for the South Texas Chapter of the Texas Funeral Directors Association. With more than three decades in funeral service, Jaime is known for his technical expertise, steady leadership, and deep commitment to the families he serves. A third-generation funeral professional and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, he has been licensed since 1988 and has dedicated his career to upholding the highest standards of care. Throughout his career, Jaime has taken on roles that extend beyond daily service, including mentoring others in the profession and serving as a clinical instructor for future funeral professionals. Since joining Legacy in 2017, he has continued his work at Charlie Marshall Funeral Home in Aransas Pass, where his attention to detail and pride in his work are evident in every case he handles. Jaime served as a member of the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT). In this role, he had the profound honor and responsibility of caring for many of the children of Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, an experience that reflects both his professional skill and his deep compassion during times of unimaginable loss. Congratulations to Jaime on this well-earned recognition.

Noe Gonzalez of Turcotte-Piper Mortuary has been named Funeral Director of the Year for the South Texas Chapter of the Texas Funeral Directors Association. With more than 50 years in funeral service, Noe is widely respected for his knowledge, craftsmanship, and unwavering dedication to the families he serves. He became a licensed funeral director in 1974 and an embalmer in 1976, building a career defined by excellence, compassion, and professionalism. Over the years, Noe has served in a variety of roles across South Texas. His experience also extends beyond funeral service, with 12 years spent in law enforcement, reflecting a lifelong commitment to serving others. Since joining Legacy in 2014, Noe has served as managing Funeral Director of Turcotte-Piper Mortuary in Kingsville, where he oversees daily operations and continues to provide thoughtful, professional care to every family. He is also the founder of the Kingsville Día de los Muertos celebration, a meaningful community event that has grown significantly over the years. This recognition reflects a lifetime of service, leadership, and dedication to the profession. Congratulations Noe!

We are honored to share that Bonnie Morrison has been named the recipient of the Mildred N. Lucas Lifetime Achievement Award. A proud Amarillo native, Bonnie began her career in funeral service in 1997 at Schooler Funeral Home. She was part of the inaugural Mortuary Science class at Amarillo College, graduating in 2000. Over the next 26 years, she served hundreds of families across the Texas Panhandle with compassion and care at both Schooler and Angel Funeral Home into a leadership role as manager of both locations in 2008. In 2017, Bonnie and her husband Jim relocated to North Carolina, where she managed Brooks Funeral Home and Crematory. She returned to Texas in 2019 and continued serving families in the Concho Valley during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, she made her way back to Amarillo to once again serve the community she calls home. Bonnie is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in both Texas and North Carolina. She is also a certified celebrant, crematory operator, and an active member of her community. Her career reflects a deep commitment to service, leadership, and compassion for the families she serves. Please join us in congratulating Bonnie Patrick Morrison on this well-deserved recognition.

Please join us in welcoming Tristan Herrera as the new Managing Funeral Director of Martinez West Funeral Home and Crematory, West Odessa, Texas. Tristan was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Texas Tech University, followed by a Master of Business Administration. His early career as a fitness specialist at Covenant Lifestyle Centre allowed him to work closely with patients recovering from cardiac and respiratory trauma and reinforced his passion in caring for others. Driven by that calling, Tristan entered the funeral profession and graduated from the Dallas Institute of Funeral Services in 2025. He gained hands-on experience with Combest Family Funeral Homes and is licensed as both a funeral director and embalmer. Tristan is committed to serving families with compassion, professionalism, and integrity. Outside of work, he enjoys life with his wife, Gabby, and their two dogs, Bear and Mia, and continues to prioritize wellness and personal growth. We’re excited to have Tristan step into this leadership role and look forward to the impact he will make at Martinez West Funeral Home and Crematory.

We are pleased to welcome Cassie Flanner as the new Training and Development Coach for Legacy Funeral Group. Originally from Anchorage, Alaska, Cassie grew up in a military family—an experience that shaped her adaptability, curiosity about human behavior, and commitment to serving others. She began her career in funeral service in 2002 and brings more than two decades of industry experience to her role. Cassie holds advanced degrees in mortuary science and criminal justice, including a PhD in Criminal Justice, and has published academic research focused on criminal behavior and justice. She also serves as an instructor at the Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service, where she supports and prepares students for careers in funeral service. In addition to her professional background, Cassie is actively involved in the community and serves as Treasurer of the Rotary Club of Cypress Fairbanks. She is also engaged with several professional organizations, including the National Funeral Directors Association and the Texas Funeral Directors Association. We’re excited to have Cassie join the Legacy family and look forward to the leadership, insight, and support she will bring to our training and development initiatives.

We’re pleased to announce the promotion of David Houston to General Manager of the Roswell Market, overseeing Ballard Funeral Home & Crematory and LaGrone Funeral Chapel & Crematory in Roswell, and Terpening & Son Mortuary in Artesia. David began his funeral service career in 1982 after graduating from Lamesa High School. He earned his Funeral Director and Embalmer licenses in Texas before relocating to New Mexico, where he became an FSP in 1989. David has held leadership roles on the New Mexico Funeral Service Association Board (twice as President) and the New Mexico Board of Funeral Service (four years as Chairman). David has been a steady presence at Terpening & Son for many years, and we’re confident he will bring strong leadership and direction to the Roswell Market in this new role. Congratulations, David!

We're pleased to share several exciting leadership updates within the Legacy Family: Kevin Combest, a former owner and Regional Manager, is promoted to Regional Director. Kevin will take on an expanded leadership role across the Southwest and the Texas Panhandle. With the support of Billy Vallie, Jr. (Area Manager), Kevin will oversee both the Odessa and West Texas Markets, along with the Texas Panhandle. He will also help guide the Abilene Market in partnership with Bryan Hicks (Area Manager). In addition, Kevin will continue his managerial responsibilities throughout New Mexico. We are also excited to announce the promotion of Ryan Stephens to Regional Director. Ryan has been the Regional Manager of Central Texas for some time now. In this new role, Ryan will work alongside Norman Gonzales (Regional Manager) to oversee both the South Texas and Central Texas Markets, supporting continued growth and operational excellence across the region. Ray Dupre has been named Regional Manager for the entire state of Louisiana. In this expanded role, Ray now provides leadership and oversight statewide, including the recent addition of the Baton Rouge Market—comprising Ascension, Baker, and Resthaven Gardens of Memory & Funeral Home. Ray’s dedication and leadership to his team continues to strengthen as he works to assist with the care provided to families across Louisiana. Please join us in congratulating Kevin, Ryan, and Ray on their well-deserved promotions. These leadership changes reflect our ongoing commitment to excellence and position us for continued success throughout the communities we serve.