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!

REFLECTING ON AN INCREDIBLE YEAR The Legacy team gathered once again at the Home Office in Houston, TX for our 11th Annual Crawfish Boil, bringing colleagues together from across the organization. This annual gathering gives us the opportunity to reflect on the year behind us and recognize the incredible individuals who make our organization what it is. 2025 EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AWARDS This year, we recognized several individuals across the organization for their exceptional performance and dedication. Harry Drew - Legacy President's Award Home Office | Houston, TX Tonya Combest - Manager of the Year Combest Family Funeral Homes & Crematory | Lubbock, O'Donnell & Tahoka, TX George King - Funeral Professional of the Year Pellerin Funeral Homes | Iberia Parish, LA Eric McCrossen - Sales Professional of the Year Resthaven Gardens of Memory & Funeral Home | Baton Rouge, LA Thomas McBride - Maintenance Professional of the Year Bunker's Funeral Homes & Cemeteries | Las Vegas, NV Donna Richard - Administrator of the Year Louisiana Holdings | Eunice, LA SaTara West - Legacy Home Office Employee of the Year Home Office | Houston, TX HONORING A LEGACY Among the award recipients, special recognition was given to Harry Drew, who received the Legacy President's Award in honor of his 18 years of dedicated service as Chief Financial Officer. Throughout his tenure, Harry has been a respected and trusted leader, guiding the company through periods of growth, challenge, and transformation with integrity and care. As he prepares to retire this May, we celebrate Harry’s many accomplishments and the lasting impact he’s had on Legacy and the many lives he’s touched throughout his career. 2025 EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARDS ReederVogel Advertising also presented three funeral homes with the Excellence in Customer Service Award, honoring locations that demonstrated exceptional care and service to the families they serve. Recipients were selected based on the Family Satisfaction Survey feedback and Google review ratings, with locations grouped by their 2025 annual case volume. Combest Family Funeral Homes & Crematory - Managed by Tonya Combest 301+ Families Served | Lubbock, O'Donnell & Tahoka, TX Magnolia Chapel Funeral Homes - Managed by Danah Minges 151-300 Families Served | Northport & Tuscaloosa, AL Ascension Funeral Home - Managed by Jeff Cain 0-150 Families Served | Gonzales, LA PARTNER RECOGNITION Additionally, we were honored to receive the 2025 Top Ownership Group Award from Funeral Directors Life. We’re grateful for their continued partnership and the support they provide across our organization and in the communities we serve. CELEBRATING THE LEGACY FAMILY We are proud to celebrate another year of growth, leadership, and tradition. Events like the Crawfish Boil remind us that while our company continues to expand, our strength will always come from the people who make up the Legacy family.

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 share that the newly established Martinez West Funeral Home in Odessa, Texas, recently celebrated its Grand Opening with a community-wide event on January 22, welcoming more than 300 guests. Led by Managing Funeral Director, Tristan Herrera, alongside Area Manager, Billy Vallie Jr., the Grand Opening celebration brought together families, friends, and community members for an afternoon of connection and hospitality. Guests enjoyed catering by the local Chuck Wagon Gang and live music by Mariachi band Son de Chihuahua, creating a warm and festive atmosphere throughout the event. Martinez West Funeral Home and Crematory is located in west Odessa. Together with Martinez Funeral Home and Crematory on South Dixie Boulevard and Sunset Memorial Gardens off I-20, we are positioned to support every family across Odessa, offering thoughtful services and options to meet a full range of needs and budgets. The strong turnout and positive community response reflect the important role Martinez West Funeral Home plays in serving families with compassion, professionalism, and care. We’re proud to welcome this location as it continues to build meaningful relationships within the community. Please join us in congratulating the Martinez West Funeral Home team on a successful Grand Opening and this exciting milestone