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April 16, 2026
Celebrating a Lifetime of Service - Bonnie Morrison
Bonnie Morrison and Kevin Combest

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.

More From Legacy

Welcome Tristan Herrera, Managing Funeral Director at Martinez West

February 5, 2026
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.

Welcome Cassie Flanner, New Training and Development Coach

January 14, 2026
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.

Leadership Changes - New Mexico Region

August 8, 2025
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!

Leadership Changes - Southwest & Texas Panhandle, Central Texas, Louisiana

August 7, 2025
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.

Welcome Tristan Herrera, Managing Funeral Director at Martinez West

February 5, 2026
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.

Martinez West Funeral Home Grand Opening, Odessa, Texas

February 4, 2026
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

Memorial Oaks Chapel Opens New Location in Carmine, Texas

January 15, 2026
We’re excited to announce that Memorial Oaks Chapel has officially opened a new location in Carmine, Texas. Located at 107 Augsburg Avenue in Carmine, the new location will serve the communities of Round Top, Carmine, La Grange, Giddings, Burton, Windale, Warrenton, and the surrounding communities. This expansion reflects our continued commitment to providing compassionate, professional service close to home.  An Open House Grand Opening celebration was held on December 3, 2025, welcoming approximately 185 community members. Guests enjoyed catering from JW’s Steakhouse, and live music from the Black Cat Choir Trio, helping make the event both welcoming and memorable. We’re happy to share that the Carmine location is now open and available for services. Thank you to everyone who helped make this Grand Opening and event a success. Please join us in congratulating the Memorial Oaks Chapel team on this exciting milestone.