Crain Funeral Home, Anna Illinois

Staff
Bryan Crain Growing up upstairs of the Anna funeral home, Bryan first became involved with the funeral home at age 10. He is a graduate of Murray State University and SIU School of Mortuary Science. He has been involved in the family business continuously and became owner in 1999. He is married to the former Stacey Honey and between them have four children, Ashley 17, Andrew 13, Blake 9, and Ethan 5. Besides involvement in local activities, Bryan’s professional involvement is as a director on the board of the Illinois Cemetery and Funeral Home Association, serving on the legislative committee and currently 1^st vice president. He has served on the advisory board for the nationwide pre-need insurance company and has authored numerous articles for funeral and cemetery publications. crain@hcis.net
Stacey Crain Stacey joined the Crain staff in 2007 after having worked in her family’s business, Donald Jordan Trucking & Farm for the past 6 years and previously in the healthcare field and a florist. She assists on services and administration of the Crain operations. Stacey is a graduate of Egyptian High School. She attended Shawnee Community College and Southern Illinois University. Stacey and husband Bryan have 4 children between them Ethan 5, Blake 9, Andrew 13 and Ashley 17. crain@hcis.net
George and Marguerite Crain On Oct. 20, 1932, George C. and Marguerite Crain began their operation in Pulaski and Tamms. With roads and transportation being an issue in those days, it was unusual to see a multi-location funeral home operation. And, Marguerite was one of the first women in the country to become a licensed funeral director and embalmer. Starting out during the Depression presented many challenges. And the custom in the 1930’s in Pulaski and Alexander counties was for embalming to be performed in the family home. Gradually, George and Marguerite were able to convert this practice to be done in the funeral home.
Bob & Elaine Crain Though now retired, Bob & Elaine still help out from time to time. They worked together as a team for over 40 years, being an active part of the many changes and expansion of the Crain organization in the 1980’s and 90’s. Bob & Elaine are both members of 1^st United Methodist Church in Carbondale and are active in the restoration of historic St. Anne’s Church in Anna. They have two grown children, Bryan (see above) and Amy, a custom furniture designer in New York and five grandchildren.
Bill & Sharon Crain Bill has been a licensed funeral director for over 40 years and has been assisted by his wife Sharon all that time. They work together on visitations and funerals. Sharon also makes all the memorial ornaments for families served. They are both active in Grace United Methodist Church. Bill is an avid golfer and active in Rotary for many years. They have two grown children, Joe, a TV weatherman in Springfield, and Allison, an elementary school teacher in Pulaski, TN and four grandchildren.
Jon Shaffer A native of Dongola, Jon originally began his employment with Crain Funeral Home as an independent contractor in 1991. Jon was in charge of all local cemetery duties for the funeral home, opening and closing graves, tent and equipment installation for committal services and installation of monuments and markers. Jon graduated from Jefferson State College in Birmingham, Alabama in 2006 with a degree in Mortuary Science and Funeral Service. He is a member of Dongola Masonic Lodge #581 He looks forward to a long relationship with Crain Funeral Home and M/C Monuments and the families they serve. Jon still lives on his family’s farm in rural Dongola with his wife Heather and two sons, Drew and Brandon. jon@crainsonline.com
Kirby Patterson Kirby graduated from Anna Jonesboro Community High School in 1980 and joined Crain Funeral Home in 1982. Kirby been associated with Crain’s for over 25 years as an assistant funeral director and now a licensed funeral director. He graduated from Southern Illinois University in 1997 with a Mortuary Science and Funeral Service degree. Among his other duties as a funeral director he also is the manager of M/C Monuments a division of Crain Funeral Homes. Kirby lives in Anna with his wife Donna and their two kids Lane and Lindsey. Kirby has enjoyed his many years at Crain Funeral Home and looks forward to many more. kirby2@crainsonline.com
Linda Jackson A lifelong resident of Anna, Linda has been associated with Crain Funeral Home since 2000 and is now serving as Office Manager. She is always available to help the Directors and the families that we serve. Linda is a graduate of Anna-Jonesboro Community High School and attended Shawnee Community College. She retired in 1999 from Verizon Telephone Company with 33 years of service. She is involved in community service through the Ladies Auxiliary of Carroll P. Foster Post #3455, Veterans of Foreign Wars in Anna. She lives in Anna with her husband Gary. They have 5 children and 5 grandchildren. linda@crainsonline.com
Shirley Huff Born in Mt. Vernon, Illinois has lived in the Jackson County area since 1962. She is the mother of four children and has ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Shirley joined Crain Cemetery Services in 1992 as Secretary of Records of Pleasant Grove Memorial Park, Murphysboro, IL. With the addition of East Lawn Memorial Gardens, Energy, IL, in 1995, and Murdale Gardens of Memory, Murphysboro, IL, in 2003, now is Office Manager and Pre-need Family Counselor. She has enjoyed her fifteen years with the Crain’s and is looking forward to several more years of serving the families of Crain Funeral Home and Cemeteries. shirley@crainsonline.com
Angela Keown Angela is a native of Murphysboro, and still resides there today with her husband Brian and son Tyler. Angela joined Crain Cemetery Services in August of 2004 as an Administrative Assistant. She keeps the records for all three Crain Cemeteries, Pleasant Grove Memorial Park, Murdale Gardens of Memory, and East Lawn Memorial Gardens. She also meets with families to assist in both pre-need and at-need arranging. Angela is looking forward to several more years of serving the families of Crain Funeral Home and Cemeteries. angie@crainsonline.com
Dean Robison Hostess, Crain Funeral Home, Tamms and Dongola.
Larry and Phyllis Buckles Host and hostess Crain Funeral Home, Ullin. Larry also serves as one of our staff chaplains.
Summer and After School Crew Back row – Lane Patterson, Andrew Crain, Dustin Ayers, and Ashley Crain. Front row – Ethan and Blake Klett.
James “JP” Patterson and Larry Shaffer Monument Installation Crew. Larry also handles vault installation for Crain Funeral Home.
Robert Poole Rob graduated from Anna-Jonesboro High School in 1976. He worked at the Anna Ben Franklin until 1986. He attended Shawnee Community College for a short period of time before managing the Family Dollar store in Metropolis. Most of his career life has been spent as a retail store manager. Rob is active in the Anna Heights Baptist Church. He is an avid golfer and enjoys going out in the family RV. He fell in love with his wife, Joy when he was nine years old. They married in 1977 and have two children. Their daughter, September Poole-Davis is an Emergency Medical Technician in Franklin County. Their son Chad works at Transcraft/Wabash in Anna and lives at home. Rob enjoys talking with and helping people and thrives in the public.

Staff