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, Andrew, Blake, and Ethan.
 
Besides involvement in local activities, Bryan’s professional involvement as a board member of the Illinois Cemetery and Funeral Home Association. 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@crainsonline.com

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, Blake, Andrew and Ashley.
crain@crainsonline.com
 

Kirby Patterson

Kirby been associated with Crain’s 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 Pleasant Grove Memorial Park & Murdale Gardens of Memory a division of Crain Funeral Homes.

Kirby and his wife Donna have two kids Lane and Lindsey.

Kirby has enjoyed his many years at Crain Funeral Home and looks forward to many more. 

kirby2@crainsonline.com

Jon Shaffer

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

jon@crainsonline.com
 

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. 

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 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

Donna Davis  

A Murphysboro native, Donna joined our team of professionals in 2010 after working in the financial industry for 11 years and assisting in human resources at Curwood, Inc.  She now serves as office administrator and customer service rep at our Crain Pleasant Grove-Murdale Funeral Home and Pleasant Grove Memorial Park & Murdale Gardens of Memory. 

Donna is involved in community service and enjoys volunteer work with her church family at Christ Community Church.  She is looking forward to a lengthy career serving the needs of our families. 

ddavis@crainsonline.com

Betsy Oxford  

Betsy joined the Crain team in 2010 after working as a surgical assistant in an oral surgery.  She is the office administrator at the Anna location.  

A graduate of Shawnee High School in 1998, she also attended Shawnee Community College.  She enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and attending her children’s extra curricular activities.  Betsy and husband Jonathan have two children, Brylee and Nash, and live on the family homestead near Cobden.  

She is looking forward to serving families of Crain Funeral Homes for many years. 

boxford@crainsonline.com

Larry Shaffer  

Larry is a monument installer and also handles vault installation for Crain 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. 

Robert Poole

Funeral Home Assistant

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.

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.

Long Distance Driver

Superintendent of Egyptian Memorial Gardens

Groundskeeper at Pleasant Grove Memorial Park and Murdale Gardens of Memory

Groundskeeper, Pleasant Grove & Murdale Gardens.

Currently enrolled in SIU School of Mortuary Science.

Currently enrolled in SIU School of Mortuary Science.

Summer and After School Crew

Blake Klett                  Ethan Klett

    Andrew Crain        


Drew Shaffer

Wyatt Smith

George and Marguerite Crain

George C. Crain 1903-1987
Marguerite Crain 1909-2004

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.