Thomas Brewitt

retired funeral director and past owner, Brewitt Funeral Homes, Exeter, Raymond, and Epping, New Hampshire, and uncle of funeral directors John Brewitt Jr. and Miguel Brewitt, died June 25, 2026, at age 82.

Brewitt studied art at Dean Junior College in Franklin, Massachusetts, then chose to follow the family tradition of funeral service. He earned his funeral director’s certificate from the New England Institute in Boston, Massachusetts.

He was a former parishioner of Christ Episcopal Church, and he was active with the Order of the Eastern Star and the Exeter Historical Society.

Brewitt is survived by son Thomas, daughter Faith, brother John Sr., and nephews Miguel and John Jr.

L. Ruple Harley Jr.

NFDA past president, South Carolina Funeral Directors Association past president, retired funeral director and past owner, Harley Funeral Home & Crematory, Greenwood, South Carolina, and father of funeral director Ruple Harley III, died July 13, 2026, at age 82.

Harley graduated from the Kentucky School of Mortuary Science. His professional affiliations included presidential terms with the South Carolina Funeral Directors Association and NFDA. It was during his leadership of the latter that major changes in veterans funeral protocol came to be. Now, every qualified veteran is honored in the manner they deserve. In 2014, he was named South Carolina Funeral Directors Association Piedmont Group Funeral Director of the Year.

Harley was granted the designation of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. He was president of the L. Ruple Harley Sr. Educational Foundation, a scholarship honoring his father that is now part of the Piedmont Technical College Foundation. Each year, it is awarded to a deserving student in the Piedmont Technical College Funeral Service Program.

Harley was also active within the community. He served as past president of the Greenwood Jaycees, the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce and the Emerald City Rotary Club; and he served as the only five-time chairman of the South Carolina Festival of Flowers. He was named the Southeast Festival and Events Association’s Best Volunteer in 2018. He was honored as Greenwood’s Young Man of the Year, and he was a Paul Harris Fellow. Harley was inducted into the Greenwood County Hall of Fame in February 2020. He also was a member of Main Street United Methodist Church.

Harley is survived by wife Karen, children Ruple Harley III (Carol) and Allison Harley Cobb (Michael), six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Mary Jo Hellwarth

funeral director and co-owner, W.H. Dick & Sons-Hellwarth Funeral Homes, Celina, and Mendon, Ohio, died June 15, 2026, at age 72.

Hellwarth earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Ohio University and a master’s degree from Wright State University. She taught for a number of years. After her father’s death, she left her career in education to join the family funeral business. She began her apprenticeship and eventually obtained her funeral director’s license. 

She was a member of the Chamber of Commerce Adult Leadership Class, a 4-H leader and a Girl Scout troop leader. She was a member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association and Buckeye Funeral Directors Association (District 3). Hellwarth was a member of the Celina Lions Club, for which she served a term as president, and the Western Ohio Guernsey Breeders Association, for which she served as secretary.

Hellwarth is survived by husband John, daughter Kristen, son Jordan and granddaughter Marie.

Jay Eugene Mueller

retired funeral director and former owner, Mueller’s Funeral Homes, Kennewick, and Pasco, Washington, and father of funeral director Amy Mueller Coffman, died May 28, 2026, at age 80.

Mueller attended Eastern Washington University, then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1967 during the Vietnam War. After his service, he attended Brigham Young University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business management. Before joining his father in the family business, he attended Mt. Hood Community College to complete his mortuary degree. His last project was Paws to Remember, a pet-cremation service.

Mueller was a lifelong enthusiast of choral music. He occasionally performed as a last-minute soloist during funerals. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Mueller is survived by wife Charlene; children Andrea, Julie, Amy, Jennifer and Jason; 17 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Richard W. Nolan

funeral director and funeral home manager emeritus, Kelly Funeral Home – Kanata Chapel, Ontario, Canada, died June 16, 2026, at the age of 68.

Having served in various volunteer positions, Nolan was exceptionally involved in the Kanata community. A lifelong sports fan, he spent many years coaching for local athletic organizations, including Kanata Knights Football (tackle football and girls touch football), Kanata Minor Hockey and Kanata Girls Hockey. He was a former member of St. Patrick’s Fallowfield Parish Council and volunteered with St. Martin de Porres School.

Nolan is survived by wife Nancy Brennan, son Justin and daughter Jennifer. He was a grandfather of six.

Leland B. Norman Jr.

funeral director and owner, Houston Funeral Home, Houston, Mississippi, died July 2, 2026, at age 77.

Norman graduated from Mississippi State University and served in the Mississippi National Guard. He also served as president of the Mississippi Funeral Directors Association and chairman of the Mississippi State Board of Funeral Service. Norman was recognized as Mississippi Funeral Director of the Year in 1980 and 1981.

He was a founding board member of Leadership Chickasaw, the Exchange Club and the Chickasaw Development Foundation, for which he served as Chickasaw Development Foundation director. Norman was a member of Houston First Methodist Church. There, he volunteered in Seekers Sunday school class, as a longtime usher and on the security committee.

Norman is survived by fiancee Jeannie Holliday Parks, sisters Martha and Mimi, nieces, and nephews.

Douglas A. Shade

funeral director, Ocker Funeral Home, Van Buren, Arkansas, died July 1, 2026, at age 62.

Shade was a graduate of Arkansas Tech University. He later earned a degree from the Mid-America College of Funeral Science. He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and Van Buren First Baptist Church.

He is survived by wife Rhonda, daughter Savannah and son Sam.