Brooks Funeral Care Staff


	Blair A. Overton , Owner/Manager Email: blair@overtonservice.com Blair has been a licensed Funeral Director since 1992. He was raised in Traer, Iowa, and was a graduate of North Tama High School in 1986. Blair continued his education at the University of Iowa and graduated with a degree in Economics in 1990. He received his education in Mortuary Sciences at the New England Institute in Boston, Mass. and while in Boston worked full time for the J. S. Waterman & Sons Funeral Home. Upon his graduation in 1991 he received the Fredrick J. Walker, Jr. award for the highest academic average and the Founders Award for most promise of outstanding contribution to funeral service. Blair has owned and operated funeral homes in Traer, Dysart, Vinton, Waterloo, and most recently has been overseeing the Greater Des Moines’ firms. Which include the Merle Hay Funeral Home & Chapel Hill Gardens, Sunset Memorial Gardens & Chapel, Brooks Funeral Care, the Tonini Chapel and the Cremation Society of Iowa. Blair and his wife, Whitney, have three sons, Alexander, Tyler & Ryan. Blair and his family make their home in Johnston, Iowa.

	Dixie Evans, Funeral Director Email: dixie@brooksfuneralcare.com Office Phone: 515-277-8700 Fax: 515-277-9700 Dixie Evans graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1996 and then earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids. She attended the Mortuary Science Program at DMACC in Ankeny and graduated in 2006. She has been with Merle Hay Funeral Home since the fall of 2005. Outside of work, Dixie enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter and is an avid Iowa Hawkeyes fan. She is a member of the Norwalk United Methodist Church, the Norwalk Lions Club and P.E.O. Chapter I.E.

	Casey Smith, Funeral Director Email: casey@merlehayfuneralhome.com Office Phone: 515-278-4633 Fax: 515-276-5697 Casey Smith joined Merle Hay Funeral Home in June of 2009, prior to the acquisition of Brooks Funeral Care. Smith previously worked at Brooks Funeral Care after completing his Mortuary Science degree from Des Moines Area Community College in January 2007. Well placed in his profession as a funeral director, the truth is his experience in funeral services and the industry began long before his schooling, practicum and internships. Casey, a graduate of Grand View University, was raised with an acutely warm sense of empathy and learned to deliver gentle guidance of those in his care, especially during difficult times as he watching his father who was owner and funeral director at Smith Funeral Home in Laurens, Iowa. Casey is a certified eye enucleate for the Iowa Lion's Eye Bank. He is a member of the First Friday Breakfast Club in Des Moines which works toward the elimination of prejudice and discrimination against all people based on their disclosed or perceived gender orientation. In his free time he enjoys local tag sales and restoring his 1923 arts and crafts-style home in Des Moines’ Beaverdale neighborhood. Casey is also a member of the following organizations: St. John's Lutheran Church Des Moines Metro Opera Guild Iowa Funeral Director's Association The American Guild of Organists

	Cindy Phillips, Funeral Director Email: Cindy@merlehayfuneralhome.com Office Phone: 515-278-4633 Fax: 515-276-5697 Mobile Phone: 515-321-2046 Cindy Phillips joined Brooks Funeral Care in 2003 to handle funeral service preplanning and prefunding, cemetery marker and monument sales, and aftercare. She earned her Certified Preplanning Consultant (CPC) designation in 2004. While working full-time as a preplanning consultant, Cindy attended college and graduated from the DMACC Mortuary Science Program in 2007. She fulfilled her year of internship and received her funeral director's license in 2008. Cindy and her husband Al live in West Des Moines. They have one son who is married and living in Coventry, England.

	Casey Henry, Intern Email: chenry@brooksfuneralcare.com Office Phone: 515-277-8700 Fax: 515-277-9700 Casey Henry joined Merle Hay Funeral Home and Brooks Funeral Care in November 2009 as an Intern Funeral Director. He is originally from Waterloo, Iowa and graduated from Columbus Catholic High School. Casey recently graduated from the Mortuary Science Program at DMACC in Ankeny, Iowa. He received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Upper Iowa University. In his spare time Casey enjoys sports and spending time with his family. Casey and his family reside the south side of Des Moines.

	Edward Christopherson, Intern Email: ed@merlehayfuneralhome.com Office Phone: 515-278-4633 Fax: 515-276-5697 Edward Christopherson, a native of Forest City, graduated from Forest City High School in 2006. He attended North Iowa Area Community College for two years and acquired his Associate of Arts Degree. Following his education at NIACC, he was accepted into the Mortuary Science Program at DMACC in Ankeny. While attending mortuary school, Edward, a past Iowa Funeral Director Association member, was awarded the first Susan L. Mitchell Scholarship. Following graduation from mortuary school, he is furthering his education at Upper Iowa University majoring in Social Science. Edward worked at the Petersen-Lund Funeral Home in Forest City at a young age and continued his funeral service employment at Iles Funeral Homes in Des Moines, Iowa. He began his internship at the Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home in Humboldt, Iowa and joined the staff at the Merle Hay Funeral Home and Brooks Funeral Care in January of 2010. Outside of the funeral profession, Edward enjoys spending time with his family and friends. His passions include the outdoors, road trips, and amusement parks. He is an avid Minnesota Vikings and New York Yankees fan.

	Tracie Madren, Office Manager Email: tracie@merlehayfuneralhome.com Office Phone: 515-278-4633 Fax: 515-276-5697 Tracie has been employed with Merle Hay and Sunset funeral homes since 1988, and is involved with the day-to-day operations of both of the funeral homes and cemeteries. She graduated from Dexfield (Redfield) High School in 1983 and then attended the University of Northern Iowa, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration in 1987. Tracie resides in Redfield with her family, Matt Hicks and daughter Emily.

	Rachel Almlie, Office Assistant Email: rachel@merlehayfuneralhome.com Office Phone: 515-278-4633 Fax: 515-276-5697 Rachel has been the voice on the phone at Merle Hay Funeral Home since 2007. Family, music, language, animal welfare and recycling are her driving passions. A former member of the Drake Neighborhood Association Board, Rachel lives in a century-old home with her husband, Wayne.

	Kate McKenna, Office Manager Email: kate@brooksfuneralcare.com Office Phone: 515-277-8700 Fax: 515-277-9700 Kate joined Brooks Funeral Care in August of 2009 after a career in event planning and non-profit fundraising with organizations in Chicago and Des Moines including the Girl Scouts, The Joffrey Ballet, Living History Farms and ITA Group. Kate earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State University in December of 2003. She sits on the Board for Ballet Des Moines and enjoys traveling, reading and knitting outside of the funeral care business.