Don received his B.A. in Sociology from Michigan State University and his Masters in Speech Communication from Texas Christian University. He also graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in Ohio. Don completed his doctoral studies at the University of Arkansas and graduated with a Ph.D. in Forensic Sociology.
Don was awarded the designation of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice in 1996 and won national election to the APFSP Board of Trustees in 2013. He also served as Board Vice President of the Academy. He is a graduate of the Fountain National Academy of Professional Embalming in Columbia, Missouri. Don is certified in advanced postmortem reconstructive surgery. He was inducted into the prestigious British Institute of Embalmers in 2000. He is also a member of the Irish Association of Funeral Directors.
Don is a graduate of the FEMA - Emergency Management Institute and is certified in Incident Management and Public Disaster Communication. He received certification in Aviation Disaster Management from the Tulane University School of Public Health in New Orleans. He is a long standing member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.
Don is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association and serves the Michigan Funeral Directors Association as a member of the Government Relations Committee. Don was also appointed Chairman of the Sciences Committee for the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. He is certified by the In-Sight Institute of Oklahoma as credentialed Celebrant.
Don has two sons: Ryan and Aaron. He is past President of the Montrose Board of Education, the Montrose Blueberry Festival and the Montrose Chamber of Commerce. Don is also a current member and past director of the Clio Downtown Development Authority and Birch Run Area Chamber of Commerce. Don enjoys auto racing, boating, antique cars and traveling in his spare time.
Julie serves our staff as Director of Business and Finance. She handles accounts payable, receivable and payroll. She also works as our tax and insurance liaison.
Julie was born and raised in Millington. She graduated from Millington High School and Mott Community College. She completed her studies in Accounting at Central Michigan University. Julie was employed in banking and restaurant management for many years. She was also a longtime member of the Montrose Blueberry Festival Committee and the Clio Chamber of Commerce.
In her spare time she enjoys reading, travel and interior design. She is also an active member of the New Life Christian Fellowship Church in Grand Blanc. Aside from her two sons, Ryan and Aaron, Julie enjoys spending time at home with her dogs, Brandy and Ella .
Crystal serves as Executive Manager of O'Guinn Family Funeral Homes and has been an integral part of our funeral home family since 2007. She oversees personnel and operations at all four O'Guinn locations. Crystal graduated from Fenton High School and completed the Pre-Mortuary Science program at Mott Community College in Flint. She served her internship and residency at O'Guinn's and realized early on that funeral service was her life's calling.
Crystal completed her studies at the Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago, Illinois, graduating with a degree in Mortuary Science. She is nationally certified by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards and is licensed by the State of Michigan Board of Examiners in Mortuary Science.
Crystal is gifted in the preparation arts and has extensive training as a professional embalmer. In 2015, she completed graduate studies at the Fountain National Academy of Embalming in Springfield, Missouri. She achieved certification in Advanced Post Mortem Reconstructive Surgery and served as a Graduate Assistant at the academy. She also had the high honor of being inducted into the prestigious British Institute of Embalmers based on her demonstrated proficiency and dedication to excellence in the field of embalming.
"It's the details that make the difference in all that we do," says Crystal. "When making arrangements, I like to focus on personalization and making a funeral as unique as the individual. I believe that celebrating a life is a critical part of mourning a death. When presenting a loved one for viewing, I work hard to comfort families by making their loved ones look as natural and peaceful as possible because last impressions are important too." We are blessed to have Crystal on our team and look forward to many years of serving families together.
Her professional affiliations include memberships in the National Funeral Directors Association, the Michigan Funeral Directors Association, the Cremation Association of North America, and the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association. She is also a member of the Pet Loss Professional Alliance.
Crystal and her husband, Ryan, reside in Grand Blanc and have one son, Mason. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, yoga, travel, reading, and spending time with her dog, Dexter.
Norm joined the O'Guinn Family Funeral Homes staff in May of 2017, and we are delighted to have him as part of our professional team.
Norm is a licensed funeral director with over 26 years of service. He graduated from Carson City-Crystal High School in 1984 and served in the U.S. Army for 6 1/2 years. He is a member of the American Legion Post #57 of Owosso.
Norm also graduated from the Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, Illinois, with a degree in Mortuary Science. He is Board certified by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards and is licensed by the State of Michigan. He was formerly employed by the Smith Family Funeral Homes in mid-Michigan and came to us as the General Manager of the Keehn Funeral Home in Brighton.
Norm is a member of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association, the National Funeral Directors Association, the International Cemetery, the Cremation and Funeral Association, the Cremation Association of North America, and the NRA.
Norm has a tremendous passion for serving people and has been extremely well-received by our client families. In his free time, he enjoys motorcycling, boating, and spending time with his family. He and his wife, Lisa, reside in Crystal and have three children and one granddaughter.
Shelly joined our staff in 2010 and serves as our Office Manager. She is a very valuable member of our funeral home family and we are blessed to have her on our team. She has extensive experience in business administration and handles a wide range of administrative duties at O'Guinns. She graduated from Carman - Ainsworth High School in Flint and attended Liberty University.
She coordinates staffing and scheduling, processes all legal documents, files insurance claims, and assists with veteran's and social security benefits. She also maintains record keeping and data entry along with overall business operations.
Shelly serves as the logistics and transfer coordinator for Paws to Remember, our pet loss division. She is also a member of the National Pet Loss Professional Alliance. In addition to her office responsibilities, Shelly is also our sales consultant for thumb print keepsakes, cremation jewelry and personalized tribute items.
Shelly was a longtime member of Mayfair Bible Church and is a current member of Central Church of the Nazarene, where she is involved in music ministry and sports. She is a very gifted vocal soloist and enjoys running and working out in her spare time.
She and her husband Thad live in Swartz Creek. The Beckmans have two children, their daughter, Jordan, at Grand Valley State Universiy, and son, Jaxon, at home and attending Mott Community College.
Gary has been a longtime employee of O'Guinn Family Funeral Homes. He retired from GM's Chevrolet Manufacturing Division in 1999 and is a member of UAW Local 659.
Born and raised in Maple Grove Township, Gary has resided in Montrose for nearly 50 years. He is a U.S. Air Force, Vietnam War veteran and is a member of the Montrose American Legion - Harry Baker Post #367.
Gary serves as our staff supervisor and handles scheduling, logistics, fleet management and general building operations. He serves as a Montrose Township Trustee and as Chairman of the Planning Commission. Gary also serves on various board committees.
Gary attends Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Montrose. He is an active member of the Knights of Columbus - Good Shepherd Council #8669 and has held several organizational offices including that of Grand Knight.
He and his wife Lois are active members of the Montrose community. They have 4 children. In his spare time Gary enjoys gardening and yard work.
Dave manages Great Lakes Cremation Service in Clio and Superior Monuments of Montrose. He graduated from Fenton High School, Mott Community College, and Grand Rapids Baptist College. Dave was formerly employed as a Computer Aided Design and Drafting Technician at General Motors and EDS for 28 years. He and his wife, Donita, reside in Lennon and have two children: Taylor and Bryce, and a granddaughter, Emery.
Dave attends Central Church of the Nazarene in Flint and is active in the choir and praise team. He is an accomplished soloist and is a former member of The Gospelmen Quartet and Reconciled. He currently sings and travels extensively with Justified Quartet. Dave serves his church as a youth basketball coach and a member of Hope for the Fatherless. He and his wife have been participants in foster care and adoption.
Dave is a fan of auto racing and enjoys classic cars, motorcycles, golf, travel, and exercise. In 2013, he completed his first 10-mile Marathon. One of Dave's life mission statements is, "Set God-sized goals and pursue God-ordained passions." God has richly blessed us with Dave, and we are grateful for the passion and integrity he serves our client families with every day.
Fred joined our staff in January of 2017. He is a lifelong resident of Birch Run and graduated from Birch Run High School in 1966. Fred is a U.S. Army veteran. He retired from Siding World with 35 years of service with 30 years in management. He was instrumental in opening 17 stores in 3 states.
He is a member of Saints Francis & Clare Parish in Birch Run where he has served as Chairman of the Parish and Finance Councils. Fred also serves as a trustee of the Birch Run Township Board and as a member of the Township Planning Commission. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, 4th Degree, and the National Hot Rod Association.
In his spare time, Fred enjoys drag racing his 9.5 second '71 Dodge Demon, old cars, and working with his hands. Fred and his wife, Beth, reside in Birch Run. With their combined families, they have 8 children, 18 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren.
Debbie has been a part of the O'Guinn Funeral Home family for 25 years and has been a blessing to our staff. She serves as a greeter, funeral attendant, and staff assistant and is dearly loved by our client families.
Deb graduated from Mt. Morris High School and was employed by Century 21 Realty for 20 years. She is an active member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Clio. She enjoys music, decorating, and spending time with her grandchildren.
She and her husband, Dave, reside in Clio and have three sons and eight grandchildren.
We've had the great pleasure of having Melissa as part of our funeral home family since 2015. She graduated from Birch Run High School in 1979 and earned an Associates Degree of Applied Science in Dental Assisting from Delta College.
She, along with her husband, Dennis, owned and operated the Exit Restaurant in Birch Run for 24 years. Melissa managed the bakery and gift shop. She is a past member of the Michigan Jaycee Organization and was President of the Birch Run - Taymouth Jaycee Chapter, where she was honored as one of the "Top 10 Presidents in Michigan" and her chapter was recognized as one of the "Top 3 Chapters in the United States." Melissa was also honored as one of the "Top 3 State Chaplains in the United States" for her service as a Michigan Jaycee Director and Michigan Jaycee State Chaplain.
Melissa is also a past and present member of the Taymouth Township Park Committee. She attends St. Martin Lutheran Church in Birch Run. She and Dennis have been married for 36 years and have 2 daughters: Megan and Lindsay. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys golf, gardening, and spending time with her two grandchildren.
We had the privilege of welcoming Lee to our funeral home family in 2011. She came to us from First Presbyterian Church in Flint, where she retired as a Congregational Care Specialist with 30 years of service. Lee graduated from Birch Run High School and has been a lifelong resident of the Birch Run area. She and her husband, Jim, have been married for 44 years.
Lee was active with Leader Dogs for the Blind for 15 years and is a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow. She has been involved in numerous mission trips, both foreign and domestic, and enjoys serving others. Lee enjoys travel, the great outdoors, and reading. We are very blessed to have Lee on our team.
Beth joined the O'Guinn family in May of 2016. She graduated from Birch Run High School and Delta College. Before retiring, Beth was employed as a Pharmacy Technician for 23 years at Perry Drugs, Phar-mor and The Medicine Shoppe. She was also employed as a bookkeeper and accounts specialist for Delta Truss Co. and Gohm Insurance Restoration.
Beth is a very active member of Saints Francis & Clare Parish in Birch Run, where she serves as President of the Altar Society and funeral luncheon coordinator. She also serves her church as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister. Beth has also been involved in christian education and catechism instruction.
She and her husband, Fred, reside in Birch Run and with their combined families have 8 children, 18 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren. Aside from her work at the church and our funeral homes, Beth enjoys reading, sewing, puzzles, and traveling.
Bev joined the O'Guinn staff in 2001. She is a lifelong resident of Birch Run and graduated from Birch Run High School in 1971. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from Central Michigan University in 1974. She did her graduate studies at Eastern Michigan University in Speech and Language Pathology and Psychology.
Bev has recently retired from Birch Run Area Schools after 42 years as a Speech and Language Pathologist in the district. She and her husband, Jim, raised their family in Birch Run and are members of the Birch Run United Methodist Church. The Totten's have two children and 5 grandchildren. Bev has many hobbies including reading, quilting, knitting and being a "hands on" grandma.
Bev has been very involved with various church committees and the Fleschner Memorial Library. "I am blessed to be a part of the O'Guinn staff. I feel honored and privileged to be able to support grieving families during their time of need," says Bev. We are blessed with her dedicated service.
We were very blessed to welcome Dennis to our staff in 2014. He was a 1975 Birch Run High School graduate. Dennis also graduated from Delta College and Northwood Institute.
He owned and operated the Exit Restaurant in Birch Run for 38 years, retiring in 2013. He also owns Birch Run Mini Storage.
Dennis serves as the Taymouth Township Supervisor and is a charter member of the Birch Run Rotary Club and the Birch Run Moose Lodge #2626. He is also a member of St. Martin's Lutheran Church in Birch Run. Dennis serves as President of the Birch Run Men's Golf League. He is past president of the Birch Run Chamber of Commerce and past chairman of the Birch Run Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Birch Run Downtown Development Authority. He enjoys golf and hunting.
He and his wife Melissa have two daughters: Megan and Lindsay.
Joe has been a lifelong friend of the O'Guinn family and he's been a part of our professional staff for the past 6 years. He graduated from Carman High School in 1976. Joe has been employed as a senior cook at Sorrentos in Flushing since 1975. He and his wife Judy have a daughter, Jessica. Joe is an avid sports fan and has resided in Davison for over 36 years.
Tony is a very dedicated and longtime member of our family and we are honored to have him on staff. He serves in numerous capacities at our homes and is always willing to help where needed.
Tony retired from Saginaw Steering Gear / Delphi with over 40 years of service. He was also a member of UAW Local 699. He is a U.S. Army, Vietnam War veteran and is an active member of the Birch Run VFW Post 7542.
He is a former member of the Birch Run Auxiliary Police Dept. and the Taymouth Twp. Fire Dept. Tony was also a longtime trustee of the Taymouth Township Board. He is a member of St. Francis & Clare Catholic Church in Birch Run. He enjoys hunting, fishing and woodworking. Tony resides in Montrose and has two sons.
