The Staff at Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home

Joe E. Moreland Joe began his professional career in the funeral industry in 1966 at Frye Funeral Home in Olathe. He graduated magna cum laude from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science earlier that year. He received his embalmer's license in July of 1967 and his funeral director's license in November of 1969 from the Kansas State Board of Mortuary Arts. He continued working at Frye Funeral Home until 1971. In 1971, he went to work at Wilson Funeral Home in Paola and worked there through 1972. He purchased the Eddy Funeral Home at Osawatomie in 1973. In 1977, the Eddy Funeral Home and the Birchard Funeral Home merged, hence the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home. In March of 2005, he bought his partner's half of the funeral home becoming the sole owner. Joe was born at Mt. Hope, Kansas. His parents were Malcolm and Helen Moreland. He graduated from Mt. Hope High School in 1961. He attended Kansas State University from 1961 to 1965 and then Wichita State University in 1964. He was married to Martha Ann Barkis in 1965 at Spring Hill, Kansas. They became the parents of two children, Jeff and Jennifer. Joe and Martha were divorced in 1992. Joe married Kathleen Marie Lanham Vaneske on July 1, 1995 at Centerville, Iowa. He and his wife live in rural Osawatomie. In addition to his two children, Joe has four step children Derek, Amy, Mary, and Beth; three grandchildren; and six step grandchildren. He is a member of the Osawatomie Rotary, served on the Miami County Hospital Board for approximately 12 years, served on the Osawatomie Medical Service Committee, and is also a member of the Elks.

Debby S. Stout Debby began working at Eddy-Bichard Funeral Home in 1992 as their Office Manager. She became a licensed pre-need insurance agent in 1994. While still working full time at the funeral home, she became a full-time student at Fort Scott Community College in 2001 and graduated summa cum laude in May of 2003 with an Associate of Science degree. She passed the Kansas State Board of Mortuary Arts examination in July of 2004 and obtained her funeral director's license in September of 2004 after serving a one year apprenticeship. In October of 2004, she attended the In-Sight Institute's course to become a Certified Celebrant. Debby was born at Ottawa, Kansas. She is the daughter of Ken and Marilyn New of Paola. She graduated from Paola High School in 1980. She and Shane Stout were married on June 1, 1985. They currently reside at Timber Lake, Lane, Kansas. They have three daughters Steffany, Kaylee, and Kelsey.

Frank Brown Frank joined the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home in 2001. His responsibilities are providing for the after care program along with helping families with pre-planning. Frank was born in Stevens County, Minnesota. He graduated from Elbow Lake, Minnesota High School in 1957. He attended the University of Minnesota (Morris) for one year. He was honorably discharged from the U. S. Army in 1960 at Fort Riley, Kansas. He married Wilma Jean Oakes at Ottawa in 1960 where they still reside. They have two children Roy and Audry and two grandsons Aaron and Jared. Frank has spent his entire career as a fully licensed life and health insurance agent. He attended the In-Sight Institute's training course and became a Certified Celebrant in October 2005. Frank is an active member of the Faith Lutheran Church at Ottawa and is a qualified speaker for the Gideon's International. He is a former board member of the East Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging and Hope House.

Ted Hunter Ted began working at the funeral home in March of 2005. He obtained his assistant funeral director's license in June of 2005. He was born in Caldwell, Kansas. He grew up in Winfield, Kansas graduating with the Class of 1956. He attended Southwestern College in Winfield for two and a half years. He married Dorothy Cron in 1959. They made their home in the Kansas City area and became the parents of two daughters. They were divorced in 1981. Ted worked at Hallmark Cards for ten years. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a B. A. Degree in Sociology in 1970. He received a Master of Divinity degree from the St. Paul School of Theology at Kansas City in 1973. He became a pastor in the United Methodist Church in June of 1970 having served churches in Lecompton, Valley Falls/Coal Creek, Topeka, Osawatomie, and Sabetha. He retired from pastoral ministry in 2003. In 1989, he received the Osawatomie Community Service Award. He has held memberships in Rotary, Kiwanis, B.P.O.E., and served as president of the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in both Osawatomie and Sabetha. Ted married Vivien Grant in April of 1994. His daughter Kerri died in 2002. His daughter Kristi is currently living in Texas. He also has one step-son Brad Grant and eleven grandchildren. He currently serves as manager of the Osawatomie History Museum and on the Osawatomie City Council.