Our Experienced Staff

Each of the staff members at Freeman Mortuary is committed to providing your family with the finest in personal care. In fact, for years, it’s been comforting for area families to know that we are available to help at any time of the day or night.

When a loved one dies, all you need to do is make one phone call. From that moment on, we’ll take on the responsibilities of the physical care of your loved one, and the emotional care of those left behind.

Please take a few minutes to get to know our staff. We’re sure you’ll find each of us to be all that you would hope for in a trusted funeral professional.
 

PHIL   FREEMAN Phil Freeman’s organizational skills and attention to details are qualities he brings to both his business and the community.  He is well known in Jefferson City as being very community oriented.  Phil’s civic involvement actually started in 1974 when he became the second generation in Freeman Mortuary. Phil graduated in 1971 from Jefferson City High School.  He graduated with honors from Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in 1974 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Columbia College in 1975. Phil has served as past president of the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce, the United Way, the YMCA, and the Capital Region Medical Center Foundation.  He spent nine years on the Jefferson City Board of Education including two terms as president. He has been co-chairman of the Rape and Abuse Crisis Service building drive, fund drives for the new locker room and field renovations at Adkins Stadium for the Jefferson City High School and chairman of the final phase for the fund drive for the Miller Performing Arts Center.  He is currently serving as chairman of the Old Town Redevelopment Board. He worked to pass the One-Half Cent Sales Tax in 1987, 2001, and 2006.  He was, also, co-chairman of the school tax levy that passed in April 2002, which helped raise salaries for teachers. Phil is a past member of the Jefferson City West Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow through Rotary International. He received the Jaycees Distinguished Service Award in 1981.  In 2002, he was the recipient of the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce Meritorious Civic Service Award. Phil is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the state of Missouri and is a member of both the National Funeral Directors Assn. and the Missouri Funeral Directors Assn.

RYAN FREEMAN Ryan Freeman takes great pride in being the third generation in his family’s funeral home.  He has quite literally grown up in the business starting with mowing grass, washing cars, and shoveling snow.  Ryan graduated as salutatorian from Jefferson City High School in 2001 and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Missouri in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a double major in Finance and Banking and Real Estate.  While at Mizzou Ryan was selected as a member of the Chancellor’s Leadership Class and volunteered at the Nora Stewart Memorial Nursery School.  He attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago, Illinois, and graduated in the top five of his class in 2006 with an Associate of Science degree in Mortuary Science. Ryan is continuing his family’s commitment to the community being involved as past president of the Jefferson City Rotaract Club, a board member of the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce and helped co-chair the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce annual barbecue, a member of the 2008 Leadership Class of Jefferson City, serves on the governing body of Capital Region Medical Center, and has worked with the Jefferson City Public Schools on several issues. Ryan was the commencement speaker at the 2007 Jefferson City High School graduation and honored to be the co-chair of the community initiative for the CharacterPlus program throughout Cole County. He was honored in April 2010 as an American Red Cross Hero because of his efforts with the H.U.G.S. children’s support group that he help start. He and his wife, Ashley, have a daughter, Charlotte. Ryan is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in Missouri.

AMY FREEMAN Amy Walz Freeman has been employed since 1995 as secretary in her husband’s family business.  Before that, she managed the drapery shop and workroom at Milo H. Walz, Inc., and was a substitute teacher for many years in the Jefferson City Public Schools.  Amy is a 1973 graduate of Jefferson City High School and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Lincoln University. Throughout the years Amy has been very involved in the community.  Some of her commitments include being past president of P.E.O., Chapter HM, Methodist Pre-Kindergarten, Moreau Heights PTO, and the City-Wide PTA/PTO.  She is, also, a past chairman of the Rape and Abuse Crisis Service board of directors. Amy is a past board member of the March of Dimes, Special Learning Center, Special Learning Center Foundation, Jefferson City Public Schools Foundation and Meals on Wheels, Inc.  She was a volunteer driver for 20 years for Meals on Wheels.  She has also served as a docent at the Governor’s Mansion.    Amy is a member of the Capital Region Board of Governors and The Tuesday Club. While their sons, Don and Ryan, were young both Amy and Phil were active with the Jefferson City Babe Ruth program and the JCHS football and baseball boosters.  They are members of First United Methodist Church.

KEVIN CLARDY Kevin Clardy is a lifelong resident of Jefferson City.  He is a 1975 graduate of Jefferson City High School and has been a part of Freeman Mortuary for  over 30 years since April 1978. Kevin is an ardent supporter of Boy Scouts in Jefferson City.  In 1988, Kevin started his scouting career with the Cub Scouts at Pack 20, West School with his older son, John.  In 1992, he joined Boy Scout Troop 2 at the First Presbyterian Church as an Assistant Scoutmaster.  In 1997, Kevin went back to Cub Scouts but this time at Pack 2, Belair School with his younger son, Matt. Kevin was a part of the Wood Badge Staff starting in 1997 serving on eight courses.  In 2000, he became the staff Quartermaster for the council’s Tech Expo for the 21st Century Celebration then in 2004, he was, once again, the staff Quartermaster for the Lewis and Clark Celebration at the Ike Skelton Center.  In 2001, Kevin was awarded the Five Rivers District Award of Merit. When not busy with his scouting efforts, Kevin has been a member of the Jefferson City Jaycees, and is currently serving as vice president on the Riverview Cemetery Board of Directors. Kevin is a licensed funeral director in the state of Missouri.  He and his wife, Renee, reside in Jefferson City.

BECCA REICHARD Becca Reichard has been with our funeral home since September, 2007.  She is a lifelong resident of Jefferson City graduating from Jefferson City High School in 2001. With a background in nursing, Becca’s caring nature and compassion is a tremendous help to the families we serve.  She has taken her service to our families a step further by making pre need and aftercare a top priority. She and her husband, Mike, have one son, Foster. Becca became a licensed funeral director in 2009.

BREANNA BICHSEL BreAnna Bichsel was raised in Leonard, Missouri and is a 2010 graduate of North Shelby High School. After High School, Bre moved from her home town to Dallas, Texas where she attended the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. She graduated with an Associate of Science degree in Mortuary Science in November of 2011. She was previously employed at Restland Funeral Home in Dallas before returning to Missouri in 2013. Once back in Missouri, she began working at Memorial Funeral Home in Columbia. Bre has been with Freeman Mortuary since June of 2014. She is a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer.

KENT FRANKLIN Kent Franklin was raised in Independence, Missouri and is a 1983 graduate from Truman High School. He graduated with an Associate of Science degree in Mortuary Science from Kansas Community College in May of 1985. He previously worked for D.W. Newcomers & Sons Floral Hills Funeral Home in Kansas City, Missouri during his college years and after graduation.  He worked for W. L. Frye & Son Mortuary in Olathe, Kansas working his way up to management.  He is a graduate of the Leadership Olathe Class of 1992.  Kent was, also, actively involved in numerous civic organizations including the Olathe Chamber of Commerce and serving on the Johnson County Old Settlers Committee as Parade Chairman for three years. In 1995, Kent and his family moved to the Central Oregon area and owned five funeral homes before returning to Missouri in 2005. While in Oregon he served on the City Council and was active in the Chamber of Commerce. Once back in Missouri, he began working at Butler Funeral Home in Bolivar, Missouri as funeral director/manager until April 2013. He served on the Board of Directors of the Bolivar Chamber of Commerce and was active with the Christmas in the Park Committee. Having an opportunity to live in Florida, he took a position to manage two funeral homes, Moss Feaster Funeral Homes in Palm Harbor and Clearwater, Florida from April 2013 to June 2014.  Due to aging parents, he returned back to Missouri. Kent has been married to his wife, Lavonna, since 2005.  He has two wonderful daughters, Ashley & Megan. Kent is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in the State of Missouri and the State of Florida. He began working for Freeman Mortuary in February 2015.