Our Staff

High Lawn Funeral Home and High Lawn Memorial Park Staff

High Lawn Memorial Park and High Lawn Funeral Home are two separate operations. Although we work together in the same office we all have the same goals to help assist families for funeral services and interments for our cemetery. Below are the staff for both High Lawn Memorial Park and High Lawn Funeral Home. 

Michael Phares

New Owner and Chief Executive Officer

As of September 1st, 2019 We are very proud to be under the new ownership and guidance of Michael Phares.

Michael is a 3rd generation cemeterian who also started in grounds maintenance and has worked his way up through the industry. He has served families for the past 10 years as a licensed pre-planning and at need specialist. Michael resides in Fayetteville with his wife, Heather and two children, Brandon and Madison where he plays a very active part in the sports careers of his children and other area youth.

Jeanne Evans

Treasurer

Jeanne has been with High Lawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park for over 20 years. Jeanne resides in Oak Hill and is a very active member of her church, Mountain View Church of God.

Susan Craun

Funeral Home Administrator for the Funeral Director

Susan has been in accounting most of her life having graduated from Collins High School on the business course and received a degree in Accounting from West Virginia Tech. She then worked 36 years as the bookkeeper of her family owned business, W. R. Murdock & Sons of Fayetteville, another 8 years for Bessie's Floral Designs of Oak Hill and has been with High Lawn Memorial Park and Funeral Chapel for over 6 years. Susan and husband, Edward, both avid civil war artillery enthusiasts  reside in Oak Hill.

Savannah Horton


Family Service Counselor


As a family service counselor, Savannah Horton is the newest member of our Sales team. 

Fred Rickman III

Family Service Counselor

Fred Rickman III is a family service counselor who came to us in 2016 with 18 years of cemetery sales experience, 13 of those years included cemetery management.  He has been #1 in sales in the WV Cemetery Associate twice with numerous 2nd place finishes. 

Fred enjoys golf, bowling and fishing plus has been an active area band booster for over 10 years.

He lives on North Sand Branch in Bradley with his wife Diane, son Marshall and daughter Kelsey.

Carl Slater

Senior Attendant

Carl Slater having been in the funeral industry for over 12 years works as our lead attendant to make sure that our families are well cared for during visitations, services as well as our transport specialist. 

In his off hours Carl enjoys playing guitar, caring for his dogs but most of all cooking and playing with his 5 grandchildren.  He and his wife, Dana has two children and live in Fayetteville.

Bill Gillman

Attendant

Bill Gillman has been with our funeral home family since 2017.  He assists families during transport, visitations, funeral services and also can assist families in need of a minister.

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