Our Compassionate Staff
We are here to provide support, compassion and help you through grief and the celebration of your beloved pet
Dr. Ruth Ann Wood-Humiston and Richard Turner, wife and husband, are the owners of Cherished Pets Funeral Home and Crematory, LLC. They are long-time pet owners. Both Richard and Dr. Ruth Ann are certified pet funeral directors and certified in pet bereavement. Their dog child is Stella.
Dr. Ruth Ann
CEO
Dr. Ruth Ann is the second generation to be in the funeral business. Her family has over 60 years honorably serving families in the Southwest Missouri area.
Prior to owning Walnut Lawn Funeral Home, Ltd – DeGraffenreid-Wood Crematory, the Wood family owned Wood Funeral Home in Hartville, MO, where Dr. Ruth Ann was raised. They sold Wood Funeral Home and moved to Springfield in 1989 to build and establish Walnut Lawn Funeral Home.
Dr. Ruth Ann began working alongside her parents in the family-owned funeral home at a very young age. She has been a licensed funeral director since 1989.
Dr. Ruth Ann’s parents founded and operated Walnut Lawn Funeral Home until 2012 when she stepped in to allow her parents to enjoy retirement. In 2018, Dr. Ruth Ann officially became owner of Walnut Lawn Funeral Home.
In addition to her funeral directors license, Dr. Ruth Ann is a NFDA certified crematory operator, licensed preneed counselor, insurance broker, and is a notary. She is an expert with arranging funeral services in all parts of the United States and internationally.
Dr. Ruth Ann brings to Cherished Pets a wealth of experience not only as a funeral director, but also in the education field. She has been a teacher, principal, special education director, professor, and supervisor of professional development with the MO State Department of Education. She founding and operated Little Angels Learning Academy, an accredited early childhood program, for 19 years prior to selling it in February of 2022.
She has a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in special education from the University of Missouri-Columbia; Specialist and Master’s degrees in educational administration from Missouri State University; and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Drury University with a double major in psychology and elementary education, and a minor in music.
Dr. Ruth Ann makes her home in the Springfield area with her husband, Richard. She has two sons, Gabriel and Michael, furry pet family members: Stella, Missy, Miss Julie, Extra Stock “Woody,” Tennessee Gin (a reserve world champion), Courtney and Miss Betty, and granddog, Dale. Gabriel works with Dr. Ruth Ann at Walnut Lawn Funeral Home, as a preneed counselor and insurance broker. Michael works at Cherished Pets Funeral Home as a pet specialist.
She attends Sac River Cowboy Church. Her family enjoys all types of sports especially watching a good basketball game and the Kansas City Chiefs, raising and showing horses, and traveling with Richard. Most of all, she enjoys supporting her husband, Richard, as he professionally performs music in several area bands. Dr. Ruth Ann also enjoys cooking a great homemade meal, singing, gardening, and theater.
Richard Turner
General Manager
Richard and Dr. Ruth Ann married in December of 2021. Richard managed various business development projects, including developing and helping to actually build the Cherished Pets Funeral Home and Crematory facility (the inside courtyard prayer/mediation garden pergola is just one of his works).
Richard brings a wealth of experience in a strong and varied business and management background to Cherished Pets Funeral Home and Crematory. His administration experience includes being a prior business owner of several businesses, entertainment marketing and management, construction, loss prevention and law enforcement.
He balances his role with Cherished Pets Funeral Home and Crematory as a professional and very talented musician, playing multiple instruments. Richard is part of several bands in the area. He is a published song writer. You will hear Richard’s musical talents with the on-hold messages for Cherished Pets and Walnut Lawn Funeral Home.
In his spare time. Richard enjoys traveling with Ruth Ann both long and short trips, hiking and camping, weight lifting, music, playing pool, and watching movies. He likes to make friends with all dogs.
Stella
Cherished Dog Child of Dr. Ruth Ann and Richard
Stella joined the Wood-Humiston-Turner family in 2022 as a puppy. She is an Australian Shepherd. Stella is considered Richard and Dr. Ruth Ann’s four-legged furry child together since they married later in life.
She enjoys playing and running outside especially with her full biological brother, Dale (Richard and Ruth Ann’s granddog), hanging out with her dog sister, Missy, chasing squirrels, and accompanying Richard as he travels to his various meetings. She loves attention and affection.
Stella is the family early morning alarm clock, making sure everyone is awakened bright and early. She also makes sure she is fed right on time each day.
She likes special treats, especially doggy bones. Sometimes she likes to destroy shoes and pillows.
Stella is the mascot dog for Juke Box Hero, one of the talented bands in the area that practices at her home.
Jessica Turner
Assistant Manager – Pet Specialist
Jessica Turner is the assistant manager of Cherished Pets Funeral Home and Crematory. Prior to joining Cherished Pets, Jessica was a long-time employee in the funeral industry and worked at Walnut Lawn Funeral Home.
She is a valuable, kind and compassionate member of the Cherished Pets team. She is a Certified Pet Funeral Director, Certified Pet Bereavement Specialist, and ICCFA Certified Crematory Operator. Jessica is a pet owner and understands perfectly the overwhelming grief that happens when a cherished pet passes away.
Jessica assists Richard, the general manager, in overseeing all aspects of Cherished Pets, as well as training new team members. As an experienced funeral director, she regularly meets with families to plan special ceremonies to remember their pet family member.
Jessica grew up in the Springfield area and has been in the funeral business for over 20 plus years. Jessica is currently completing her degree in mortuary funeral science.
Jessica has one son Evan, who often accompanies her on long trips to escort those to be laid to rest at their designated cemetery. In her spare time she enjoys going to her son’s sporting events and time with family
Michael Humiston
Pet Specialist – IT Specialist, Transportation, and Crematory Tech
Michael is the son of Dr. Ruth Ann and joins the family as a third generation family member dedicated to serving our community when a family member passes away. His role at Cherished Pets Funeral Home and Crematory includes being the IT specialist, driver, and crematory tech.
Michael attended school in Republic K-12. He was very active in the band program with percussion instruments. Michael was also a part of the FFA.
Upon graduating from high school, Michael attended college at Missouri State University and Ozark Technical Community College.
Michael’s first dog was the family’s beloved Buddy, an Australian Shepard, who passed away in 2021 from cancer. Missy joined Buddy soon after to Michael’s family, then Stella just a few years ago. Michael has shown horses in the past, winning the National High Point Lead Line honor, however, he states that he would rather not “watch horses go around in circles at a horse show.” He does love a good horse race and spending time at the race track trying to choose the winners (no money being involved).
In Michael’s spare time, he enjoys playing video games. He has always been tasked with doing all the IT projects for his family.
Gabe Humiston
Pet Specialist and Crematory Operator
Gabe Humiston is Cherished Pets Funeral Home and Crematory preneed agent. He is the third generation family member in the funeral industry, following his grandparents and mother’s footsteps. He brings valuable skills and expertise in many supportive ways to better serve those who have passed away and their grieving families.
He has worked at Walnut Lawn Funeral Home, Ltd – DeGraffenreid-Wood Crematory for several years as a licensed preneed agent, licensed insurance agent, apprentice funeral director, and notary.
Gabe graduated from Republic High School where he was very active in FFA, receiving many awards and degrees, and achieving the highest prestigious National FFA American Degree.
Gabe is an avid outdoorsman. He enjoys raising, training and showing horses, with a world championship and a couple of reserve world championships to his name. Gabe’s furry and feather family members include Dale, his Australian Shepherd, barn cats, and chickens.
Debbie Stafford
Pet Specialist and Administrative Assistant
Debbie Stafford is a pet specialist and administrative assistant with Cherished Pets Funeral Home and Crematory. She joined the Cherished Pets team after a long tenure in the funeral industry as a well-known family counselor in her previous role with corporately-owned cemeteries in the Springfield area. Prior to a career in funeral service, Debbie managed three gift stores including the Gift Attic at the Battlefield Mall.
Pet families are fortunate to have Debbie at Cherished Pets with her vast amount of experience working with grieving families. She helps pet families in many capacities including planning for celebrations of life.
Pet families will appreciate Debbie’s caring and compassionate heart. Debbie has several pets herself that include cats and dogs. She has had a lizard and iguana as well that have passed away. She truly understands from experience that not only human family members grieve the passing of a loved one, but our pets do as well.
Debbie is a Springfield native. She has two daughters and a grandson.
Phillip Wright
Pet Chaplain
Phillip Wright is our designated pet chaplain here at Cherished Pets Funeral Home and Crematory. He has been one of our highly trusted and appreciated pastors and celebrants for families at Walnut Lawn Funeral Home for many years, with his comforting personalized messages to celebrate the lives of loved ones.
Phillip is a seasoned pastor with an unwavering commitment to faith and community. For nearly five decades, he has dedicated his life to challenging traditional religious boundaries and inspiring others to embrace love as the cornerstone of their lives. With a passion for fostering a loving and inclusive community, Phillip encourages his congregation to extend compassion and service to all.
Deeply influenced by the teachings of St. Francis, Phillip lives by these words, “Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission—to be of service to them wherever they require it.”
Phillip personally understands the grief of having a pet family member pass away, as his family loved Sprinkles, their family dog, who passed away.
Combining his many years of ministry as a spiritual leader and his personal understanding of pet grief, Phillip is available to be of support to conduct memorial and funeral services for pet family members.
Phillip is married to Denise, and they have two grown sons.
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