Michael Humiston

Co-manager

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 in their aftercare businesses – for both pet and human.

His role at Cherished Pets Funeral Home and Crematory is as co-manager as he is the primary person who orchestrates all areas of Cherished Pets such as: Team administrative duties, IT specialist, primary crematory operator, removal tech, driver, and engraver specialist. Michael is also very helpful at Walnut Lawn Funeral Home, Cherished Pets Funeral Home and Crematory sister location, as a removal tech and assist crematory operator, and other tasks needed for support of the team.

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 racetrack trying to choose the winners (no money being involved).

In Michael’s spare time, he enjoys playing video games. He also enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, Emma. Michael is always the go-to person to do all the IT projects for his family.

Debbie Stafford

Co-manager

Pet Specialist and Administrative Assistant

Debbie Stafford has many roles at Cherished Pets Funeral Home. She shares managing duties with Michael Humiston due her extensive experience and tenure in the funeral industry and business management. She is the pet specialist who generally answers the phone at Cherished Pets and is the first voice that many grieving families speak to as a caring and gentle pet specialist.

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. Debbie has laid many pets to rest at the corporate cemetery, Lakeland Pet Cemetery. 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, as well as just that person that all of us can depend upon to give hugs or encouraging words to help us through a difficult grief journey and otherwise.

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.

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

Angela Lance

Angela Lance is a pet specialist at Cherished Pets Funeral Home and Crematory, welcoming pet families and working with them directly to plan a personalized service for their pet family member.

Angela brings a wealth of career experience to Cherished Pets Funeral Home and Crematory. She spent 10 years in the United States Air Force before being honorably discharged. Afterwards, Angela went to CCAF and studied administration and criminal law. She has been a business owner, studied under a dog trainer and gained valuable experience and knowledge, worked for a funeral home here in Springfield, as well as took an amazing opportunity with Google from 2016 – 2023 and traveled the United States, going to 26 states in 3 months.

She is a native of Springfield. Angela is a mother of two human children, Katelynn and Christopher, grandson, Ryker, and one fur baby.

The family’s fur baby Nala is a 1-year old Great Dane Pitbull mix. Angela shares that Nala is the sweetest baby, without a doubt a mama’s girl. In the past two years the family has, unfortunately, lost two dogs, which has been very difficult and a big adjustment.

Angela feels very honored to be a part of such a wonderful much needed concept as Cherished Pets. She looks forward to meeting the pet parents and doing everything she can to help with the loss of their furry children and making sure they are treated with the respect they so deserve.

Drew Arnold

Pet Specialist

Drew Arnold is a pet specialist at Cherished Pets Funeral Home and Crematory. He is a well-rounded specialist in many different areas at Cherished Pets from bringing pets respectfully into our care, being the lead person in the crematory and special services areas, as well as working with pet families and assisting with administrative support details.

He was born and raised in Kansas City, MO, and upon his teenage years, his family traveled and relocated frequently, seeing much of the United States. Drew moved to Springfield recently to be closer to his family. He has a twin sister, Deven, who he enjoys pranking.

Drew played sports when younger including martial arts, wrestling, and baseball. He continues today as a true sports fan with his favorite sports of football and baseball, which may have been due to growing up a mile outside of Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadiums.

One of his favorite childhood memories was going to the Kansas City Plaza during the holiday season to see the Christmas lights with his family.

Drew brings a vast amount of experience in various fields to Cherished Pets including customer service and security in the health care field. He works part-time at Cherished Pets’ sister location, Walnut Lawn Funeral Home and Crematory, as a support technician.

He has had family pets throughout his lifetime. Drew recently experienced a pet passing away, so that he understands the associated grief and life changes with that. His favorite family pets are large-breed dogs.

Carolyn Hoskins

Pet Specialist and Administrative Assistant

Carolyn Hoskins is a pet specialist and administrative assistant at Cherished Pets Funeral Home and Crematory who brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her role in assisting with marketing and administrative details. She has been a long-time business owner, starting her first business in 1996.

Dr. Ruth Ann and Carolyn have been long-time friends and colleagues in their respectful ownership of childcare businesses and accreditation team review members in the childcare industry. They both loved caring for young children in their early childhood businesses while also being with their own children. Like Dr. Ruth Ann, Carolyn sold her childcare business after over 20 years of ownership.

She continues working with her husband in real estate and property development ventures while balancing her role at Cherished Pets.

Carolyn has been married for 31 years and has six children ranging in age from 13 to 33, and four grandchildren and one on the way. She is also a pet parent to three kitty cats. They are Mama Cat, Oreo and Sunny. Carolyn is a strong believer in Family First.

She was born and raised in Springfield. Carolyn loves the Ozarks, and believes it is one of the most beautiful areas of the United States. She has watched Springfield grow and change into the bustling metropolis it is today. Carolyn is excited to now be a part of the Cherished Pets Funeral Home team, stating “This is a sweet service that is long overdue.”

Gabe Humiston

Pet Specialist and Crematory Operator

Gabe Humiston is a pet specialist at Cherished Pets Funeral Home and Crematory. He is the third-generation family member in the funeral industry, following in the footsteps of his grandparents and mother. 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. Gabriel assists in many other ways in supportive roles especially when it comes to construction-type projects.

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.

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.