The knowledgeable staff of Laurel Oaks Funeral Home and Memorial Park are passionate about providing families guidance and support during the funeral planning process as well as long after the funeral. Together, we can honor your loved one’s life while beginning your grief journey.


Emily Bearden

President & CEO

  

I am honored to follow in the footsteps of my father (the late Hugh G. Bearden II) and grandparents (the late Hugh G. Bearden and Maxine Bearden) by serving families in the DFW metroplex at their time of need. My family has a long-standing history of helping families in the area honor their loved ones through pre-need and at-need funeral services and celebrations of life. I strive to perpetuate my father's legacy of providing individuals with the support they need during their toughest times.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

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Summer Pierce General Manager
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Jennifer Rankin Office Manager
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Shannon Bunch Funeral Director
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Carmen Perales Funeral Director/Provisional Embalmer
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Frances Duzick Funeral Director
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Dean Barker Management Consultant
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Erick Thompson Embalmer
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David Marlow Embalmer
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Irene Rodriguez Receptionist
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Veronica Martinez Mortuary Clerk
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Albert Gonzalez Family Service Counselor
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Erin Villa Funeral Assistant
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Malone Jackson Funeral Assistant
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Vanessa Castro Funeral Assistant
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Thomas Jackson Funeral Assistant
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Octavio Sepulveda Funeral Home Runner
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Gilbert Escamilla Funeral Assistant
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Lidia Keith Funeral Assistant
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Mirian Centeno Domestic Engineer
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Vicente Alonso Park Superintendent
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Benjamin Esequen Park Staff
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Rafael Hernandez Park Staff
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Alex Patzan Xetey Park Staff
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Juan Rodriguez Park Staff
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Teofilo Sec Park Staff
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Eliecer Xetey Park Staff

Summer Pierce

General Manager
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Jennifer Rankin

Office Manager
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I grew up in Elmo, TX and attended Wills Point schools. I currently live in Terrell, TX. I enjoy working at Laurel Oaks because the staff is like family. I have 2 daughters, Jaden who attends UTA and Jersey who is a senior at North Forney High School. I enjoy spending time with my kids and traveling with my friends.

Shannon Bunch

Funeral Director
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I was born and raised in Barbourville, KY where I grew up singing and playing the piano in local churches.  As I continued pursuing a music career I also worked as a funeral attendant in my hometown for several years.  While I still travels nationally as a gospel music recording artist I am currently enrolled in Amarillo College Mortuary Program where I will receive my funeral director’s certificate in 2021.  I’m honored to be an employee at Laurel Oaks Funeral Home .  I love the families we serve.  I strive each day to share God’s love and compassion to those who are experiencing the loss of a loved one. 

Carmen Perales

Funeral Director/Provisional Embalmer
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I was born in Tampico, Tamps., Mexico and raised in Dallas, Texas. I received a bachelor’s degree in art history from the University of North Texas in 2005. I worked for a nonprofit law firm for twelve years before changing career paths. I graduated from the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in September 2020. I am a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Dallas 44 Lodge. I rediscovered my passion for helping others while working at Laurel Oaks. I love serving families in our community and being able to provide a sense of comfort during their difficult times. In my spare time, I love traveling with my husband and spending time with family, friends and our two small fur babies, Rumi and Vera.

Frances Duzick

Funeral Director
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I am from the Dallas area and love to serve the surrounding communities. I am a graduate of Dallas Institute of Funeral Service with my Associates of Applied Science in Funeral Service and hold a licenses in funeral directing, a provisional liceense in embalming as well as my crematory operator license. My passion has always been helping others and I have found great honor in caring for families and their loved ones. Laurel Oaks Funeral Home has welcomed me with welcome arms and I enjoy working with my team.

Dean Barker

Management Consultant
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I have been in the funeral industry for over 40 years and the highlight of my career is the opportunity to be general manager here at Laurel Oaks.  Our goal is to provide the highest of professionalism and standards expected by the families we serve. I owe all the credit to every employee and their effort for us to be successful.  I am a graduate of the University of Iowa and the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service.  I was honored to serve our country with the army during the Vietnam War at the US Mortuary in Saigon, Vietnam.  I am a member of the Rotary Club of Mesquite.  My wife, Patty, and I live in Sunnyvale and have 2 wonderful children and 4 terrific grandchildren.  I enjoy “escaping” with my piano playing and working in my yard.

Erick Thompson

Embalmer
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David Marlow

Embalmer
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Irene Rodriguez

Receptionist
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I was born and raised here in Dallas, Texas. I am the proud daughter of a U.S. Navy veteran who served in the Korean War. In 1985, I married and now have five loving adult children and am a grandmother of eleven grandchildren and three great-granddaughters. At Laurel Oaks, I am the bilingual Funeral Home receptionist and I truly enjoy my work here very much. 

After losing my son in 2019 and my father shortly thereafter, I lost all confidence, but God has given me peace and comfort since coming here to Laurel Oaks Funeral Home, knowing I’m not alone in my pain. I look forward to contributing my best service for many years ahead, as it is an honor to serve the families and a blessing to help others in the time of the loss of a loved one - 2 Corinthians 1:3-8.

Outside of work, I enjoy peaceful quiet time with God and seek Him at my every opportunity. I also enjoy the outdoors: camping, traveling, gardening, not to mention cooking, watching football - Go Cowboys! - and, most importantly, spending time with my family.

Veronica Martinez

Mortuary Clerk
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I grew up in Grand Prairie, TX and I am currently enrolled in NTCC to earn my AAS. I cannot think of a better career path for myself.

 

"To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world."

----Dr. Seuss

Albert Gonzalez

Family Service Counselor
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Erin Villa

Funeral Assistant
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Malone Jackson

Funeral Assistant
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Vanessa Castro

Funeral Assistant
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Thomas Jackson

Funeral Assistant
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Octavio Sepulveda

Funeral Home Runner
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Gilbert Escamilla

Funeral Assistant
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I was born in Dallas, Texas on January 2, 1943 as the third of seven children and have spent my life in Dallas. I graduated from North Dallas High School in 1963. After high school, I went to work in tailoring until 1973, when I changed careers and went to work with Western Electric, AT&T, and Lucent until the plant closed. I worked for Dallas ISD for sixteen years until I retired and came to work for Laurel Oaks part time. I am the proud father of five children - two boys and three girls; eleven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. I enjoy fishing, refinishing furniture, gardening, cooking, and going to the gym.

Lidia Keith

Funeral Assistant
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Mirian Centeno

Domestic Engineer
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Vicente Alonso

Park Superintendent
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Benjamin Esequen

Park Staff
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Rafael Hernandez

Park Staff
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Alex Patzan Xetey

Park Staff
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Juan Rodriguez

Park Staff
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Teofilo Sec

Park Staff
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Eliecer Xetey

Park Staff
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