Our Staff
Our staff is comprised of dedicated and licensed professionals with the experience to answer all your questions regarding our services. Please feel free to contact any of our staff members at any time.
Licensed Staff
Tyler W. McGriff
Funeral Director/Embalmer - Owner
Tyler was born in Carbondale, Illinois and grew up in his hometown of Ava, Illinois. He later moved to Carbondale with his mother and graduated from the Carbondale Community High School. Tyler then attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mortuary Science and Funeral Service, graduating in May of 2016. Tyler has worked in and around funeral service since he was 15 years old saying "I just felt that this is what I’m suppose to do" and has been honored to serve families ever since. He has worked for many different funeral homes over the years and learned different things from many good teachers. Most recently Tyler was employed by Wilson Funeral Home in Ava and Steeleville, Illinois for the past 4 years. Tyler is honored to have the opportunity to purchase the Triplett & Neal Funeral Homes and to help the families of the Louisville, Kinmundy and surrounding areas, during their time of greatest need. Tyler is humbled and thankful to be able to help all the families that call upon him.
Tyler is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, Illinois Funeral Directors Association, and the Illinois Farm Bureau. He a licensed life insurance producer, a Certified Crematory Operator, and a Illinois Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer.
Tyler grew up and spent a lot of time in and around the Ava area where his family owns and operates a grain and cattle farm. Tyler likes to spend as much free time as he can around the farm and in the outdoors.
Telephone: 1-618-665-3100
Robert E. Bruns
Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer
KINMUNDY LOCATION MANAGER
Robert graduated from La Harpe High School in 1973. He then received a bachelor's degree in animal science from Western Illinois University in Macomb in 1977. He was involved in the agriculture industry up until 2004. It was at this time Robert decided to pursue a degree in mortuary science. He attended Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg and graduated in 2005. In that same year, Robert moved to Louisville and began working for the late Jack Neal.
Robert and his wife, Cindy, live in Louisville. They were married in 1975 and have been blessed with four children and twelve grandchildren. The Bruns's are both active members of Red Brush Christian Church where Robert serves as a church elder. He is involved with the Louisville Rotary Club and also with the North Clay FFA Alumni. His wife Cindy teaches at Full Armor Christian Academy; after her retirement from the public school system. In their spare time they enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren.
Charles L. Ebersohl
Consultant - Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer
Chuck was raised in Murphysboro, Illinois. After serving 6 years in the United States Air Force, he began his career as an orderly at the Jackson County Nursing Home in Murphysboro. While there he completed schooling as an LPN. Drawn to funeral service, he began working at Pettett Funeral Home in Murphysboro, as a funeral director assistant. At the urging of the owner Gene Pettett , Chuck enrolled at the Harold Washington College in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Pettett asked him to go to Chicago for the experience he would obtain training at the Cook County Morgue. He was so right. Returning to Pettett Funeral Home as a licensed funeral director and embalmer. He began a 33 year career in funeral service, retiring in 2019. Chuck and his wife Deanna over the years have been mentors and close personal friends of Tyler. They feel honored to help him in any capacity at the funeral home they can.
Christopher T. Triplett
Consultant - Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer
Chris was raised in Staunton, Illinois, and is a multi-generational funeral director and embalmer. He graduated from St. Louis Community College at Forest Park in 2003 with an A.A.S. degree in mortuary science. Chris graduated as class valedictorian and was the recipient of the FSAB award for highest merit in embalming and restorative art upon graduation. Chris has also served as a clinical embalming instructor for many mortuary science students over his career.
He is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the state of Illinois as well as in British Columbia, Canada, and is a member of the Illinois Funeral Director's Association and is an accepted member of The British Institute of Embalmers.
Chris and his wife Sandra attend The United Methodist Church of Louisville. Chris is a 3rd degree Master Mason and an active member of both Kinmundy Lodge AF & AM #398 and Flora Lodge AF & AM #204. He is also a member of the Louisville Rotary Club and the B.P.O.E. lodge of Flora #1659.
Some of his hobbies include collecting vinyl music albums, collecting GI Joe toys, working out, classic professional wrestling and is a self proclaimed Three Stooges buff.
Chris and his wife Sandra are honored to serve the families of Louisville, Kinmundy and the surrounding communities of Clay and Marion counties; continuing the legacy of the Linton and Neal families for many years to come.
Non-Licensed Staff
Ron Payne
Funeral Service Associate
Ron Payne started grade school in Clay City and graduated from Salem High School in 1965. Ron then went on to attend a graduate from Lincoln Christian College. In the middle of his freshman year of college, and at the age of 18, he was called upon to serve as minister for the Ingraham Christian Church; an appointment he would hold for 47 years retiring in 2013.
Ron later moved to Louisville and accepted a position as Pastoral Minister at Red Brush Christian Church, working with senior citizens, teaching a weekly Hispanic bible study class and pastoring where needed.
Ron began working for the late John Neal Sr and later with the late Jack Neal. After Ron's retirement in 2013, he began working more extensively with the funeral homes. He has also been called upon many times over the years to pastor families who did not have a pastor or church affiliation.
Ron and his wife Shirley (Stanley) are proud parents of three children; Matt Payne who lives and works in Portland, Oregon as a trainer in the technology industry, Becky Payne who owns and operates Grace & Truth Counseling in Louisville and Abbey Brenneman, who along with her husband Chad, own and operate the Pizza Ranch Restaurant in Wentzville, Missouri. Ron and Shirley have six grandchildren.
Ron is honored to serve families and is also glad to help support Chris & Sandra Triplett with the continued smooth operation of the funeral homes. Ron perceives working at the funeral homes as a needed ministry for many and is thankful that he can be of service to those experiencing grief during the worst times in life.
Terry McKnelly
Funeral Service Associate
Terry McKnelly has lived west of Louisville since 1968. He grew up and attended grade school in Bible Grove and later graduated from Clay City High School in 1965.
Terry spent most of his working years at World Color Press in Effingham for 30 years before his retirement. He had later worked as a custodian for North Clay School District where Terry was able to see his grandchildren on a daily basis.
Terry said "One day, Jack Neal asked me to help with a funeral. Little did I know that I would still be assisting with funerals and helping families to this day. I feel this is a service that I can do for a family at their time of loss".
Terry and his wife Linda have two children; Steve & Tara and are blessed with five grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Gene Birch
Funeral Service Associate
Gene has lived in North Clay County all his life, in the Bible Grove Area. He is married to Helen Birch, and he has two daughters, Jena and Amanda, and several grandchildren. Gene was raised on a farm and still have a farm today, and has been a minister for 11 years now. "I have always had the compassion to help people so this continues and is good ministry working here at the McGriff Funeral Homes."
Tony Wimberly
Funeral Service Associate/Maintenance
Tony and his wife Barbie have lived in the Kinmundy area for their entire lives.
Tony is a 1982 graduate of Salem Community High School. He moved back to Kinmundy in 1989 after living in Salem for a period of time. They have two sons; Jared & Caleb Wimberly.
Tony is very involved in the community, currently he is serving as a councilman for the city of Kinmundy, vice-president of the Kinmundy Log Cabin Village and is on the board of directors at the Kinmundy Historical Society.
Tony believes in helping others and enjoys making new friends. He is very proud to assist the Triplett family in the operation of the funeral home. Tony put it best, "It's about serving the community we live in".
Sandra R. Triplett
Consultant
Sandy grew up in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta Canada. Sandra later moved to Vancouver Island in British Columbia where she graduated from the Canadian College of Funeral Service in 2008.
Sandy decided to become a funeral director because she wanted to make a difference in funeral service, to help and to serve others as she herself would want. She holds a Funeral Director and Embalmers license in British Columbia. Sandy owned and operated a successful funeral home on Vancouver Island for nearly 10 years until the decision was made by her and her husband to transition to Illinois and purchase the J.W. Neal Funeral Homes.
Sandy has a professional arts background with a passion for fine arts. Her interests include traveling, history, nostalgia, and antiques. Sandy is also an orchid expert and raises many different beautiful varieties including some very rare and exotic orchid types throughout the year, some of which can be found in funeral homes.
Sandy enjoys meeting and visiting with people and can strike up a conversation with just about anyone she meets. Sandy attends the United Methodist Church of Louisville and is a member of The Louisville Rotary Club.
She and her husband Chris are poised to provide excellent service to the families of the local communities for years to come.
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