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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association, 6801 N. Broadway, Oklahoma City, OK (2026)

04/19/2026

Today, we pause to honor the funeral directors—the brave men and women who worked tirelessly in the aftermath of the April 19th Oklahoma City bombing.

Long after the headlines faded and the crowds dispersed, you remained. Sifting through rubble, carrying the weight of loss, and bringing dignity, care, and closure to families in their darkest hours. Your work was not for recognition, but for humanity.

Because of you, lives were honored. Because of you, families found peace. Because of you, a grieving city began to heal.

We will never forget your dedication, your compassion, and your unwavering commitment to serve when it mattered most. Thank You!

04/16/2026

📢SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT📢

Riley Smith is an Account Executive in the Association Risk Management Services department of Federated Insurance. Riley is responsible for managing Federated’s association and buying group partners in Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Riley earned his Bachelor’s degree at Baylor University, graduating in 2021. He joined Federated that same year, starting in June, where he was a successful marketing representative in Austin, Texas. Riley earned the trust of hundreds of business owners in the areas of safety, risk, and business management; focusing on value, service, and relationships.

Riley now resides in Fort Worth area with his wife, Cailin, and newborn son, Wesley. Riley is an avid college sports fan and enjoys a round of golf when he’s not working

Riley will be presenting on Tuesday, April 28th at 12 noon over Unmasking Commercial Insurance Fraud.

Register for the 123rd Annual Convention & Expo at https://www.okfda.com/aws/OKFDA/pt/sp/convention

04/15/2026

📢SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT📢

President of Financial Management, Inc., Harold has specialized in strategic financial planning for over 44 years, advising individual and corporate clients about their financial goals. He has concentrated in financial planning, asset allocation and portfolio management, retirement planning, estate planning, risk management design and analysis. He emphasizes personalized service and enjoys helping clients make informed decisions based on proven academic research. Harold also serves as a Fiduciary Consultant to foundations, trusts and corporate retirement plans.

Harold entered the financial services industry in 1982. Prior to 1982, he was a manager and marketing specialist with a Fortune 100 company. Harold joined FMI in 1986. Prior to joining FMI, he was vice president of a regional financial services firm, and from 1986 to 1993, was a managing executive for one of the nation’s largest financial services firms.

Harold is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst ® in association with the Center for Fiduciary Studies in Pittsburgh, PA. He is Registered Financial Consultant through the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants. He is a member of the Financial Planning Association, the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants and the Investment Management Consultants Association. Harold attended Millsaps College, The University of Southern Mississippi and Mississippi College.

Harold will be presenting on Tuesday, April 28th at 8:00 am over
Fiduciary Fundamentals for Business Owners.

Register for the 123rd Convention & Expo at https://www.okfda.com/aws/OKFDA/pt/sp/convention

04/15/2026

⛳🔥 Tee It Up at the OKFDA 123rd Annual Golf Tournament! 🔥⛳

Get ready to hit the course and kick off convention in style at the OKFDA Annual Golf Tournament!

🏌️‍♂️ Enjoy a great morning on the course 🤝 Connect with fellow professionals in a relaxed setting.
🌤️ Take in some fresh air before the convention officially gets underway
Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or just in it for the camaraderie, this is one event you won’t want to miss.

📅 Don’t forget—Golf Tournament kicks off Sunday morning at 9:00 am

Show up, swing big, and start your convention experience off right!

Register for Golf Only at https://www.okfda.com/aws/OKFDA/pt/sp/convention

04/14/2026

📢SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT📢

Ms. Tracey R. Bacon is a Mortuary Affairs Specialist with , Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations (AFMAO), Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. AFMAO is a Field Operating Agency under Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower, Personnel and Services, Headquarters Air Force. AFMAO has global responsibility for all Air Force mortuary matters for current and past conflicts, operates the nation's sole port mortuary and provides global contingency mortuary response teams in support of Air Force and combatant command requirements.

Ms. Bacon attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, IL. Ms. Bacon graduated in March of 2007 with an Associate of Applied Science in Mortuary Science. She also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Cameron University in Lawton, OK. Ms. Bacon served her apprenticeship with Justen Family Funeral homes in McHenry, Round Lake and Wonder Lake, IL. She has also worked in Florida. She has been licensed since 2007 and her most recent position is as a Mortician with AFMAO since August of 2023.

Ms. Bacon served in the U.S. Army. She retired as an E8 in September of 2017. Her last duty station prior to retirement was Fort Sill, OK where she served as a First Sergeant. Prior to joining AFMAO, Ms. Bacon worked for Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home in Lawton, OK. She is licensed as a Funeral Director and Embalmer in Oklahoma and Illinois.

Tracey's presentation of the History & Operations of Air Force Mortuary Affairs Office Dover, Delaware will be Monday, April 27th at 4:00 pm.

Register to hear Tracey speak at https://www.okfda.com/aws/OKFDA/pt/sp/convention

04/13/2026

The OKFDA 123rd Annual Convention & Expo is just TWO WEEKS away—and here’s a sneak peek at everything waiting for you!

📍 Hard Rock Hotel & Casino | Catoosa, OK
📅 April 26–28, 2026
We’ve built a schedule packed with education, connection, and unforgettable moments:

⛳ Sunday Kickoff – April 26 Start strong with the Golf Tournament, then dive into ethics CE sessions to get you thinking about the future of our profession. Wrap up the evening with a Campfire Social and Opening Party featuring a co****le tournament!

📚 Monday – April 27-A full day of growth and inspiration: • Restorative Art education • Memorial Service • Annual Business Meeting & Awards • Trade Show Exhibits • Air Force Mortuary Affairs presentation • Natural Organic Reduction session
End the night at the President’s Banquet—one of the most meaningful and memorable traditions of the year.

🔥 Tuesday – April 28-Finish strong with sessions focused on: • Retirement & fiduciary responsibilities • Risk management in funeral service • Final time in the Expo Hall • Past President’s Luncheon

💡 Earn continuing education, explore the latest innovations, honor traditions, and reconnect with colleagues from across Oklahoma—all in one place.
Two weeks. Three days. Endless opportunity.
Make your plans now—we’ll see you there!

04/13/2026

📢SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT📢

Professor Marty Ludlum teaches business law at the University of Central Oklahoma and is a licensed attorney. He has made numerous presentations on the funeral industry at state and national conventions and had articles in national and state funeral magazines. Professor Ludlum has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in economics, a Master’s degree in communication and a Juris Doctor, all from the University of Oklahoma. Professor Ludlum is the Education Director for Osiris Funeral Home Software.

Marty will present two hours of Ethics continuing education on Sunday, April 26th at 4:00 pm and at 5:00 pm.

Register to hear Marty speak at https://www.okfda.com/aws/OKFDA/pt/sp/convention

04/12/2026

In Memoriam

Jack William Adams, former longtime Nowata, Oklahoma resident, passed away in the early hours of Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at Sunrise of Overland Park, Kansas.

Jack William Adams, son of Raymond Adams and Cloe (Bybee) Adams, was born March 14, 1928, in Blackwell, Oklahoma. He grew up on a farm in the Morrison and Pawnee area of Oklahoma. He attended the Lela and New Lela elementary schools. He joined the Marines during his senior year at Pawnee High School. He was Recruiting Sergeant and never left the Continental United States during World War II. Jack married JoAnne Ramsey in 1948. They made their home in Enid, where Jack worked as an apprentice at a local funeral home. JoAnne supported the family as a long-distance telephone operator while Jack finished college, and she completed her accounting degree. In 1954, they moved to Nowata and Jack went to work at Benjamin Funeral Service as a licensed Embalmer and Funeral Director, a post he would hold as long as the firm continued to re-new his license (over 70 years). Jack admired and considered the fine people he worked with as his close friends. He was very proud of the Community and Nowata County. Even though Jack and JoAnne both (officially) retired on December 31, 1990, Jack continued to work when needed at the funeral home and managed to take English and Computer classes at Rogers State University for several semesters.

JoAnne passed away in 2010. Their daughter, Lynda Adams, died in 2013 as well as son-in-law, John Ware, and a brother, Charley, passing in 2004, a sister, Ilene Pershall, passing in 2021, and a brother, Gene, passing in 2024.

Jack is survived by a son, Daryl Adams and Todd Linden, of Independence, Kansas; a daughter, Virginia Ware, and her husband, Lee Lawrence of Edmond, Oklahoma; a daughter, Janice Cooper and her husband, Greg of Overland Park, Kansas; and a son, Bryan Adams and his wife, Cindy of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Grandchildren include: Ryan Ware and his wife, Meredith of Abilene, Texas; Melissa Dodson and her husband, Bart of Oklahoma City; Adam Cooper and his wife, Karlie of Overland Park; Holly Fisher and her husband, Quinten of Overland Park; and Anna Ruelberg and husband, Jeff of Olathe, Kansas; Cory Adams of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Justin Adams and his wife, Anna of Monroe, Louisiana; and Betsy Adams of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Great-grandchildren include: Blake, Graham, and Fletcher Ware of Abilene, Texas; Jane and Annie Dodson of Oklahoma City; Jackson and Lainey Cooper of Overland Park; Crosby, Cohen, and Miles Jack Fisher of Overland Park; Josie and Abby Ruelberg of Olathe, Kansas; and Ezra Adams of Monroe, Louisiana.

Jack’s other surviving siblings and relatives include: Kenneth (Suzanne) Adams of Owasso, OK; Sue Adams (Gene) of Owasso, OK; James Adams of Pawnee, OK; Virgil (Becky) Adams of Blue Springs, MO; Ruth McCray (Wayne) of Lubbock, TX; Lila Siler (George) of Broken Arrow, OK; and many nieces and nephews.

A visitation for Jack will be held on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at Benjamin Funeral Service, 114 W Cherokee Ave, Nowata, OK 74048, from 1:00 PM until 6:00 PM, with Jack's family present from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM to receive guests. Funeral services for Jack will be held on Monday, April 13, 2026, at 10:00 AM at the Hillside Christian Church with Van Longbons officiating. Interment will follow at the Nowata Re-located Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Arnold Moore & Neekamp Funeral Home and Cremation Services in conjunction with Benjamin Funeral Service. Online condolences for Jack may be left at www.honoringmemoriesbartlesville.com.

04/11/2026

📢OKFDA SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT📢

Dominick J. Astorino holds degrees in cellular biology, mortuary science, and forensic medicine; he is on faculty at the Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago and Wayne State University in Detroit, where he teaches courses in embalming, restorative art, and pathology.

His work in the field of restorative art and embalming is highlighted by publications as well as frequent invitations to present lectures across North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Dominick believes in the power of education and the global value that viewing the dead offers to society. Because of this core belief he has worked to improve the standards of care not just in the United States but also in places such as Kenya, Trinidad, Hong Kong, and South Africa. He is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in Michigan and Illinois, has sat on the restorative art curriculum review committee for the American Board of Funeral Service Education, and offers expert witness testimony in legal proceedings related to mortuary science.

Dominick is fully committed to elevating educational standards and fostering a deeper understanding of restorative art, especially as it correlates to embalming and forensic medicine. He is the author of the textbook Postmortem Restorative Art: Principles, Methods & Applications, which has been described as a seminal work in the field of mortuary science. This textbook reflects over 20 years of research and practical experience aiming to provide an accessible yet thorough examination of restorative art.

Come hear Dominick speak on "The Relevance of Restorative Art" on April 27th at 8:00 am and earn 2 hours of CE.

Register at https://www.okfda.com/aws/OKFDA/pt/sp/convention

04/10/2026

OKFDA 123rd Annual Convention – Your Questions Answered (and You Might Be Surprised…)

Q: How many continuing education hours can I earn at convention?

A: Surprise—you can earn up to 15 hours of continuing education all in one place!

Q: What kind of educational opportunities will be offered?

A: Sessions range from Ethics all the way to Natural Organic Reduction, giving you a full spectrum of timely, relevant education you won’t find anywhere else.

Q: Who should attend?

A: Everyone — whether you’re a seasoned professional or newer to the field, there’s something here for everyone in funeral service.

Q: Is it only about education?

A: Not even close. Beyond the CE hours, you’ll find meaningful connections, valuable conversations, and access to top industry vendors.

Q: Why should I attend?

A: Because opportunities like this don’t come around often—and when they do, you don’t want to miss them.

Make your plans now for the OKFDA 123rd Annual Convention—you might just walk away with more than you expected.

Register now at https://www.okfda.com/aws/OKFDA/pt/sp/convention

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04/10/2026

📢OKFDA SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT📢

Richard Benton is a seasoned financial executive and entrepreneur with deep experience modernizing the funeral industry. He currently serves as the Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer of Sustainable Funeral Group, a next-generation, end-of-life services platform with the mission to provide natural organic reduction to (NOR) families across the country.

Previously, Richard co-founded Foundation Partners Group in 2010, helping build the company into the second-largest funeral and cemetery consolidator in the United States. As CFO, he played a central role in the company’s growth strategy, raising more than $100 million in private and institutional equity and securing $350 million in senior credit facilities. He led and executed over $200 million in M&A transactions across multiple markets, overseeing acquisition diligence, financing structures, and post-transaction integration.

Richard started his career as a Senior Auditor at Deloitte & Touche LLP, where he advised clients on financial reporting, compliance, and internal controls.

Richard holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, graduating with Honors from Florida State University. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the state of Florida.

Richard will be speaking on April 27th at 5:00 pm on the "History of Natural Organic Reduction"

Register for the convention at https://www.okfda.com/aws/OKFDA/pt/sp/convention

04/09/2026

📢OKFDA SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT📢

Will Bischoff is Senior VP-Strategic Markets for Homesteaders Life Company. He is
responsible for working with distribution partners and funeral home owners to implement
preneed strategies for long-term success. Prior to joining Homesteaders in 2015, Bischoff
served as the Vice President of Sales and Business Development for Forethought Financial
Group and Operations Controller and Vice President of Corporate Development for
Keystone Group Holdings. He earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from Spring Hill
College and his MBA in corporate finance from University of Tampa, John H. Sykes College
of Business. In 2022, Bischoff was appointed as a trustee for the Funeral Service
Foundation.

Come hear Will speak on “Planning for What’s Next: A Financial Roadmap for Funeral Business Owners" on April 28th at 11:00 am

Register for the 123rd Convention & Expo by going to https://www.okfda.com/aws/OKFDA/pt/sp/convention

Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association

04/19/2026

04/16/2026

04/15/2026

04/15/2026

04/14/2026

04/13/2026

04/13/2026

04/12/2026

04/11/2026

04/10/2026

04/10/2026

04/09/2026

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Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm