Today we’d like to introduce you to Jarrah Crotty Gaskins.
Hi Jarrah, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Debra Crotty the founder of Crotty Funeral Home and Cremation Services. I was a Cosmetologist and a single mother. I worked at JC Pennys in The Temple Mall and went across the street to enquire about doing hair at Sheffield Funeral Home. The director said that I should consider as a female and a hairstylist I should consider being a Funeral Director. The next thing I know I was enrolled in Dallas Funeral institute. I took my toddler Jarrah with me and after graduation in 1996 I ended up working my first job at Harper Talasek and Hewitt Funeral Home in Temple and eventually I managed three dignity locations owned by SCI corporations Sheffield that became Crawford Bowers, Condra Funeral Home in Taylor and Goodnight Funeral Home in Bartlett. . I then decided to work for independent funeral homes. I managed Killeen Memorial in Killeen and Heritage Funeral Home in Harker Heights. I decided I had worked for enough corporations and independents and decided to open my own in 2011. Crotty Funeral Home & Cremation Services. Just a small building on 190. My toddler was now a young woman. I sent her to Dallas Funeral Institution and eventually made her my business partner. Jarrah has been a blessing to my business. We work perfectly together me being old School and her new technology minded. She was the one that came up with having Libby our Funeral Dog. I was so proud she. Chose to follow my footsteps. I guess you could say she’s been to Mortuary School twice once as a toddler with me and then for herself.
We kept growing and in 2014 we obtained the military contract caring for all the fallen soldiers and shipping them home all over the US. We out grew our little funeral home and decided to go big or go home. We built a big beautiful Funeral home as we worked out of my motor home during the renovations.. we also built a fellowship hall with a full kitchen for families to be able to have their funeral and meal in same building. Our Chapel went from 65 to now 350 occupancy. We also have a new parking lot. We are so proud of our new location. We have now 4 funeral directors and an apprentice that will become licensed in May.
My daughter also married a funeral director that has three mortuaries in Temple Waco and FtWorth. We have our own Pet Crematory called Furever Pets something Jarrah and I have always been compassionate about. I have five adoptive children and Jarrah has 5 so hopefully we are raising future Funeral Directors.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Being a woman in a man’s field when I began was hard. I had to fight my way to the top. Being a widow and single mother is hard. Working out of a motorhome was rough.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Being a cosmetologist, a funeral director and embalmer has definitely helped my career. Jarrah and I are known for our restoration and cosmetic skills. We have made plenty of closed caskets open. We have worked through the night to do our best to give a family a last viewing.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
We are not a corporation and we treat families like our own . We step out of the box when it comes to personalization. We are known sadly for specializing in Children services . Maybe for making Cinderella carriages or our whole staff wearing super hero shirts. Wrapping caskets to look like a fire truck with lights and sounds as the casket is lowering. We are very creative for the children. Last month a little boy loved the cartoon Trash Truck . I made a photo for the parents of him in the cartoon truck it was blown up and displayed at the funeral.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Crottyfh.com
- Facebook: Crotty Funeral Home & Cremation Services
