Our History
The Cremation Center of Southern Utah was founded in December, 2009. At the time, other mortuaries in the area were shying away from and even discouraging cremation. Our desire was to create a unique, warm, and caring environment where cremation was not only encouraged, but embraced.
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Russell Atkin, Owner/Funeral Director
Russ was born and raised in Cedar City, UT. He graduated from Cedar High School in 1994 and began his funeral service apprenticeship in 1999. Russ graduated with a degree in Mortuary Science from Cypress College in 2000, and worked the following year at Cannon Mortuary in Salt Lake City, UT. Russ has been a funeral director in St. George since 2002 and an owner of Serenity Funeral Home and the Cremation Center of Southern Utah since 2009.Russ and his wife, Jacqui, are the parents of five children. Russ has more hobbies than free time. He enjoys scuba diving, canyoneering, trials bike riding, 4-wheeling, hiking, hunting, participating in an occasional 5k or triathlon, and spending time with his family.The demands of being a funeral director can be intense, but Russ truly enjoys helping people and strives to be a source of comfort during a difficult time.
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Larry Lee Hansen, Owner/Funeral Director
Larry Hansen was raised in Rupert, ID, where his family owned and lived above their funeral home, Hansen Mortuary. Larry attended mortuary school at the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service, and upon graduation he returned to work with his dad, Arvin, at Hansen Mortuary. They later purchased a second location in Burley, ID. Larry and his wife, Sheri, have four children and two grandchildren. Larry originally became involved with Serenity Funeral Home in Draper, Utah, but it was his ultimate goal to move his family to St. George, and he was thrilled when that came to fruition. Larry and Sheri love living here in this amazing community. Sheri works for the Washington County School District in Transportation.Larry is a triathlon competitor and began his love of racing 29 years ago. Larry says it’s important to have a hobby and something to take your mind off work. He has competed in the Spudman Triathlon in Idaho every year for the past 29 years. He is a two-time Ironman 70.3 finisher, and has completed two St. George Marathons. The year 1999 was busy for Larry, as he competed twice in the Iron Man, 12 triathlons, and 8 mountain bike races. At that time, he was rated #4 in his Rocky Mountain bike division.
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Robert Hunsaker, Funeral and Cremation Preplanning Consultant
Employee Snapshot - Meet Robert J. Hunsaker. Robert has been involved in the funeral industry his entire life. His father was a funeral director and his family lived in a funeral home when he was born. The summer he turned 14, he began his service in the death care industry working in groundskeeping at a local cemetery in Ogden, Utah.By the time he was in high school, Robert was assisting with viewings and other services at the funeral home. He continued to work part-time for the funeral home while in college. Robert earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from Weber State University in 1988. He has held many positions in the funeral industry, including: Sales Representative, Batesville Casket Company; Vice President, Great Western Insurance Company; Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, Sinosource International (an import urn and casket company); and President, Hunsaker Partners which owned three funeral homes (Southern Cremations & Funerals) and three cemeteries in the Metro Atlanta area. He is currently serving as President of CANA (Cremation Association of North America) and an industry leader in the funeral/cremation profession.Robert has been married to Debra George Hunsaker for 33 years and they reside in Washington. They have three children: Jenna (28), J.R. (25), and Jett (23). He enjoys fishing, golfing, hunting, and doing anything outdoors. He also loves to travel and spend time with his family.Robert finds great satisfaction in educating families and helping them proactively plantheir final arrangements, which he considers a great gift to their families. He also feels it is a sacred trust to help families during some of the most difficult days of their lives and often establishes lasting relationships with those he serves. We are thrilled to have Robert join our pre-planning team.
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Hailey N. Fisher, Apprentice
Hailey was born and raised right here in Washington, UT. She was a varsity swimmer in high school, and her favorite event was freestyle. She graduated from Pineview High School in 2020. Due to Covid restrictions, Hailey didn’t have the experience of a “regular” graduation ceremony. Instead, she was filmed walking across the stage to receive her diploma with only her parents in attendance. Sadly, she and her classmates missed out on all of the fun activities usually associated with the end of senior year.Hailey is the first in her family to pursue the funeral profession. She is the youngest in her family and is the only girl. She has two brothers, one who is deceased. Hailey says that her parents are her best friends and she loves them dearly.When Hailey was 11 years old, her brother committed suicide. Going through such a traumatic event at a young age impacted Hailey’s future, and she knew from then on that she wanted to help people in the same manner that the funeral home helped her family. Hailey knew that she wanted to become a funeral director, and she has never wavered in her decision. Because of her experience, Hailey has a great deal of empathy and compassion for all families facing the loss of a loved one. She understands their pain and is well-equipped to assist them during a difficult time.Hailey relates that one of the best parts of her job is caring for the deceased and preparing them to be viewed by their loved ones. She understands just how important it is for families to have the opportunity to view their loved one for the last time in a comforting, presentable way. She believes that this experience is invaluable and helps families work through their grief in a proper and healthy manner. Hailey is a strong and resilient individual. Her hobbies include yoga, meditation, snowboarding (Eagle Point is her favorite ski resort), and working out at the gym.
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Ted Stromness, Funeral and Cremation Preplanning Consultant
Ted has lived in St. George for 32 years. His unique last name is Norwegian. “Ness” refers to farm, and “Strom” refers to the stream that flows through the farm. The town of Stromness on the Orkney Islands lies off the coast of Scotland, and Ted had the opportunity to visit his town namesake in 2005. Ted has 4 daughters and 13 grandchildren.He is a model railroader with an impressive collection. One of his model trains is a pre-war streamliner and is approximately 90 years old. It was his father’s train when he was a boy. Ted loves to travel and garden.Ted retired from the banking industry after 42 years and was not planning on joining the funeral profession, but did so five years ago as a Funeral and Preplanning Consultant. He says the best part of his job is growing close to the families he helps in a short period of time - it’s a very rewarding experience.
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Lynn Chamberlain, Funeral and Cremation Preplanning Consultant
Lynn was born and raised in Hurricane, UT, and graduated from Hurricane High School. He served a mission to the Philippines, studied at SUU (formerly SUSC), and married Kay Heideman. Lynn attended the Brooks Institute of Photographic Arts and Science and graduated with a BA in Commercial Photography. After moving back to Toquerville in 1981, Lynn started a photography business. Lynn taught Biology at Hurricane High School for four years. Lynn later went to work for the Division of Wildlife, managing public relations for Southwestern Utah for 26 years. He hosted a weekly radio show entitled, “The Wild Side.” Lynn also hosted a TV show from 2005-2006 entitled, “Outdoor Photo Adventures.”After retirement (which wasn’t really a retirement), Lynn became a hospice chaplain and had many spiritual experiences with the patients he assisted. He has been the Mayor of Toquerville since 2018, and he teaches digital photography at Dixie State University. Lynn has worked as a Funeral and Preplanning Consultant with Serenity Funeral Home for the last four years. Lynn has been married to Kay for 45 years, has five grown children, and will soon have 23 grandchildren.
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Kristen Bowler, Secretary
Kristen was born and raised in St. George and graduated from Pine View High School. Several years ago, she earned an Associate of Science Degree from Dixie State University. Kristen has been married to Scott Bowler for 27 years, and together they have five children. Kristen is our amazing secretary at Serenity Funeral Home and was previously employed with the Washington County School District. She loves any outdoor activity, particularly spending time at the beach. She loves being a mom - her oldest is 26 and her youngest is 10. Kristen was initially a little nervous to join the funeral business, but she loves her job. She believes it takes a special kind of person to work in this profession - someone that loves what they do and is innately compassionate.
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Kerry T. Gubler, Funeral and Cremation Preplanning Consultant
Kerry was born and raised in LaVerkin. He married Patricia Barrick, who is from Hurricane, and together they have eight children. Kerry had a successful career in the insurance business and has served twice as the Mayor of LaVerkin. As a Funeral and Preplanning Consultant, Kerry enjoys helping people with their needs in the funeral business.Kerry has been actively engaged in church service his entire life and greatly enjoyed serving twice as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kerry has served as a bishop and understands the pain and difficulty experienced by those dealing with the loss of a loved one.
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Trent Hansen, Funeral Service Professional
Trent was born and raised in Burley, ID, where he graduated from Burley High School. He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in St. Louis, MO. Trent enjoyed that part of the country; however, he also learned that he likes to avoid cold weather at all costs. After returning home, Trent made the decision to pursue a career in the funeral industry. He attended the College of Southern Idaho, and later moved to Dallas, TX, where he furthered his education and worked for UT Southwestern Medical Center in their body donation program. Trent had many duties, including setting up cadaver labs for the medical students.After leaving Texas, Trent moved to the Salt Lake City area with his family and worked in the funeral profession for several years. He then relocated to St. George where he is employed as a Funeral Service Professional for Serenity Funeral Home of Southern Utah. He loves the area - especially the warm weather! Trent enjoys his work and says he likes being able to help people make decisions during a difficult time. His hobbies include weightlifting, disc golf, and hiking.
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Duane A Lamoreaux, Funeral Service Professional
Duane was born and raised in Paragonah, UT, and was a school teacher for forty years before beginning a career in the funeral business. Duane taught every grade from third through twelfth, and he was also employed as a teacher in youth corrections and the prison in Cedar City. He loves to tell people that he spent ten years in prison, which is true, but he was able to go home every night and weekend. Prior to his retirement, he was chosen as the Corrections Education Teacher of the Year in the State of Utah. Duane is one of the most social people you will ever meet and can have a great conversation with anyone. He and his wife, Sonya, now reside in St. George. Duane has three children, thirteen grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Duane enjoys cutting wood, running chainsaws, and gardening. He believes Paragonah is the center of the universe and says it can be proven mathematically. Duane loves the funeral profession and feels honored to help every family he meets.
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Charlotte Chambers, Funeral and Cremation Pre-planning Consultant
Charlotte was born in Cedar City, Utah. At the time, her parents, Alpine and Lillian Hall Bowler, lived in Enterprise, Utah. Charlotte Bowler Chambers is a third-generation resident of Enterprise, and her grandparents, Walter Wallace and Mary Ann Hunt Bowler, were pioneers that helped settle the town. Charlotte grew up in Enterprise and graduated from Enterprise High School, where she was involved in many leadership activities. After graduating from high school, Charlotte married and moved away for a short period of time. She then moved back to Enterprise where she raised three sons and one daughter. She has one son and one daughter currently living in Enterprise. She loves to go to Enterprise to visit family and friends. Charlotte loves her hometown and the special people there.Charlotte enjoys the outdoors, working in her yard and in her home, spending time with family and friends, and, of course, meeting new people.Charlotte moved to St. George in 1990 and started a career in the property, casualty, and life insurance business. It was at this time that she had the opportunity and interest to earn her pre-need insurance license. This gave her the wonderful experience of helping people pre-plan and pay for their final wishes. While continuing to work in the insurance office, Charlotte sold pre-plans whenever time allowed. Charlotte retired from working full-time in the insurance office but continues to help people pre-plan their final arrangements. Charlotte has many years of experience working as a Funeral and Cremation Pre-planning Consultant. She loves meeting with people and helping them put their final wishes in place.Charlotte feels it is a special opportunity to be a part of the funeral and cremation pre-planning team at Serenity Funeral Home and the Cremation Center of Southern Utah. She receives a great deal of appreciation and satisfaction from those whom she assists. She also enjoys seeing their families reap the benefits at a later date. Feel free to call Charlotte directly at (435) 632-6043 to visit with her about the many options associated with planning ahead.
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Jacqui Atkin, Marketing
Jacqui Lamoreaux Atkin was born and raised in Cedar City, Utah. She graduated from Southern Utah University in 1996. Jacqui is married to Funeral Director Russ Atkin, and together they have five children. Jacqui enjoys running, hiking, reading, and cooking. Jacqui loves assisting with marketing duties for the funeral home, including social media. She considers it a privilege to work in the funeral profession.
