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August 21, 2008

Funeral home director inspired at young age

A part of 20 under 35, a supplement of The Edmond Sun

Courtney Crauthers

EDMOND — A local funeral director knew when he was 9-years-old that he wanted to work in a funeral home.

“I was on family vacation and my great-grandmother died and we had to leave early,” said Zach Newman, 27. “I was actually angry because I didn’t know what death was.”

He said he was able to see the process of how a funeral worked.

“I saw how much a funeral director could help a family and I wanted to help in similar situations,” Newman said.

When he was a junior in high school, he sought out the local mortician in his home town of Cushing and began work as an apprentice. He specifically choose to attend the University of Central Oklahoma when he graduated from high school because it was the only institute that offered a four-year degree in mortuary science. He took a variety of internships to learn about the funeral home business.

“I wanted to learn every aspect. I have experience inside a funeral home, crematory and a cemetery. I’ve been in a funeral home for 10 years,” Newman said.

He took a position with Matthews Funeral Home in 2004, which conducts about 200 funerals a year.

“We had grown to a level where we needed a third funeral director,” said Randy Matthews, owner and funeral director.

Matthews said he hired Newman because he had previous experience and he liked his demeanor. He said Newman also had expressed interest in working at a privately owned local funeral home.

“He’s extremely good with the families, taking care of their needs and putting them at ease,” Matthews said.

Newman talks with families from the beginning to the end of a funeral, conducts the funeral and burial ceremonies and prepares the bodies.

“You are just out there trying to give a hand of support to families who lost a loved one,” he said. “My long-term goals probably would be to have my own funeral home and be a decent citizen.”

The funeral director is the chairman for the Edmond Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association. The organization shows support to the Edmond Police Department and hosts its annual banquet.

He also is a member of AMBUCS, which provides hand and/or leg-operated Amtrykes to disabled children. Newman currently sits on the House Building Committee through the Acacia Alumni Association at UCO. The association is building a new house for the fraternity.

He said it is important to show support to the community and that young people can be involved.

When he is not working, he spends time with his wife Rachel and their dog, Newton. He also enjoys outdoor activities, including golf, hunting, softball and fishing.

“I recently took up mountain biking,” Newman said.

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