As funeral director, he helped console families

Roy Christian works part time for a local funeral home.

“I’ve been a licensed funeral director and embalmer for 42 years. You have to like people to be in this business, and I do love people.

“You play a role in helping console the families if they’re having a hard time coming to grips with everything. You also have to be able to take someone who’s emaciated or been in an automobile accident and get that person in a position to where the family can view them and have closure. When you can do all of that, it’s a good feeling.”

What’s the toughest part of the job?
“For me, it’s infants. It just really tears me up. I feel like they’ve gotten totally cheated out of everything in life, which they have.

“My wife and I lost two children in early pregnancies, which was tough at the time. But you look back and figure that’s just life.

“I owned a little funeral home out in west Texas for a period of time, and I never charged for a baby’s funeral. Usually, those young parents don’t have any money. So why not just let them have a funeral and help them get over their grief the best they can. In that way, you’ve done something really special for them and I’ve done something special for me.”

— Roy Christian