Our Team
Our Team
Each of the team members at Freeman Mortuary is committed to providing your family with the finest in personal care. In fact, for years, it’s been comforting for area families to know that we are available to help at any time of the day or night.
When a loved one dies, all you need to do is make one phone call. From that moment on, we’ll take on the responsibilities of the physical care of your loved one, and the emotional care of those left behind.
Please take a few minutes to get to know our staff. We’re sure you’ll find each of us to be all that you would hope for in a trusted funeral professional.
Ryan Freeman
Funeral Director and Embalmer
Ryan Freeman takes great pride in being the third generation in his family’s funeral home. He has quite literally grown up in the business starting with mowing grass, washing cars, and shoveling snow. Ryan graduated as salutatorian from Jefferson City High School in 2001 and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Missouri in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a double major in Finance and Banking and Real Estate. While at Mizzou Ryan was selected as a member of the Chancellor’s Leadership Class and volunteered at the Nora Stewart Memorial Nursery School. He attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago, Illinois, and graduated in the top five of his class in 2006 with an Associate of Science degree in Mortuary Science.
Ryan is continuing his family’s commitment to the community being involved as past president of the Jefferson City Rotaract Club, a board member of the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce and helped co-chair the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce annual barbecue, a member of the 2008 Leadership Class of Jefferson City, serves on the governing body of Capital Region Medical Center, and has worked with the Jefferson City Public Schools on several issues. Ryan was the commencement speaker at the 2007 Jefferson City High School graduation and honored to be the co-chair of the community initiative for the CharacterPlus program throughout Cole County.
He was honored in April 2010 as an American Red Cross Hero because of his efforts with the H.U.G.S. children’s support group that he help start.
He and his wife, Ashley, have a daughter, Charlotte, and a son, Mack.
Ryan is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in Missouri.
Phil Freeman
Phil Freeman’s organizational skills and attention to details are qualities he brings to both his business and the community. He is well known in Jefferson City as being very community oriented. Phil’s civic involvement actually started in 1974 when he became the second generation in Freeman Mortuary.
Phil graduated in 1971 from Jefferson City High School. He graduated with honors from Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in 1974 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Columbia College in 1975.
Phil has served as past president of the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce, the United Way, the YMCA, and the Capital Region Medical Center Foundation. He spent nine years on the Jefferson City Board of Education including two terms as president.
He has been co-chairman of the Rape and Abuse Crisis Service building drive, fund drives for the new locker room and field renovations at Adkins Stadium for the Jefferson City High School and chairman of the final phase for the fund drive for the Miller Performing Arts Center. He is currently serving as chairman of the Old Town Redevelopment Board.
He worked to pass the One-Half Cent Sales Tax in 1987, 2001, and 2006. He was, also, co-chairman of the school tax levy that passed in April 2002, which helped raise salaries for teachers.
Phil is a past member of the Jefferson City West Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow through Rotary International.
He received the Jaycees Distinguished Service Award in 1981. In 2002, he was the recipient of the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce Meritorious Civic Service Award.
Phil is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the state of Missouri and is a member of both the National Funeral Directors Assn. and the Missouri Funeral Directors Assn.
Amy Freeman
Office Manager
Amy Walz Freeman has been employed since 1995 as secretary in her husband’s family business. Before that, she managed the drapery shop and workroom at Milo H. Walz, Inc., and was a substitute teacher for many years in the Jefferson City Public Schools. Amy is a 1973 graduate of Jefferson City High School and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Lincoln University.
Throughout the years Amy has been very involved in the community. Some of her commitments include being past president of P.E.O., Chapter HM, Methodist Pre-Kindergarten, Moreau Heights PTO, and the City-Wide PTA/PTO. She is, also, a past chairman of the Rape and Abuse Crisis Service board of directors.
Amy is a past board member of the March of Dimes, Special Learning Center, Special Learning Center Foundation, Jefferson City Public Schools Foundation and Meals on Wheels, Inc. She was a volunteer driver for 20 years for Meals on Wheels. She has also served as a docent at the Governor’s Mansion. Amy is a member of the Capital Region Board of Governors and The Tuesday Club.
While their sons, Don and Ryan, were young both Amy and Phil were active with the Jefferson City Babe Ruth program and the JCHS football and baseball boosters. They are members of First United Methodist Church.
Derek Ketcherside
Office Manager
Coming to Freeman Mortuary with an understanding of people's needs and sales experience, Derek became the Operations Manager. Derek is able to provide compassion and support for our customers and staff, assisting the funeral directors and client families working to ease the worries of planning a funeral during their time of grief.
Derek grew up in Jefferson City and graduated from Lincoln University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Derek and his wife Dori live in St. Martins and have two daughters, Arica and Kadyn Ketcherside.
Derek is an active member of St. Martins Catholic Church serving as the girls’ basketball coach. He is also a member of the American Legion, Eagles Club, and enjoys helping with various community service activities. Derek enjoys time with family and friends and loves working on home improvement projects.
BreAnna Williams
Funeral Director and Embalmer
BreAnna Williams was raised in Leonard, Missouri and is a 2010 graduate of North Shelby High School.
After High School, Bre moved from her home town to Dallas, Texas where she attended the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. She graduated with an Associate of Science degree in Mortuary Science in November of 2011.
She was previously employed at Restland Funeral Home in Dallas before returning to Missouri in 2013. Once back in Missouri, she began working at Memorial Funeral Home in Columbia.
In her spare time, Bre enjoys tackling DIY projects and traveling with her husband Roderick. Some of her favorite activities are horseback riding, cooking and experimenting in the kitchen and spending time in nature. Above all, her favorite place to be is with her family.
She has been a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer with Freeman Mortuary since June of 2014.
Kevin Clardy
Funeral Director
Kevin Clardy is a lifelong resident of Jefferson City. He is a 1975 graduate of Jefferson City High School and has been a part of Freeman Mortuary for over 40 years since April 1978.
Kevin is an ardent supporter of Boy Scouts in Jefferson City. In 1988, Kevin started his scouting career with the Cub Scouts at Pack 20, West School with his older son, John. In 1992, he joined Boy Scout Troop 2 at the First Presbyterian Church as an Assistant Scoutmaster. In 1997, Kevin went back to Cub Scouts but this time at Pack 2, Belair School with his younger son, Matt.
Kevin was a part of the Wood Badge Staff starting in 1997 serving on eight courses. In 2000, he became the staff Quartermaster for the council’s Tech Expo for the 21st Century Celebration then in 2004, he was, once again, the staff Quartermaster for the Lewis and Clark Celebration at the Ike Skelton Center. In 2001, Kevin was awarded the Five Rivers District Award of Merit.
When not busy with his scouting efforts, Kevin has been a member of the Jefferson City Jaycees, and is currently serving on the Riverview Cemetery Board of Directors.
Kevin is a licensed funeral director in the state of Missouri. He and his wife, Renee, reside in Jefferson City.
Becca Reichard
Funeral Director
Becca Reichard has been with Freeman Mortuary since September, 2007.
She is a lifelong resident of Jefferson City graduating from Jefferson City High School in 2001.
She enjoys home remodeling projects and spending time with her husband and two children.
She and her family are members of Trinity Lutheran Church.
With a background in nursing, Becca’s caring nature and compassion is a tremendous help to the families we serve.
Becca became a licensed funeral director in 2009.
Lindsey Rowden
Family Care Specialist
Lindsey Rowden joined our team as a Family Care Specialist in 2017. She is a lifelong resident of Jefferson City graduating from Jefferson City High School in 1998 and Lincoln University in 2002.
Lindsey worked for over 20 years in the telecommunications industry covering every facet from customer service and sales to corporate account management. She enjoys volunteering in the community. She was named HALO Volunteer of the Year in 2015 is currently on the HALO Home Board of Directors and a co-chair for the annual Gala. She has been involved with Methodist Early Learning Center, both Belair and West Elementary School PTA’s, is a member of First United Methodist Church and is currently serving in her 2nd term with the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission.
After suddenly losing her mother in 2015, she decided to make a career change and use her story to help other families. She specializes in family care both before and after a loss. She brings an empathy and understanding of losing a loved one and all of the many details that go into planning a loved one’s service. Her creativity, attention to detail and compassion for those around her is an excellent resource to the families we serve.
She and her husband, Ryan, have a son, Cooper, and two daughters, Sadie and Nora.
Ashley Freeman
Graphic Artist
Ashley is a lifelong resident of Jefferson City, graduated from Jefferson City High School in 2001, and went on to get a Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design from Auburn University.
Ashley combined her love of travel and design to work freelance jobs for nearly a decade, taking her from Canada to the Caribbean before settling back at home and joining our team.
Ashley uses her talents to help customize our printed materials, bring photos back to life, and design our in-house materials to help communicate the many services we offer. She enjoys the challenge of making each person’s service as unique as they are.
Ashley has known the Freeman family her entire life and became friends with Ryan in Sunday school when they were just kids. They are now married with two children of their own. She enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, and giving back to our community.
She has volunteered with United Way, American Heart Association, First United Methodist Church Foundation, Jefferson City Public Schools Foundation Board.