Our Staff

David W Bolyard Jr.

Owner/Managing Director

David W. Bolyard Jr. a West Virginia native whom is a 1993 graduate of Preston High School. David began working in the funeral industry at Taylor, Davis and Bartlett funeral homes while attending Fairmont State University and is a 1998 graduate of Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.  During a short hiatus from the funeral business Bolyard worked in the financial industry to gain the knowledge to become a successful business owner. After his grandmother became ill and passed away, Bolyard felt called to return to his profession in the funeral industry which led him to open Bolyard Funeral Home in Preston County in 2007 and with a business partner in 2008 developed of Mountain Funeral Group in which he is the president of what is now a family of nine funeral homes located in Preston, Taylor and Harrison Counties in West Virginia; all of which provide cremation services. In 2012 the partners added a pet funeral and crematory and later in 2014 the two opened Affordable Funeral and Cremation Center located in Nutterfort, WV. In 2017 Bolyard founded the publications service 4LocalObits.com that has revolutionized death notices. David is very active in his community, being past president of the Preston Memorial Hospital Foundation and still serves on its board. He is president of the Preston County Commission Building Committee as well as residential and commercial rental properties in three counties in West Virginia.  

Morgan Mayfield

Owner/Funeral Director

Morgan Mayfield is a third generation funeral home proprietor. He is the operator of Morgan Funeral Home of Reedsville, WV and a partner of Mountain Funeral Group. He graduated from Valley High School in Masontown, WV in 1972. He attended West Virginia University and received a Bachelor's degree in Accounting in 1977. He graduated with honors from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 1979. After finishing his education, Morgan Mayfield took over the family business and had the new facility built in 2000 at its present location. He began his career working for his family owned Morgan Funeral Home but also worked for Taylor Funeral Home in Newburg, WV. When Mr. Richard Taylor fell ill prior to his retirement, Morgan assisted him by taking care of all the day to day business needs for approximately four years. Morgan resides in Reedsville, WV. He also has done contract work for Mancinelli Funeral Home in Morgantown, WV; Browning Funeral Home in Kingwood, WV; and Hastings Funeral Home in Morgantown, WV. He has been a parade marshal for the Preston County Buckwheat Festival for over 25 years. He continues to serve the people of Preston and surrounding counties with the same dedicated service taught to him by his grandfather, mother, and father. He is an avid sportsman having been an Elk Hunting guide in Wyoming and Idaho. He is a life member of the NRA, an amateur photographer, and enjoys waterskiing. His philosophy is, “Try to put yourself in that first row, where a family is sitting during a funeral service, so that you might always remember how they are feeling during this difficult time and so that you are able to serve them in a way that will help ease the pain of losing a loved one."

Rev. James Harris

Funeral Director/Embalmer

Rev. Harris is the son of the late Elder Johnnie and Mother Minnie Harris. He is the oldest of eight children.

Rev. Harris is married to Jeanne Harris. He is the father of four children, ten grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. He is the step father of three children, and three grandchildren. 

Rev. Harris is a retired Marine who served our country for twenty-six years and obtained the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant (E-9).

Rev. Harris is a graduate of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and is licensed funeral director and embalmer in the state of West Virginia. He was a funeral director and embalmer at J.C. Battles & Sons funeral home in Cincinnati, Ohio, Williams Mortuary in Huntington, WV and Chatman Funeral Home in Logan, WV. 

Rev. Harris has also pastored four churches in the past twenty-five years: John Gee AME church in Gallipolis, Ohio; Henderson Chapel AME Church, Wellsburg. West Virginia, Allen Chapel AME Church, Clarksburg, West Virginia and presently Bethel AME Church, Parkersburg, West Virginia. 

Andria LaFontaine

Apprentice Funeral Director

Andria LaFontaine was born in Fairmont, WV. She is a Twenty-five-year-old resident of Taylor County where she resides in her small country home with her husband, Alex and their twin boys.

Andria is a 2014 graduate from Lincoln High school with honors and a 2017 graduate from Fairmont State with an Associates Degree in Health Science. After graduating from Fairmont, she then attended the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and graduated in 2020.

Andria has been an employee for Mountain Funeral group since 2018. Andria is currently in the process of obtaining her West Virginia Funeral Directors License.

On her free time, she enjoys traveling, camping and spending time with her family. 

David Arthur Taylor

Certified Crematory Operator/Funeral Associate/HR/Accounting Manager

Adam Messenger

Funeral Associate

A West Virginia Native, Adam Messenger is a United States Army Veteran with two deployments to Iraq. After discharging from the military, Adam married the love of his life, Joni Sandy, in 2004 and together they have two beautiful children. He is an avid hunter, fisherman, and outdoorsman and loves his family, friends, and country. He is also a member of the Clarksburg, VFW. Adam has been an employee of Mountain Funeral Group since 2019 and services all of our locally owned funeral homes. 

Jason Miller

Funeral Associate

Jason Miller is a veteran of the United States Navy, serving two tours of duty throughout 2004-2008 in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Jason was born in Pensacola, Florida to Dodi and Steve Miller. After moving to West Virginia, he went on to graduate in 2002 from The Mountaineer Challenge Academy. Jason eventually settled in Clarksburg, WV, where he resides with his family. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his family and daughter, glass blowing, fast cars, comedy, and is an avid patron of the arts and music, and is a proud member of the Clarksburg VFW. Jason has been a part of Mountain Funeral Group since 2019. 

Denise McIntyre

Funeral Associate / Hairdresser

Elizabeth Rose Cunningham

Director of Aftercare

A native of Harrison County, Elizabeth Rose Cunningham, brings her skills and life experience to our funeral homes to develop extended services as Director of Aftercare. Founder and president of the non-profit organization, Live Your Live Foundation, Elizabeth has had a successful career as a Certified Events Coordinator and Travel Manager and is currently working toward a Life Coach certification. Formerly, Elizabeth Lynn Huffman, she is an inspirational speaker and published author. Her book, Porch Swings and Fire Flies : Creating Life Out of Loss, chronicles the difficulties and triumphs of her journey as a young widow and mother creating a new life out of loss. She is the mother of Ryan Rose and Jennalea Rose Wallace and the wife of Pastor David Cunningham

Rachelle Diana McIntyre-Nicholson

Attorney and Public Relations Director

Rachelle Diana McIntyre-Nicholson is a lifelong resident of Clarksburg, WV, and is the only child of Stanley Brad and Denise Brown McIntyre, also of Clarksburg. She is a 1995 graduate of Liberty High School, and went on to graduate cum laude with a BS in Business Administration and a minor in Corporate Finance from Fairmont State in 1999. She attended West Virginia University College of Law, graduating in May, 2002, and being admitted to the West Virginia State Bar Association in September, 2002. 

Mrs. McIntyre-Nicholson began her practice in June, 2002, with the firm of Siegrist & White, PLLC, in Clarksburg, West Virginia, and opened her own practice in October, 2004. She specializes in child abuse and neglect proceedings, divorce, child custody and support matters, property law and estate planning. 

Rachelle is married to Jonathan W. Nicholson, of Salem, West Virginia, and they have two children. She will be providing estate planning assistance, probate support and general legal information to families serviced by Mountain Funeral Group and Cremations. 

Debbie K Hurst

Housekeeper

Debbie K. Hurst, working in the funeral home since the fall of 2009, joined Davis Funeral Home in 2014. She grew up in the Eastview section of Clarksburg, WV. A 1982 graduate of RW, Roosevelt Wilson High School. Married R. Taylor Hurst of the Eastview section of Clarksburg, WV, and they have two children. Debbie is also, a part time in home care for adults, working for the Harrison County Senior Citizen’s Center. Debbie is the daughter of the late Ernie & Ellen Grose. Debbie attends a church in Clarksburg.

Louie G. Male

Funeral Director/Embalmer

Louie G. Male was born in Clarksburg, WV and is a native of Lumberport, WV. Upon graduating from Lumberport High School in 1973, he attended Fairmont State College. Louie served his apprenticeship  and is now the Funeral Director/Embalmer at Dorsey Funeral Home in Shinnston, WV, and graduated from Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 1977. Upon graduation, he worked for various funeral homes in the area, and was employed by Davis Funeral Home and Bartlett Funeral Home from 1996 through 2006. Louie has been dedicated to serving families for over 37 years. He is a member of local 39 Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons in Morgantown, WV, and a member of Enterprise United Methodist Church. He currently resides in Shinnston with his wife, Julie.

Timothy Schoonover

Funeral Director/Embalmer

Timothy Schoonover was born and raised in Philippi and is the son of Gary and Kathy Schoonover. He married the love of his life, Kelly Dawn Poling and together they are parents of a daughter, Emily and twin boys, Caleb and Logan. Tim is a 2003 graduate of Philip Barbour High School and May 2007 graduate of West Virginia University, where he was a four year member and rank leader in the "Pride of West Virginia" the Mountaineer Marching Band. In September 2009, Tim graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science where he served as president of his class. While attending mortuary school, he worked for the Winter Funeral Home PC, where he had the opportunity to clinically work with Robert Mayer, the author of Embalming: History, Theory, and Practice.

Tim is currently a Licensed Embalmer and Funeral Director in the State of West Virginia and is registered with the National Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. He brings years of experience and has served the area for many years as a funeral director and embalmer at Stemple and Forman Funeral Home in Philippi and the Schoonover-Stemple Funeral Chapel in Belington.  He is a member of On Target Church in Thornton. He is a former member of the Barbour County Deputy Reserves where he had served as assistant chief. He currently holds a seat in the Barbour County Civil Service Commission.  He enjoys his Mountaineer and Pittsburgh sports teams, camping with his family, fishing and NASCAR. He resides in Moatsville with his wife and kids. Tim has been with Mountain Funeral Group since 2017. 

Robert Bolyard

Funeral Director/Embalmer

Robert Bolyard is a lifelong resident of Preston County, WV, and is the second child of Brenda and Paul Bolyard, of Tunnelton. He is a 1992 graduate of Preston High School; after a year of college at Fairmont State University, Robert served a church mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints in Portugal from, Sept. 1993 to Sept. 1995. After his church mission, Robert returned to Fairmont State to complete his education and while attending college and working at Ames Department Store, he met his eternal companion Tammy Everly, whom he married in Sept. 1997. Robert and Tammy have two children and reside in Kingwood, WV.

Robert became an employee for Browning Funeral Home in December 2006, conducting funerals, embalming services and meeting families. After the funeral home was purchased by the Mountain Funeral Group and Cremations, Robert remained with the group and continues to serve the families of Preston County and surrounding counties. Robert enjoys being around people and helping them through some of their toughest times. He enjoys his family and looks forward to spending time with his grandchildren. 

Thomas Smell

Licensee in Charge/Director

Thomas W. Smell began his funeral service career in 1966 in Fairmont and has worked in funeral homes in Elkins, West Union and Clarksburg before coming to Kingwood.

Tom was co-owner of Browning Funeral Home for 25 years and co-owner of Burke Funeral Home for 20 years.   After retiring in 2018, he now works for Mountain Funeral Group as the licensee-in-charge of Browning and Burke Funeral Homes.

Mr. Smell is a graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and thru the years has been active in community activities that include President of the Rotary Club of Kingwood, a board member for the Preston County Chamber of Commerce, Board member and President of the American Cancer Society, Preston County, member and President of the Rowlesburg Lions Club and a member and President of Preston County Habitat for Humanity.  He is a member of the Albright Baptist Church.

For several years, Tom was a member of the West Virginia Funeral Directors Association where he held the office of secretary/treasurer, vice-president, president elect and was their President in 2003-2004. He was also a member of the National Funeral Directors Association where he served as a Policy Board member for West Virginia.

Tom is very proud of his funeral service career of over 50 years.

Thom Alonso

Funeral Associate

Thom is a retired letter carrier from the Shinnston Post Office with thirty one years of service. He is a graduate of Notre Dame High School and attended West virginia Business college. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, National Active and Retired Federal Empoyees and National Association of Letter Carriers. He and his wife Cherie live in Shinnston and are the proud parents of two daughters Pam Kitchens, of Dallas, Texas and Maranie Warren of Columbus, Ohio and three grandchildren. Thom was Vice President for seven years before becoming President for thirteen years of NALC Branch 4458 representing nineteen post offices in north central West Virginia until retirement. He was the Health Benefits Representative of NALC Branch 4458 for Thirteen years. A US Army Vietnam veteran he was in recruiting in Louisville, Kentucky for the last thirteen months of service. Before working the postal service Thom was business coordinator for C & P Oil and Gas Company and Imperial Corporation. Thom is currently accountant for Communication Workers of America Local 2004 and was accountant for several businesses before retiring including Communication Workers of America Local 2011. Thom and his wife are members of Saint Ann Catholic Church in Shinnston.

Roger Bolyard

Funeral Associate

Roger is married and has two children.  He is a resident of Preston County and lives in Kingwood. Roger has been involved with the public for over 30 years (including fast food, retail, and grocery stores). He is a West Virginia University fan and had the honor of getting his picture taken with the WVU Mountaineer last year while attending a basketball game

Paul "Ditch" Harclerode

Funeral Associate

A West Virginia native and a lifelong resident of Shinnston. Paul, a coal miner retired in 1995 from Consol Energy Robinson Run Mines. Paul started working at the funeral home in 2007. Married his high school sweetheart Karen (Shingleton) Harclerode and they have been married for over 51 years. They have three children and seven grandchildren. He enjoys golfing and camping at Big Bear. Paul loves his family, life and his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Karen L Bolyard

Administrative Assistant/Funeral Associate

Karen L. Bolyard is a secretary and funeral attendant for Bolyard Funeral Home in Newburg, WV and helps out at other locations when needed. She also works part-time as a mail courier in the Morgantown Area for the U.S. Post Office. Karen graduated from Newburg High School in 1975. She previously worked at Preston Memorial Hospital, Rosewood Nursing Home, and Belldina's Pharmacy. She is married to David W. Bolyard Sr., and they reside in Newburg (Birdscreek Community). Karen has three children, David W. Bolyard Jr., Shelley L. Bolyard, and Derek M. Bolyard. She also handles B & S memorials which was founded in 1995.

Nancy C. Bartlett

Funeral Associate/Director of Public Relations

Nancy C. Bartlett is a funeral assistant with Mountain Funeral Group. She has been employed at Bartlett Funeral Home since 2003. She is a Taylor County native, having been born and raised in the Webster community. Nancy graduated from Sand Fork High School in Glenville, WV in 1967. She began working at Wilson Florist in 1968, and bought the shop in 1976. She owned and operated Nancy Bartlett flowers for 26 years and retired in 2002. When not serving “her families” at the funeral home, she is an avid Grafton High School Bearcats fan as well as a WVU football fan. She is a member of the Webster Baptist Church and trustee of the Walnut Grove Cemetery. Nancy cherishes the friendships she has made with the families we serve and is the most friendly door attendant we have at Bartlett Funeral Home. She is unmatched in her ability to put people at ease, and families find a comforting soul and a unique character in Nancy.

Tracy Stuchell

Office Manager

Graduate from Newburg High, have served our communities for years in a lot of ways, worked at Reedsville Dairy Queen, Morgantown Shirt Factory, an EMT for Valley Ambulance 10 years,  Kingwood Shoe Factory, Masontown Dairy Mart /Hero Hut , Gabriel Brothers Warehouse,  Volunteer for Kingwood Elementary,   Kingwood Dollar Store,  Browning Funeral Home since 2005 and now Mountain Funeral Group. I am a people person and have always enjoyed helping families and  serving our communities.

Hilary Austin

All Pets and Affordable Cremations Associate/ Office Manager/Sales & Marketing

Carol Peters

4Local Obits Director/Funeral Associate

Carol Peters  is a native of Taylor County and a graduate of Grafton High School. She is married to Dennis Peters, has two children, Dennis Peters Jr and Andrea Setler, and has three granddaughters.

Carol went to work at Grafton Apparel Shirt Factory in 1972 immediately after graduating and worked there for eleven years. She then took a data entry position at Wright Airlines in Bridgeport until the office moved to Cleveland Ohio.  Carol then joined the ranks of the Mountain Statesman Newspaper for eight years. During her employment at the Mountain Statesman she held the positions of a dispatcher, advertising sales person and circulation manager.

In 1992 Carol, along with business partners, purchased The Preston County Journal, The Preston County News and The Pennysaver- which created Preston Publications Inc. The corporation was sold to Clarksburg Publishing Company in 2014 where she continued to work as the General Manger of the publications until June 20, 2018 when she retired.

Carol began her new journey as an executive for 4Localobits.com in November 2018. She introduces 4LocalObits.com and promotes the unique manner that ensures the broadest, timely distribution of every death notice by contacting funeral directors throughout the state of WV and acquainting them to the benefit s of submitting their obituaries to 4Localobits.com. Carol shares with the funeral directors the value as a user of 4Localobits.com. She also proofs the slides for the TV stations, reviews submissions to 4Localobits.com and makes contacts to ensure the submitted content is correct on 4Localobits.com.

Carol works out of Bartlett Funeral Home and will also assist at the other sites when needed.

Michelle Holmes

4Local Obits Associate

Mindy Golden

4Local Obits Associate/Funeral Associate

Rebecca “Becky” Ann Fitzpatrick

4Local Obits Associate

Rebecca “Becky” Ann Fitzpatrick was born in Preston County, WV to parents Willie and Donna Ridenour.  Becky attended Central Preston Senior High and graduated with honors.  Becky attended the Clarksburg Beauty Academy, working as a stylist for over twenty-five years in Taylor and Harrison County areas. Becky met the love of her life, Mitchel Fitzpatrick, in 2003 and they were married in 2013. In her free time Becky loves to play in the mud on her Razor, garden, hunt, and is a connoisseur of fine wines and whiskies.  Becky began working for Mountain Funeral Group in office administration and also works on our website 4LocalObits.com, in March of 2017.

Wayne White

Vehicle Maintenance

A West Virginia natvie born in Harrison County. He grew up in the Stealey section of Clarksburg. The son of the late Robert E. and Geneive White. A 1960 graduate of Washington Irving High School. A graduate of Gordon Military College Barnsville, Ga. majored in business, a graduate of Allegheny Technical Institute for Electronics Pittsburgh, Pa. with Electronic Technician Degree. Retired from 3M company with 19 years service as a master Electronic Technician. Retired from Mylan Pharmaceuticals maintenance department as an air handler/filter technician. Was a member of Pace (United steel workers) 5-097 as a union stewart. A licensed WVA Realtor since 1981. A widow to the late  Frances Jean Kroll, whom was a West Virginia native born in Harrison County. Wayne attends  Trinity Assembly of God in Fairmont. Wayne and his late wife Jean  have two daughters Jennifer L. White and Deborah J. White both of which attend Center Branch Church.

Jayson Heflin

Maintenance

Jayson Heflin was born at Broaddus Hospital in Philippi, WV to Roger and Janelda Heflin. Jayson attended school in Harrison County and is a 1997 graduate of Robert C. Byrd High School in Clarksburg. He began his career working for the City of Nutter Fort in the maintenance department and remained there for eight years. Jason currently lives with Patricia Heflin and is a resident of the town of Anmoore. He is an extremely hard worker and is a “jack of all trades”. He enjoys maintaining the grounds and detailing the funeral vehicles.  Jayson has been an employee of Mountain Funeral Group since 2015.