A funeral home director operating multiple funeral homes in Grayson County is facing a hefty fine and the suspension of his director’s license.
Nathan Morris was fined $24,000 and his Funeral Director and Embalmers license will be suspended between August 9, 2023, and February 9, 2024, by the Kentucky Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors (KBEFD), according to a report by the Owensboro Times. Morris paid the fine earlier this month.
Morris was employed by and served as part owner of Morris Family Services, which operates Leitchfield Memorial Chapel (formerly Watson & Hunt Funeral Home) and Caneyville Memorial Chapel (formerly Dermitt-Joyce Funeral Home), along with several other funeral homes in western Kentucky.
Morris admitted in a KBEFD meeting on June 6 that he “participated in the forgery of a signature on forms” sent to the board to make it appear as if his funeral homes were legally operating, the Owensboro Times reports. He additionally conducted 32 funerals that violated state laws and regulations.
He has been terminated from his employment with Morris Family Services, co-owner John Horan told the Owensboro Times.
Also disciplined by the KBEFD was Tommy Whobrey, Managing Licensed Funeral Service Professional with Morris Family Services. Whobrey’s punishment was less severe than Morris,’ though, as Whobrey admitted to the board in a hearing on May 9 that he illegally altered documents at the behest of Morris.
Whobrey will serve as manager of Leitchfield Memorial Chapel beginning August 9, the Owensboro Times said.
(Morris sent the following email to K105 Sunday afternoon: Please update your story, as there is false information. I didn’t forge a document, ever. I did not personally get fined.
I verbally permitted an employee to sign my name, as I was in Owensboro, KY, and they were in another city, for a document was needed to be signed and sent off to update a locations’ licensing, as we had a number of staff rotating locations, positions, or leaving the company February of this year, making it an extremely challenging and stressful time for all to keep up with. There is nothing illegal of my verbally authorizing my signature.
As the President and CEO of the company during this time, because it took place under my leadership, I was called before the Kentucky Funeral Board and was offered two options as paperwork was not received in a timely manner: a $24k fine to the company and 6 month suspensions for myself or, a $50k fine to the company and no suspension of my license. For the betterment of the company, I gracefully and respectfully chose the lesser of the expense during this board meeting. This employee, too, received a 6 month suspension.
After a closer look at our operations, finances and a need to cover and support locations with my license, I went back before the Board for a special meeting which took place via ZOOM to request the revision of the company’s fine and request the company pay the $50,000 fine, keeping my license without suspensions, as the company needed it, but during the meeting, it was voted against by the Board, and the 6 month suspension of my license remained, along with the fine to the company. From there, leadership began preparations and conversations for adequate coverage, as my license’s suspension goes into effect August 6, 2023. After 6 months, my license is reinstated and will remain in good standing.)
(Photo: Nathan Morris, courtesy of Facebook link)
Publisher’s Note: The original photo included with this story, appearing in an article Entrepaneur.com was removed via legal copyright claim by Morris’ representative.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
