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Steve P. Dillard, Owner/Funeral Director
Experience and passion is what Steve Dillard brings to Salser & Dillard Creighton Chapel. Born and raised in Hanford where his parents and one sister still live, Steve started his, nearly 40 years experience in the funeral business, at 14 washing the cars at Peoples Funeral Chapel in Hanford, where his uncle John E. Lemos worked, and Steve continued to learn the business there for the next several years. At 20 Steve began an apprenticeship as well as broadened his experience with Whitehurst-McNamara in Hanford and continued working for the Lowen Group until he moved to Laguna Hills California in June 1987 where he worked for O’Connor Laguna Hills Mortuary. While working at O’Conner's, he attended Cypress College of Mortuary Science and graduated in December 1988 where he received the Ma Green Outstanding Student Award. After successfully completing the California State Board of Embalmers Exam and the National Board Certificate Exam he returned to the Loewen Group working for Hadley Funeral Chapel in Visalia January 1989. He worked at several Loewen locations in Kings and Tulare Counties before leaving in 1999. In 2001 Steve along with Jeff started the process opening their own chapel. When asked why he chose to open his own chapel, Steve's response was clear, "After traveling for many years with the Lowen Group, I had the opportunity to meet and work for many former chapel owners: Frank and Harold Keaton, Claude Wondrow, Lloyd Bledsoe, Don Miller, David and Paul Miller, Don Evans, Jack Creighton, Joe O'Conner, Dick Hemmingway, Clem McNamara, they all exemplified the importance of quality professional service and I wanted that for myself." Steve has a long history of funeral service here in the valley:
Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel, Visalia, CA;
Peoples Funeral Chapel, Hanford CA;
Whitehurst McNamara, Hanford CA;
Hadley Funeral Chapel, Visalia and Farmersville CA;
Millers Memorial Chapel, Visalia CA;
Miller’s Tulare Funeral Chapel CA;
Bledsoe Family Peoples Funeral Chapel, Corcoran CA;
And he is excited to expand his business and continue the Creighton legacy in Kingsburg. A proud father of three and grandfather of seven, Steve's roots in the Valley are deep and he looks forward to continuing to serve his community for many years to come building a legacy that lasts for the generations. -
Amber E. Taunton, Director of Family Service & Marketing
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Lydia K. Paul, Family Care Associate
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Hayley Brooks, Family Care Associate
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Emilio Alvarez, Family Service Director
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Brock Fleischman, Clinical Care Team Member/Family Care Associate
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Mike Brown, Clinical Care Team Member
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Richard Del Real, Assistant Cremationist
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Lisa McCurry, Clinical Care Team Member
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Robert Hernandez, Family Care Assistant
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Greg Valenzuela, Family Care Assistant
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Angelina Matlock, Family Care Assistant
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Noah Smith, Family Care Assistant
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Cristian Garcia, Family Care Assistant
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Paul Dillard, Facility Care Associate