History & Staff

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Dewayne began his funeral service career in 1970 when he founded and developed Rest Haven Memorial Park. In 1992, he built Rest Haven Funeral Home, later adding locations in Royse City and Rowlett. Guided by his positive attitude, dedication to work ethic, integrity and high standards, Rest Haven Funeral Homes continues to emerge as one of the premiere family-owned organizations in the industry. “My mom and dad taught me early on that serving others is one of the most important things in life,” Dewayne said. “At Rest Haven, my staff and I share an unwavering commitment to serve every family with the highest standards of integrity and compassion.” A highly respected community and professional leader, Dewayne has brought vision and ingenuity to many organizations and associations. He has served as President of the Rockwall Noon Rotary Club and the Rockwall Chamber of Commerce; and has held leadership positions within the YMCA, Rockwall Independent School District, Texas Funeral Directors Association and the North Texas Funeral Directors Association. Dewayne and his wife Ann (Atkins) Cain, both born and reared in Rockwall, enjoy working together to operate and grow their family-owned business. They love spending time with their family and friends, and are especially proud of their wonderful grandchildren.

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A member of the Rest Haven team since 2007, Lesli oversees the daily operations of all Rest Haven companies, directs the Human Resources Department and guides company finances and Risk Management. “I feel so blessed to work with the incredibly talented Rest Haven staff,” Lesli said. “The compassion and integrity they demonstrate every single day is an inspiration to me, and an invaluable help to the families we serve.” Married to her husband, James, since 2001, Lesli has been a resident of Rockwall since she was a child and is a proud graduate of Rockwall High School and Texas A&M University. A strong advocate for the local business community and passionate about local education, Lesli has served in leadership positons for both the Rockwall Area Chamber of Commerce and the Rockwall Independent School District. Lesli and James have two children, Mazie and Maddoc, and their devoted dog, Buster. They are active members of Lake Pointe Church and committed to their service to Christ. When they are not managing the kids’ busy sports schedules, Lesli and James enjoy attending Rockwall Yellowjacket football games and spending time with family and friends.

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Dan was born in California but moved to Texas just as soon as he could! He and his sweetheart, Dee, have been married 24 years and have two wonderful children. Dan graduated with honors from the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service where he served as Class President, and was also a member of Epsilon Lambda. Dan joined the Rest Haven family in 2014, and was recently awarded the “2016 Distinguished Service Award Young Funeral Professional” by the North Texas Funeral Directors Association. “I share the Rest Haven commitment to Service Beyond Expectation,” Dan said. “It is the goal that drives my passion in both my professional and personal life.” When he’s not wearing a suit and tie, you can find Dan stomping around in the woods somewhere hunting, fishing or just enjoying time with his family and friends.

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Marty is from Garland, TX where he graduated from Garland High School in 1990. He graduated from the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in 1992, and has been in the funeral industry for over 25 years. Marty has been a proud member of the Rest Haven team since 1998, and is passionate about helping families during one of the most difficult times in life. “Being a funeral director is a true calling for me," Marty said. "When I know that I have made things easier for a family - when I've made a positive difference for them - then I know I am doing what God has called me to do.” Marty and his wife are proud of their two amazing sons who are active in the Richardson/Rockwall Ice Hockey Association, and the TCU Horned Frog Marching Band. They enjoy spending weekends on Lake Ray Hubbard, cheering at ice hockey games and watching Frog Football.

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Thomas was born and raised in El Paso, TX and moved to the area in 2008. He graduated from Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in 1995 and has been serving families ever since. Thomas’s interest in the funeral industry stemmed from childhood as he had opportunities to assist and serve as an acolyte during services in the Catholic faith. Thomas and his wife Rocio met in 1992 (high school sweethearts) and have been married since 2001. They have a beautiful boy, Thomas Jr., born in 2015 and in May 2018 they welcomed their second son, Aidan. Thomas enjoys spending every precious moment he can with his beautiful family.

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Desiree grew up in Alamogordo, NM. After graduating High School in 2009, she was awarded a soccer scholarship to Eastern New Mexico University where she received her Bachelors of Criminal Justice in 2012. Desiree later enrolled at the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service and received her Associate of Applied Science Degree in Funeral Service in 2015. “As a kid, I always knew I wanted to be in the funeral profession,” Desiree said. “I have a heart for families who are going through a difficult time, and just want to make things a little bit easier for them.” Desiree is a devoted mom to her one adorable daughter. She is an avid sports fan and enjoys attending as many sporting events as she can fit into her busy schedule.

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Mike is from Mathis, TX where he graduated from Mathis High School in 1982. He spent 10 years working on offshore drilling rigs for Marine Drilling Company based out of Corpus Christi, TX. Mike was one of the top students in his 1993 class at the Dallas Institute of Funeral Services. As one of Rest Haven's most tenured employees (over 20 years and counting), Mike has built a rapport and relationships with many of the families we serve. They reach out to Mike to just touch base with him, long after we have served them. When Mike is not helping families, he loves spending time with his wife Michele and their rescue kitty Asher. He also likes to go hunting and watch the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers games.

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Lydia Marruffo was born and raised in the North Dallas area; she attended North Texas State University and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice in the early 90’s. She earned her Mortuary Science degree from the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in November of 2013. Lydia prides herself as a dedicated director who seeks to acknowledge every life that comes through her path. She listens to the details as the family shares so that she can capture the essence of their loved one and showcase their essence in a truly tailored service. Lydia is also a proud mother of a beautiful daughter, Justice, who is attending college in Massachusetts. She and her husband, Guadalupe “Lupe”, are enjoying being young “empty nesters.” Lydia said, “I have a caregiver’s heart and Rest Haven allows me to be me! To the families I have served, and to the families I will serve, I thank you in advance for trusting us to care for your loved one, it truly is our honor.”

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Joseph is from Ennis, Texas where he graduated from Ennis High School in 1988. He graduated from the University of North Texas in 1994. Joseph met his sweetheart, Angela, in college. They were married in 1999 and now have two incredible children. Joseph graduated from the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in 2003 and joined the Rest Haven family in 2018. Joseph has a passion for working with families focusing on personalization to provide a memorable service that honors the family's loved one. When Joseph is not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing guitar, and hunting. He and his family are also active members of One Community Church in Plano, Texas.

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A native Texan from San Antonio, Rick has been part of the Rest Haven team since 2010. He has a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Religious Education and has over 45 years of service in the ministry. As a Chaplain in the funeral service for the last 22 years, Rick’s experience and compassion are a tremendous comfort to families as they work with him to memorialize their loved one. “Every person has a story to tell – both in life and in death,” Rick said. “It is my goal to tell every story.” Rick is married to Sandi, who is also a native Texan and a member of the Rest Haven team. Rick and Sandi have a son, who serves as a Children’s Pastor in San Antonio, a daughter-in-law and four grandchildren. They enjoy spending time with their grandchildren and are both avid Texas Rangers fans. When he’s not at Rest Haven, you can usually find Rick working with the cattle and chickens on their farm.

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Jason was born in Terrell, Texas and raised in Mesquite, Texas where he graduated from Mesquite High School. He has been with Rest Haven since 2015 and has been a Funeral Professional since 2013. He is the proud father of a beautiful daughter who attends Texas A&M. Jason is passionate and caring with all of the families he serves. He is honored to be a part of the Rest Haven Family. He has a servant's heart and enjoys helping families. When Jason is not working, he can be found in the outdoors fishing and spending time with family.

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Van was born in Memphis, TN, however, he has lived in the North Dallas area most of his life. He was a graduate from Hillcrest High School in North Dallas, and then he attended Mid-America Christian University where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Christian Ministries. Van came to Rest Haven from the senior living industry where he was an Executive Director serving our wonderful seniors. Today, he is part of the Rest Haven Family Services team. Van states that the main focus in his life is to use the spiritual gifts which God has freely given to him in order that he may serve God and his fellow man to the best of his ability. Together, Van and his wife, Diana, have five beautiful children and 10 wonderful grandchildren. He lovingly says that having all of these grandchildren feels like a full-time job in itself. His free time is enjoyed by reading, sports, music, and visiting with family and friends.

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Loya joined the Rest Haven Staff in October of 2017 after retiring from a 29 year career in education. With a heart for service, she looks forward to building relationships with families and helping them with final arrangements. Loya feels blessed to be a part of such a dedicated, caring staff. She and husband Brett have been married 28 years and are the parents of two incredible daughters, Callie and Cale. When Loya is not working, she enjoys family time, reading and travel.

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Holli has worked in the funeral industry for over eight years and joined the Rest Haven staff in September 2014. Whether she is serving a family that has an immediate need or helping a family pre-arrange, Holli is a compassionate and knowledgeable professional. “What I love most about my job is building relationships with the families I serve,” Holli said. “People often ask me if it is a hard job - working with people who are grieving. I try to explain to them that I feel truly honored when a family trusts me to help them with final arrangements. I also feel extremely blessed to work at Rest Haven.” Holli has been married to her husband, Brad, for 14 years. They have four children - Alissa (aka Jordon), Zachary, Luke, and Levi. Holli lives with her family in Royse City and in her free time enjoys traveling, shopping and spending time with family and friends.

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Gene was born in Terrell, TX and raised in Southeast Dallas where he graduated from W.W. Samuell High School and attended Eastfield College. Gene has been involved in music all his life and was honored to record with Capitol Records during the mid-1980’s. Gene has worked in Event planning and Customer Service and Sales over the last 25 years. He served in the Ambassador Program here at Rest Haven Funeral Home in 2015. Gene believes that building trusted and caring relationships is one of our greatest callings in life. He and his wife Judy have 5 wonderful children, 1 adorable grandchild, and love being a part of the Rockwall Community and the Rest Haven Family.

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Tabitha grew up in Mesquite, TX and recently moved to Caddo Mills. She has worked in the funeral and cemetery industry for over 15 years. Tabitha and her husband Donald have been married since 2004. They have 1 daughter, Breanah and 2 dogs, Callie and Bear. When Tabitha is not working she enjoys spending time with family and friends, taking road trips, discovering new places, watching live plays and musicals. “I truly enjoy working for Rest Haven and I am thankful God guided me here,” Tabitha said. “The integrity and dedication our staff provides each family makes me proud to be part of Rest Haven.”

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Johnny was born in Mansfield, Louisiana. He entered the funeral profession at the age of 16 and later received his license in 1972. He moved to Texas in 1986 and was the first licensed funeral director at Rest Haven. Johnny and his wife Patti have been married for over 30 years and have 3 sons, a daughter and 4 grandchildren. When Johnny is not a work he enjoys his involvement with his church, spending time with his family and traveling, especially in the mountains.

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Ronnie has been with Rest Haven since 2004. He loves the friendships that he has made with the people who have loved ones buried in the Memorial Park. Ronnie was born in Hale Center, Texas outside of Lubbock and was raised working with cattle and horses and still loves it to this day. He has been a member of Lake Pointe Church since 2007. He has been married to Susan since 2007, and they have two sons, two daughters, four granddaughters, and a spoiled rotten Yellow Lab named “Duke”. When not working or being “Grandaddy” Ronnie also loves to go out to dinner with friends, take Susan and Duke to the beach, and loves to watch his beloved “Texas Tech Red Raiders” play ball.

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Katy was born and raised in Dallas near White Rock Lake. She has played violin since the second grade and attended Booker T. Washington specializing in the orchestral music department in high school. She has a passion for working with and serving people and families. She has a Food and Beverage background of more than 15 years and will now be offering the great service of Director of Catering for our Rest Haven families. Katy and her husband, Clint, have been married since October 2011. They have two wonderful children. Charlie, born in March 2014 and Emma, born in June 2017. They have recently planted roots in Wylie! Katy adores animals including their lab mix, Gonzo and cat, Opie. When not working, the Justices have many hobbies, most of all they love to spend time with family and friends!

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Linda has been a member of the Rest Haven team since 1998. As Office Manager, most of her job entails tasks that are behind-the-scenes, but she also handles the accounting for pre-need and life insurance claims. "This can be an overwhelming task for families after a death has occurred, and I appreciate the opportunity to help them navigate the process," Linda said. Linda is a lifelong resident of Dallas County and has been married to her husband, Gary, since 1978. She and Gary love working on outdoor and home remodeling projects together (no job is too big or too small!) and spending time on the lake. They have one daughter, Crystal, son-in-law, Andy, and rambunctious flat-coated retriever, Posey.

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A proud resident of Royse City, Ashlee joined the Rest Haven team in 2016 as administrative assistant and Community Outreach at Rest Haven - Royse City. Ashlee and her husband Shane have been together since 2005 and God blessed them with their son Braiden in 2010. She volunteers at her son’s school and in the Royse City community. “My passion is to help others. I love that Rest Haven is so involved in the community and that I get to be a part of that,” Ashlee said. Outside of work she spends time with her family in the woods or traveling to the mountains.

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Allison grew up in Rockwall, TX where she graduated from Rockwall High School. After High School she enrolled at Eastfield Community College where she is pursuing a career in elementary education. Allison and her husband Austin have one son and a yellow Labrador fur baby. When she is not at work she enjoys being outdoors and spending time with family and friends. “I feel very blessed to work with such caring and hardworking coworkers,” Allison said. “Everyone’s goal here is to help and serve families, we feel privileged to assist them as they deal with a hard time in their lives.”

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A native Texan from Royse City, Sandi has been part of Rest Haven team since 2011. She has worked in the funeral industry for over 20 years. Sandi graduated from Baylor University and she and her husband Rick have been married since 1973. She has served in the ministry with Rick for over 40 years. Sandi has one son who is a children’s pastor in San Antonio and a daughter-in-law who is in nursing school. She is a very proud grandmother of four outstanding grandchildren. When Sandi is not at work she enjoys spending time with her family, interior design and home decorating projects.

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Kathleen is from Rockwall were she graduated from Rockwall High School. She earned her Speech Communications degree from Texas A&M University and began working for Telecommunications industry after graduation. Kathleen and her husband Ron have two children, Sam a sophomore from Texas A&M and Molly Kate who attends Rockwall High School. Kathleen says, “I’m thrilled to be part of the wonderful Rest Haven family, helping plan and organize community events. These celebrations are a direct correlation to how much Rest Haven enjoys filling the need for fellowship, remembrance and fun for Rockwall and surrounding areas.” When Kathleen is not working she enjoys spending time with her family, shopping for bargains in Canton and is passionate about volunteering.

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A member of the Rest Haven team since 2007, Tonya grew up in Burkburnett, Texas and learned the value and pride of small-town relationships. This was especially true when she experienced the death of her Dad. The importance of a close, supportive funeral home on a devastated teenage girl has never been forgotten. As an employee who works in the background, she has remembered this experience numerous times through the families we serve. When Tonya is not working she enjoys spending time with her husband Jerry, her awesome children Josh & Shannon Morris, Courtney & Josh Baxter and grandchildren Corbin, Colin, Tobin, Torin, River, Ryker, Samantha, and Trent.

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Christy is a native Texan and grew up in Rockwall. She is married to Deryl who is the President and owner of Blue Sky Sales, Inc. Christy and Deryl have been married for 24 years and have 8 children, two horses, two donkeys and two dogs. “I am very proud to be a part of the Rest Haven family. Everyone has such a compassion for serving others and a heart for families.”

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Melinda joined Rest Haven in November of 2000 and serves as administrative assistant at Rest Haven - Rowlett. She has a bachelor’s in Business Administration from McNeese State University in Louisiana where she was born. Spending time with her four grandsons is Melinda's favorite pastime, along with gardening and restoring antiques. Melinda is passionate about her faith in Jesus Christ and enjoys serving others through her association with Rest Haven.

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Lauren is a proud Texan with deep roots in the Tomball and Spring, TX area where she grew up. She lived in Memphis, TN for 17 years where she and her husband Chad were married in 1995. In 2004 they moved their family back to Texas and have called Rockwall home since 2015. Chad and Lauren have four children, Alexis, Faith, Chloe, and Sam as well as three dogs and one cat. When not working Lauren enjoys watching sports, working on her succulent collection, re-purposing and upcycling, and cooking. “I am honored to be a part of the Rest Haven Family and helping families in their time of need.”, Lauren said.

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Keri joined the Rest Haven staff in 2015, bringing with her over 17 years of customer service experience in the banking industry. She is married to Julian who is an Account Executive-Pro Services with Lowe's. Keri and Julian have lived in Rockwall for 15 years and are busy parents to their one son, two dogs and a cat. Keri enjoys reading, arts and crafts, and spending time with her family. “I am so proud to be a part of the Rest Haven family,” Keri said. “I love my job and consider it a privilege to help families in their time of need.”