Our Story
Learn our story, from the beginning and into the future.
Ever since we opened our gates we have approached life (and death) differently. While some just see the end of a loved one’s life as a time for grief and mourning, we prefer to think of it as a time for reflection, appreciation and even celebration. This is evident in everything we do, from the way we conduct our services to the amenities we choose to offer. We are not a burial ground. We are a close knit community dedicated to honoring, sharing and preserving the amazing and inspirational stories that are life.
Why Us?
In a nutshell? Experience, professionalism, compassion, and empathy.
We've learned a lot over many years. Like how to present options without overwhelming. And how to meet the needs of many caring parties. People come to us in difficult times, and we respond kindness, calmness and expertise. Our goal is to create a beautiful occasion and make you feel welcome, always. We spend our days planning with families. We stay up to date with industry developments. And we make hard times a little easier.
Learn the legacy.
It's All about the Relationship
In the early 1970's, Dewayne and Ann Cain saw the need for a perpetual care cemetery in their hometown of Rockwall, and began to develop Rest Haven Memorial Park. Sparked by their desire to provide families with compassionate, complete funeral and cremation arrangements, the Cain family of companies has grown to include Rest Haven Funeral Homes in Rockwall, Rowlett and Royse City; Northeast Texas Crematory; Pet Memories Cremation Service; and The Flower Box.
We Are Here to Help You
The Cain Family, along with the entire Rest Haven staff, is here to help you. We truly care about the families we serve and are committed to a level of personalized funeral service that exceeds expectation. We will walk with you through each decision, listening carefully to help you create a memorial tribute that uniquely honors your loved one.
We Offer You More
Our comprehensive services and attention to detail will allow you to plan every aspect of your arrangements including monument design and pre-planning services.
We are here to help you in any way we can, or answer any questions you might have. Please call one of our three locations to make an appointment with one of our caring staff.
Who We Are
Meet our staff. Members of the local community make everything that happens possible.
Together, we make this place amazing.
Dewayne Cain
Founder
[email protected]
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 premier 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, have enjoyed working together to grow Rest Haven. They love spending time with their family and friends, and are especially proud of their wonderful grandchildren.
Lesli Johnson
Managing Partner
[email protected]
A member of the Rest Haven team since 2007, Lesli manages all of the Rest Haven companies, including Rest Haven Funeral Home, Rest Haven Memorial Park, Pet Memories Cremation Service, Northeast Texas Crematory, and The Flower Box. “I feel so blessed to work with the incredibly talented Rest Haven, Pet Memories, Northeast Texas, and Flower Box teams,” 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 positions for the Rockwall Area Chamber of Commerce, Rockwall ISD Education Foundation, Rockwall County A&M Club, National Charity League, Young Men's Service League, and every PTA and booster club of her children's schools. Lesli and James have two children, Mazie and Maddoc. They are active members of Lakepointe Church and committed to their service to Christ. When they are not managing their busy work and community schedules, Lesli and James enjoy attending Rockwall Yellowjacket football games and spending time with family and friends.
Jonathan Chance
Location Manager & Funeral Director in Charge - Rowlett
[email protected]
A proud Texan, Jonathan has been a licensed funeral director and embalmer since 1993. During high school Jonathan grew an interest in the funeral industry, and had the privilege working in his hometown of Irving, TX, where he completed his apprenticeship. Holding a variety of titles, his career has been 100% in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. “Like the changing community we serve, the industry has shifted from a one size fits all funeral service to personalized Celebration of Life events that can be as unique as the life that is lived. I am blessed to work with the Rest Haven family and honored to continue its legacy inside the community.” Outside the office, Jonathan enjoys time with his family, community events, golf, and getting on, or off, the road in his Jeep.
Desiree Dominguez
Location Manager & Funeral Director in Charge - Rockwall and Royse City
[email protected]
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.
Tom Chavez
Funeral Director
[email protected]
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.
Mikel Jensen
Funeral Director
[email protected]
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.
Stacey Knight
Funeral Director
[email protected]
Stacey serves the Rest Haven community with knowledgeable expertise and compassion. He is a graduate of the Dallas Institute of Funeral Services, in addition to being a decorated member of Pi Sigma Eta, a national Mortician’s fraternity. Originally from Athens, GA, Stacey relocated to the DFW Metroplex in 1998, accompanied by his wife, Monica, and three children. For the past 25 years Stacey has built a beautiful life within his community in north Texas. In his free time, Stacey enjoys spending time alongside his wife, children, two grandsons, granddaughter, and two dogs, Ava and Fergie. Stacey is a veracious reader, and is considered both a talented guitarist and tone chaser by his family and friends. Stacey has a deep sense of compassion and empathy for every family he serves. He understands that the loss of a loved one is one of the most difficult and unfamiliar times a family can experience. Stacey is honored to serve and assist with every detail of the funeral process. There are no words for some of life’s hardest moments, but having the proper care for these moments is something Stacey strives to provide.
Joseph Slovak
Funeral Director
[email protected]
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.
Robert Shalvey
Director of Family Service
[email protected]
Rob grew up in Houston, where he graduated from Klein High School. He attended Texas A&M University and later received a degree in Mortuary Science from Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, Colorado. Rob has 30 years of experience in the funeral and cemetery field. He has a deep passion for helping people create meaningful personal tributes, and for planning ahead. Rob, his wife, Sara, and their sons, Beckett and Cullen, are excited to become part of the Rockwall community. Rob also has sons Konner and Riley as well as a granddaughter, Paisley. In his spare time, Rob enjoys cooking, travel and card games.
Reymundo Aguirre
Family Service Professional
Reymundo is originally from Dallas, but had moved his family to the Baytown/Houston area several years ago. He recently moved back home to the Dallas area to take care of his elderly mom, and is happy to be the newest member of the Rest Haven family service team. Rey began his family service career in 2013 with Earthman Memory Gardens in Baytown, TX. It is very fulfilling for him to meet and work with families, helping them with arrangements that will best honor their loved one. “I am very passionate about helping families through the worst time of their lives, and giving them as much comfort as possible,” Rey said. He is an avid Dallas Cowboys fan and he and his wife, Jennifer, love to take their family on special vacations or on cruises. They have three grown children and five loving grandchildren.
Liz Cuevas
Family Service Professional
[email protected]
Liz joined the Rest Haven family in 2023 and feels honored to work with the surrounding Rockwall area families. Liz is a native of West Texas and grew up in the small town of Shallowater, Texas. She relocated to Lavon, Texas, in 2012. Liz has worked in the service industry, supporting her community for several years. She chose this specific industry to continue to educate and help families prepare for the most difficult time of their lives. Losing a loved one is something she personally has been impacted by, and she knows firsthand the importance of the compassion and the patience needed to service families in times of need. She has four beautiful children, a caring husband, and is a proud grandmother. During her time away from the Rest Haven family, she enjoys competing in Billard's pool with her husband, traveling, watching her youngest compete in multiple sports, and cooking for her family. Liz looks forward to continuing to provide excellent service for families in her community and is dedicated to educating families on the importance of planning ahead.
Lyndsey Fisher
Family Service Professional
[email protected]
With a rich and diverse career spanning 15 years in the non-profit sector, Lyndsey has dedicated her professional life to serving older adults in various capacities. A proud Navy veteran, Lyndsey brings a strong sense of duty and commitment to her work, ensuring that those who have contributed so much to society receive the care and support they deserve. Throughout her career, she has worked unremittingly for various organizations, leveraging her expertise in program development, fundraising, and community engagement to make a lasting impact. Beyond her professional endeavors, Lyndsey is a devoted wife to her husband, Keith, and loving parent to their three children. Her unwavering dedication to both her country and her community exemplifies her values of service, integrity, and compassion. As she continues her journey of serving and empowering older adults, Lyndsey remains steadfast in her mission to create a brighter future for generations to come with her work in the community.
Jamie Pike
Family Service Professional
Jamie joined the Rest Haven family in 2021. She is excited and grateful for the opportunity to serve the families choosing Rest Haven during their most difficult time. She comes from a service background, where she was able to learn teamwork, leadership and event planning skills. Jamie worked at Outback Steak House many years, working directly with customers and training new employees, and still enjoys dining there. Yum. She was a certified CPR instructor through American Red Cross and loved teaching lifesaving skills to many. Jamie has a certificate in Disaster Preparedness, in which she learned how to deal with catastrophic situations, and she works well under pressure. She has been very active in the community, and one of her favorite accomplishments was planning, cooking, and serving 300 band members daily during her daughter’s summer camps. Jamie has three children who are the light of her life. Her eldest is studying biology at California Baptist University in Riverside, California. Her younger two are attending high school in Royse City (let’s go Bulldogs). She enjoys cooking, going for walks with her two dogs, camping, and soaking up all the time she can with her two children still at home. She has a caring heart and is very sensitive toward families going through difficult times. Jamie has been very blessed in life, and she is looking forward to continuing her life of service with the Rest Haven family.
Gene Stroman
Family Service Professional
[email protected]
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.
Daniela Dempsey
Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
Daniela grew up in Boston, MA, and after moving to Dallas attended Bryan Adams High School. She married her husband, Ryan, in 2007, and they moved to Rowlett in 2008. Together they have two daughters. When she is not at work, Daniela loves to attend sporting events with her husband, listen to her older daughter play drums in the school band and does pottery with her younger daughter. She is also passionate about gardening, swimming and putting together puzzles. Daniela feels blessed to be a part of the Rest Haven family.
Steve Edmonds
Porter
[email protected]
Steve is originally from Van Alstyne, TX, and moved to the Rockwall area in 2010. He lives in the country and enjoys gardening, landscaping and taking care of his yard. Steve has a varied background, working as an armed security officer, heavy equipment operator, produce manager, and fire fighter / EMT, and also has a window tinting business. In his spare time, he loves spending time with his two beloved Basset Hounds, Boo and Hank, and they enjoy keeping him entertained on their long walks. Steve has been in the funeral industry for many years, but believes Rest Haven Funeral Home is a step above the rest. He enjoys being part of the team and is available to help anyone who needs it.
Alex Galvan
Cemetery Superintendent
Katy Justice
Director of Catering
[email protected]
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!
Jennine Morris
Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
Jennine grew up in Mesquite, Texas. She graduated from the Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts & Sciences. In 2003 she married her husband William, and together they have 3 children. As a family, they love loading up in the car and taking road trips to explore new places. "It's always an adventure traveling in the car!" In Jennine's free time she enjoys crafting, painting, and creating art - "It soothes the soul." She feels blessed to be a part of the Rest Haven team.
Melinda Ridenhour
Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
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.
Explore Our Locations
See where we are and find the place that best meet your needs.