Our Staff

Meet Our Team

Our funeral directors and associates adhere to the highest standard of service and are committed to ensuring that all of your needs are attended to. These individuals make it possible for us to professionally coordinate funerals with the quality of service our community has come to expect from us.
Gary Lee Westerman | Funeral Directors

Gary Lee Westerman

Gary is a 40 year veteran of funeral service. He is recognized as a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) by the National Academy of Professional Funeral Service, is a licensed Funeral Director and licensed Embalmer from the State of Texas and has served in many officer and committee positions with both the North Texas Association, the Texas Funeral Director Association (TFDA) and Texas Funeral Services, Inc. Currently he is the Funeral Director in Charge and Manager of Brown's Memorial Funeral Home in Irving. He has also been involved for 33 years with the AMBUSC National Therapist Scholarship Program, and currently sits on the organizations National Board which has provided over eight million dollars in scholarships since 1955. When he can he loves to retreat to his garage when he 'revs' up his saw and works with wood. Married to wife Kristy, they both are involved with programs at Woodhaven Presbyterian Church where Gary has been a part of since 1967 when his family moved to Irving. He is also proud to be a resident of Irving, Texas for 49 years and is active in many community projects such as Irving Heritage Society and Wreaths Across America ceremony each December. Gary has special place in his heart does what he can to honor our veterans and what they do for all of us and has recently been proud to help promote, travel and setup/teardown of the Remembering Our Fallen Memorial through TFDA which helps us all remember those who gave all in the War on Terror.
Sue Brown | Funeral Directors

Sue Brown

Sue has served as the Floral Manger for Memories Flower shop for twenty plus years. She is very proud to be the daughter in law of the founder Ben F. Brown. Married to Ben F. Brown, Jr. they have twin daughters whom in turn have blessed them with three grandsons and one granddaughter. Her favorite passion is finding time to spoil each grandchild before sending them home to their parents and enjoys weekend getaways and attending concerts with Ben, Jr.
Denise Starcher | Funeral Home Staff

Denise Starcher

Denise started working at Brown’s Memorial in 1993 with no background in the funeral industry. She started as Mr. Brown’s secretary and eventually became our Office Manager. She quickly realized that this was where she belonged and can’t imagine working anywhere else. She enjoys listening to music especially when her son performs in all three of his rock bands. She also enjoys playing tennis, riding bikes and hiking the Rocky Mountains with her husband David.
Jonathan Garcia | Funeral Directors

Jonathan Garcia

Jonathan was born and raised on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, moving to Dallas to attend the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service to follow his dream of entering funeral service. Graduating in Spring of 2019, Jonathan has joined the staff of Brown’s Memorial Funeral Home to complete his apprenticeship. He achieved his State License as a Funeral Director in February 2020, while investing in his future serving both Brown's and the community of Irving. He enjoys spending his spare time by reading, traveling, going to the theater and enjoying live music venues.
Jesse Caviness

Jesse Caviness (A.K.A. "J.C.")

Aside from the six years he proudly served in the United States Air Force, JC has been a lifelong resident of Irving. He recently retired from Rhema Medical where he was responsible for the delivery and safe use of oxygen and durable medical equipment. At Browns Memorial Funeral Home, JC assists the funeral directors with visitations, and he comforts families in their time of grief. JC and his wife, Ottlynne, are very much involved with Woodhaven Presbyterian Church with Vacation Bible School, the worship committee, and the property committee.
Greg McCurry | Funeral Directors

Greg McCurry

Greg is a Funeral Associate at Brown’s Memorial Funeral Home and has been with the company since January of 2015. Greg handles all duties concerning the funeral home fleet of cars, keeping them at ready at all times. When he is not working he enjoys spending time with his children and grandson.
Babs Johnson | Funeral Home Staff

Babs Johnson

Funeral Associate. 
Babs Johnson | Funeral Home Staff

Laura Cooksey

Laura has occupied multiple rolls in the funeral industry for almost 10 years.  She has done everything from directing families at the reception desk and consoling families on the phone to designing and printing memorial programs and register books to assisting funeral directors in the arrangement room as well as on services.  It didn’t take her long to realize that she was made for this industry.  When Laura is not passionately serving families, she enjoys spending time with her son and spoiling her two puppies.
Babs Johnson | Funeral Home Staff

Kristen Cornish

Kristen was born and raised here in Irving, Texas and still resides here as well as her family. She has been a flight attendant for over 16yrs and has decided she wants to serve families here in the funeral business. Currently finishing school to become a funeral director. She also has her insurance license to provide Preneed Funeral Arrangements. She is a mother to a beautiful little girl and loves spending her free time with her family.
Denise Starcher | Funeral Home Staff

Darda Chow

Darda Chow is the Pre-Arrangement Specialist for Brown’s memorial Funeral Home. Originally from Nicaragua, Darda moved to the Dallas area in the early 80’s with her family. She has always been passionate about helping and serving others through coaching and mentoring people on a personal and professional level. 

Darda’s inspiration for Preneed came after experiencing the death of her parents. Her newfound purpose and calling are to help educate families and plan, step by step, for what would be one of the most difficult and painful choices and decisions of their lives. She pays close attention to detail, every step of the way, to ensure the wishes of the family, and the deceased, are honored. 

Darda is fluent in English, Spanish, and Miskito. Outside of work, Darda loves to spend time with her family and has a love for gardening. She also loves helping others by giving back through her favorite charity – the “MSC Gift of Hope”.
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