Our Staff

A native of Belpre Ohio, John enlisted in the United States Navy after graduation from High School during the Vietnam Era. After serving in the military, John attended the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and the University of Cincinnati, where he received his Mortuary Diploma in 1975. After serving his apprenticeship, he was employed as a licensed Funeral Director and licensed Embalmer in Bristol, Rhode Island. Before moving to Alliance, he was also employed at the Gerner and Wolf Funeral Home in Port Clinton, Ohio.

John currently serves on the Board of the Alliance Area Development, Men's Challenge, and Alliance YMCA. He is a past President of the Alliance Chamber of Commerce,  a member of Conrad Masonic Lodge #271 F&AM, a 32nd Degree Mason as well a member of The Tadmor Temple and Alliance Shrine Club. John is a member of Christ United Methodist Church. He resides in Alliance and has two children, Adam (Bethany) Christian and Ashley (Jed) Gronewald, and six grandchildren.

A native of Alliance, Adam graduated from Marlington High School in 2000. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Northeastern University in Boston, Mass. He previously worked for companies PriceWaterhouseCoopers and State Street Bank as a corporate auditor. Adam returned to Alliance in 2017 to join the family here at Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home.  He is a Certified  Funeral Director and Crematory Operator.  Currently, Adam serves on the Board of the Alliance Chamber of Commerce, the Stuckey Interfaith Child Development Center and the Rodman Public Library.  He is also a member at the Alliance Friends Church and part of the Filibusters social group.  Adam and his wife Bethany have four girls and reside in Alliance. 

A native of Alliance, Josh is a graduate of Bowling Green State University and the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Josh returned to Alliance in 2010 to join the family here at Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home as a Licensed Funeral Director / Embalmer and a Certified Crematory Operator. Josh is a member of the Alliance Rotary Club, the Alliance Salvation Army Advisory Board, Alliance Memorial Day Committee, the American Legion Post 166 and the VFW. He enjoys trail running, backpacking and spending time with his wife Sarah and step-children, Millie and Cameron.

Brandon was born, raised and currently resides in Alliance.  A 2017 graduate of Kent State University, he received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Marketing. A 2018 graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, Brandon is a Certified Crematory Operator and Certified Dual Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer.

Elizabeth manages the accounts receivable and accounts payable at the funeral home in addition to helping our families process life insurance. She is also a notary public. Liz resides in Sebring with her husband, Steve, and stepdaughters, Mikah and Paige. She attends Truth Baptist Church and enjoys spending time with her family and dog, Elvis! 

Courtney is a lifelong resident of Alliance. She is a 2010 graduate of Alliance High School and received an Administrative Office Professional degree from Stark State College. Courtney enjoys spending time with her family and her two cats, Ava and Blink.

Lee has been a resident of Alliance since the early 1990s. He is married to his wife, Priscilla, and they have three children: Kayla, Bryce, and Blake. Lee graduated from Ada High School and attended Ohio Northern University as a health and physical education major and played varsity basketball and tennis for four years. He received a master's degree from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN. Lee coached college basketball for over 29 years at Austin Peay State University, Newberry College, the University of North Carolina, and the University of Mount Union.

He recently retired from ten years of teaching in the Alliance City School District and is the tennis instructor at the Alliance Country Club in the summers. Lee and Priscilla are members of Alliance Friends Church.

A graduate of Alliance High School, Marc was born in Canton and raised in Alliance and has two sons, Marques and Anthony. He was a 1982 graduate of Baldwin Wallace where he received a Bachelor of Arts and Science degree in Political Science and Criminal Justice with a minor degree in Special Education. He taught for 30 years with the Stark County Board of Developmental Disabilities and is currently an assistant varsity football coach at Marlington High School. A certified personal trainer and strength training coach, Marc teaches strength, circuit and Silver Sneaker classes at Meyers Lake YMCA in Canton and also does home personal training. He attends Damascus Friends Church and is a member of the Stark County Coaches Association.