OUR TEAM
Blair Overton
Owner
Blair A. Overton has been a licensed funeral director since 1992. Raised in Traer, Iowa, Blair was a 1986 graduate of North Tama High School and continued his education at the University of Iowa, where he graduated with a degree in economics in 1990.
Blair received his education in mortuary sciences at the New England Institute in Boston, Massachusetts. Upon graduation in 1991, he received the Fredrick J. Walker Award for highest academic average and the Founders Award for the most promise of outstanding contribution to funeral service. While in Boston, Blair worked full time for the J. S. Waterman & Sons Funeral Home.
Returning to Iowa, Blair has served families for almost thirty years. He has owned and operated funeral homes in small towns and the greater Des Moines metroplex, as well as a cremation society and two cemeteries. Blair takes pride in helping families arrange for a fitting celebration of life.
Blair and his wife Whitney raised their sons, Alexander, Tyler, and Ryan in Johnston, Iowa. Upon becoming empty nesters they moved to the south side of Des Moines.
Sara Bering
Owner
Sara was born in Des Moines and lived in Colorado for 15 years before returning to Iowa to be close to family. It was through her father’s death that brought her to Merle Hay Funeral Home. Sara found that she was able to demonstrate her compassion for those she serves while also tending to the daily happenings of a funeral home. Sara & Blair partnered in January 2020 to form Iowa Funeral Planning and look forward to continuing to offer quality services to all families.
Alex Overton
Funeral Director Intern
Alexander C. Overton, son of Blair & Whitney, was raised in Johnston, Iowa. He graduated from Johnston High School and then swam at the University of South Carolina for two years. He finished his college career at the University of Iowa, graduating from the Tippie College of Business in 2021.
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Alex is enrolled as a student at the DMACC mortuary science program, and looks forward to being the 5th generation Overton funeral director. Alex enjoys golfing, hanging out with friends, and online gaming.
Tracie Hicks
Business Manager
Tracie Hicks has been employed with Iowa Funeral Planning since 1988 and is involved with the day-to-day operations of the funeral homes and cemeteries. She graduated from Dexfield (Redfield) High School in 1983 and then attended the University of Northern Iowa, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration in 1987. Tracie resides in Redfield with her husband Matt. They have one daughter.
Diane Vickroy
Administration
Diane began her journey with Merle Hay Funeral Home in mid-October 2020, bringing with her over 30 years of valuable customer service experience. Her dedication to helping others and her compassionate nature makes her a meaningful part of the team. She is deeply motivated by her husband, Mark; her son, Bryant; and her great-nephew, Bowen. Faith, family, and friendships are the cornerstones of her life, guiding her personally and professionally every day.
Kari Lilly
Pre-Planning Advisor
Kari joined Iowa Funeral Planning in the middle of 2021. She is a pre-planning advisor for our dual locations of The Cremation Society of Iowa and Brooks Funeral Care with nearly five years of experience. Kari has an enthusiasm for helping families pre-plan their funerals while they are happy, healthy, and able. Kari feels this should be a natural part of life because it provides you with time to make end-of-life decisions in a calm and rational atmosphere. She enjoys networking with senior coordinators and educating in a group atmosphere to ensure everyone feels comfortable to make the best decisions for themselves and their loved ones. Kari and her husband are empty nesters and enjoy dancing, time with family and remodeling their century old home in the Ingersoll Park district.
Jason Vander Zyl
Pre-Planning Advisor
Born and raised in the Des Moines area, Jason graduated from Valley High School in West Des Moines. Jason spent 23 years in the insurance industry and in January of 2020 he changed careers becoming a pre-planning advisor. In the spring of 2022, Jason joined Iowa Funeral Planning. Jason loves working with families and feels a great sense of satisfaction in helping people put together their funeral and cemetery arrangements, knowing they have registered their wishes on their terms. He truly believes that pre-planning your funeral and cemetery arrangements is one of greatest gifts you can give your loved ones.
In his spare time, Jason enjoys golfing and spending time with family and friends.
Scott Lair
Mortuary Student
Scott is an Iowa native, born and raised in Johnston. He graduated from Johnston High School in 2018 and went on to swim for Truman State University in Missouri. Scott moved back to Johnston early due to the Covid lockdown and began working at Merle Hay in early 2022.
Through working at the funeral home, he discovered that he enjoys helping families through such trying times. Scott is currently a student in the Mortuary Science program at DMACC.
Viviana Bucio
Administrative Assistant
Viviana Bucio is an administrative assistant at Brooks Funeral Care and The Cremation Society of Iowa. Viviana was born in Mexico and moved to Des Moines, Iowa in 1998. She attended North High School and is currently enrolled in DMACC. Love and respect for God and her family are the two very essential things in her life. Viviana enjoys helping others, and spending quality time with her lovely husband and beautiful daughter. Viviana is active in her church, and she loves to sing in church on Sundays.
Viviana Bucio es asistente administrativa en Brooks Funeral Care y The Cremation Society of Iowa. Viviana Nació en México y se mudó a Des Moines, iowa en 1998. Fue estudiante en la escuela preparatoria North y actualmente está inscrita en DMACC. El amor y Respeto por Dios y su familia, son las dos cosas más importantes en su vida. A Viviana le gusta ayudar a otros y disfruta pasar tiempo de calidad con su amado esposo y su hermosa hija. Viviana es un miembro muy activo en su Iglesia y le encanta cantar en misa los Domingos.
Jonathan Arriola
Community Outreach Counselor
Jonathan was born and raised in Salinas, California before moving to Des Moines with his family in 2016. He graduated from Dowling Catholic High School and then entered seminary college at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota to discern the priesthood. After discerning for four years and leaving the seminary in 2023, he returned home to Des Moines and recently joined the funeral industry in which he plans to pursue a life-long career in service and outreach to the Hispanic families of the Des Moines and surrounding areas.
Jonathan nació y fue criado en Salinas, California antes de mudarse a Des Moines con su familia en el 2016. Se graduó en en 2016 de la preparatoria Católica Dowling y después entro al seminario en la Universidad de Santo Tomas en St. Paul, Minnesota con el propósito de discernir el sacerdocio. Tras discernir por cuatro años y salirse en el 2023, regresó a casa a Des Moines y recientemente se unió a la industria fúnebre en la cual planea permanecer por el resto de su carrera ayudando a las familias hispanas del área de Des Moines y de los alrededores.
Liza Bering
Administration
Liza Bering brings compassion, organization, and a deep sense of care to her role in administration at Iowa Funeral Planning. She is dedicated to service with dignity and seeks to help create a supportive environment for the families we serve. A graduate of Colorado College, Liza combines her liberal arts education with a strong commitment to service and support. In addition to her work at the funeral home, she is a licensed massage therapist- an experience that deepens her understanding of care, presence, and well-being.
Jill White
Funeral Director
Jill White grew up in Gowrie, Iowa, where her family owns the local Funeral Home. Jill graduated from Iowa Central Community College and went on to further her education at Northwestern College in Orange City, where she received a Bachelor's degree in Business. After that, she decided to pursue a career in funeral service and attended DMACC, graduating in 2007. She became the 4th generation Funeral Director in her family. Jill worked 10 years in a couple different Funeral Homes around the Des Moines metro before doing a change in careers to raise her family. She got back into the funeral industry full time in 2024 and joined Iowa Funeral Planning in 2025. Jill has had several mentors along the way that have helped shape her successful career in funeral service.
Jill resides by Panora with her husband and two daughters. In her spare time, she enjoys running, reading, and attending her daughters’ activities.
Phil Harris
Funeral Director
Phillip C. Harris has been apart of the funeral profession as a licensed funeral director since 1976. A native of Onawa, Iowa, Phil graduated from West Monona High School in 1973. He attended Simpson College in Indianola, and graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1976. Phil and his wife Cathy owned and operated the Harris Funeral Homes of West Bend, Mallard and Gilmore City, IA, from 1987-2021 where they raised their daughters, Allison and Ashley. Presently, Phil is serving as a funeral director at Merle Hay, Sunset, and Brooks Funeral Home in Des Moines, IA. As well as directing funerals, Phil is currently the director of public relations, outreach and marketing . Cathy and Phil reside in Altoona, IA.
