Kirby & Family Earns Top Achievement Award from National Funeral Directors Association

Elton Kirby (at left) and Mary Kirby hold the plaque representing one of the highest honors given in their profession, the Pursuit of Excellence Award from the National Funeral Directors Association. The plaque is inscribed to honor the Mountain Home company for achievement in the fields of professional, educational and community service. Elton Kirby established the business in Mountain Home in 1976 and expanded to Bull Shoals in 1979. Mary Kirby became a partner in 1998.

Kirby & Family Funeral & Cremation Services, owned and managed by Elton Kirby and Mary Kirby, has received the 2001 National Funeral Directors Association Pursuit of Excellence Achievement award for outstanding community service, professional integrity and dynamic public relations programs.

"The Pursuit of Excellence program is the premier standard for funeral service excellence. First-time recipients of this award receive a beautiful walnut recognition plaque to display in their funeral home," said NFDA Acting Chief Executive Officer Christine Reichelt-Pepper.

To achieve recognition in the Pursuit of Excellence program, a funeral home must meet quality service criteria in eight categories of achievement. The categories include: education, compassionate service, technical skills, community and professional service, library or media resources, professional development, in-house staff training, and public and community relations.

The Achievement award was presented to 49 funeral homes nationwide during NFDA's 120th annual convention at Orlando, Fla. NFDA is headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., and has an office in Washington, D.C. It is the oldest and largest funeral service association, serving about 13,500 members.

In 1976, Elton Kirby's family established the funeral service in Mountain Home and expanded to Bull Shoals in 1979. Mary Kirby became a partner in the business in1998. Kirby & Family operates Kirby's Tucker Memorial Cemetery & Mausoleum, located four miles southwest of Mountain Home on Tucker Cemetery Road, and participates in the American Cemetery Association's lot exchange program.