Our Staff

Staff members of Merchant Memorial Group are caring and experienced professionals who understand that each family is unique and has personal requests and traditions. These requests and traditions are of utmost importance to our staff of licensed funeral directors. Scroll below and learn about our dedicated staff.

Our Staff

Meet the people behind our company

Don Brown

Funeral Director & Embalmer (Retired)

Don has been associated with funeral service since 1962 and began his association with Merchant Funeral Home in 1964. Don is the former owner of Richarson-Brown Funeral Home in Pomeroy, Washington. While in Pomeroy, he was chairman of the Garfield County Hospital board of directors for three years. Don is also a former director of the Washington State Funeral Directors Association board of directors.  His wife, Connie, and himeself, enjoy five children and ten grandchildren. While he is keeping his license up, he has officially retired.

Jerry Bartlow

Funeral Director & Embalmer

Email: merchantmemorialgroup@gmail.com
Office Phone: 208-743-9464
Fax: 208-746-7002

Jerry is a graduate of the California College of Mortuary Science in Los Angeles. He has been a licensed funeral director and embalmer since 1976, and employed at Merchant Memorial Group since 1989. His free time is spent with his family that includes his number of children and grandchildren.

Richard Lassiter

Funeral Director

Email: richard.merchant.memorial@gmail.com
Office Phone: 509-758-2556
Fax: 509-758-5871

Richard grew up in Clarkson, graduating from Clarkston High School in 1999. He received his Associates Degree from the Clarkston branch of Walla Walla Community College and his Bachelors and Masters in English from Washington State University. Richard began working for Merchant Memorial Group in May of 2012. In August of 2024 Richard will be taking a sabbatical leave to further his education and personal interests at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Georgia.

Meghan Hampson - Lambert

Office Manager

Email: meghan.merchant.memorial@gmail.com
Office Phone: 509-758-2556

Meghan graduated from Clarkston High School in 2000 and Walla Walla Community College in 2005. She began working for Merchant Funeral Home in September 2001.

Jessie Spears

Mountain View Service Admin and Cemetery Office

Email: Jessie.merchant.memorial@gmail.com

Office Phone: 208-743-9464

Jessie grew up in Lewiston, and graduated from Homeschooling in 1999. She joined Merchant Memorial Group in October of 2021. Jessie enjoys spending her free time showing her horses, hiking, and photographing the PNW.

Karen Rohde

Mountain View Reception

Email: reception.merchant.memorial@gmail.com

Office Phone: 208-743-9464

Fax Number: 208-746-7002



Karen joined the Merchant Memorial Group in August of 2023. Born and raised in
the Lewis Clark valley. Karen enjoys her family and raising and showing her dogs.

Ed Lambert

Cemetery Grounds Manager