State board revokes licenses of Phelps and Dent County funeral homes, including preneed seller license and individual owner licenses

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors revoked the entity licenses of James & Gahr Mortuary, located in Rolla and St. James, and Dent County Memorial Chapel, located in Salem.

The revocation of the entity licenses includes both the funeral establishment licenses and preneed licenses. The individual funeral profession licenses held by Donn and Connie James have also been revoked. This includes the funeral director, embalmer and preneed agent license for Donn James and the funeral director and preneed agent license for Connie James (see the complete list of revoked licenses below).

This action was taken due to violations of Missouri laws related to the management of preneed contracts and funds, failure to maintain a business registration with the Missouri Secretary of State’s office (Salem location) and failure to adhere to the terms of a probationary agreement with the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors.

The board’s discipline order requires James & Gahr Mortuary to transfer existing preneed funeral contracts and funds to another Missouri-licensed preneed seller within 30 days of the order. Pursuant to Section 436.458 RSMo, the purchaser of a preneed contract (or next of kin of a deceased purchaser) may contact the new preneed seller and designate updates to their existing contract for a new preneed provider (where their funeral service will be performed). The purchaser shall not be penalized or assessed any additional fee for designating a new preneed provider. 

Prior to the required transfer of preneed contracts and funds to another Missouri preneed seller, James & Gahr Mortuary is obligated to honor any purchaser's request to transfer their preneed contract to a newly designated alternate provider.    

The new preneed seller who will assume the preneed contracts from James & Gahr Mortuary is required to notify all purchasers upon receipt of the preneed contract and funds. Purchasers may also notify the new preneed seller of their desired preneed provider.

The revocation of these licenses means James & Gahr Mortuary, Dent County Memorial Chapel, Donn James and Connie James may no longer operate a funeral establishment, sell preneed contracts, including holding preneed funds, or represent themselves as licensed funeral professionals in Missouri.

The State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors is the state agency that regulates the funeral profession in Missouri. In addition, the board issues individual and entity licenses within the funeral profession, sets policy regarding the practice within the profession, investigates complaints concerning individuals and entities, and takes disciplinary action against funeral profession licensees when appropriate.