Our Caring Team

Kevin Brown

Founder / Retired

Kevin Brown began his career in funeral service in 1991, when he started working at Chapel By The Sea in Fort Bragg, California. After two years of working in the industry, he knew it was more than a job it was a calling. He graduated from San Francisco College of Mortuary Science as a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer, working in California and Nevada until he relocated to Colorado. He worked at funeral homes on the Front Range and the Western Slope. And, while in Glenwood Springs, Kevin was also appointed as Deputy Coroner in Garfield County.



Kevin and his wife Sheila enjoy traveling and spending time with their children and grandchildren. As a professional singer, Kevin has won awards, recorded his music and delighted the community with his wonderful voice.



Kevin loves people and is passionate about helping them during their time of loss. For years, his dream was to have his own funeral establishment where families could choose simplicity without compromising dignity. Where funeral merchandise and services are affordable to everyone, and where customers are treated like family.

Sheila Brown

Founder

Sheila Brown is a native of Grand Junction. She began her legal career as a Division Clerk for the 21st Judicial District of Colorado and served for over 20 years.

Sheila’s ability to inspire, motivate, and build confidence in others catapulted her into a successful 30-year marketing career with an international catalog company based in the U.S.

Friends often praise Sheila for her abilities as a homemaker, interior decorator, and candy maker extraordinaire. But she would say her biggest accomplishment is being a wife and mother, and her greatest joy is being a grandmother. Her cup overflows.

Brandon Alvelais

Location Manager and Funeral Director

Richard White

Care Center Manager and Cremationist

We are proud to introduce Richard White who joined the Brown’s team in 2019. As a Manager, he supports the Funeral Home and Care Center with his attention to detail and has become an integral part of our crematory operations.

A native of Colorado, Richard was born in Denver and graduated from Littleton High School. He spent most of his life on the Front Range, previously working in auto mechanics and the medical oxygen business.

Richard is a quiet man who values solitude and a peaceful existence. Taking advantage of our beautiful state, Richard and his wife, Sheri, (previously a Brown) together with their three children, Michael, Jeremy and Danielle, have spent many happy times fishing, hunting and camping.

Richard is kind, focused and dedicated. He credits his dad who instilled his meticulous work ethic of “always doing the right thing.”

Pat Walsh

Advanced Planning Advisor

Pat’s dedication to serving others began as a Police Officer near Cleveland, Ohio. Eventually, the call of the Pacific Ocean brought Pat and his young family to California. Pat then spent more than thirty years helping the community and people of Santa Barbara with their insurance needs as well as singing Bass with an award-winning Men’s Chorus. Eventually, Pat and his wife followed their son and his family to Grand Junction. They have enjoyed the city and the many friendly people who have welcomed them. Pat is honored and excited to be part of the Brown’s Cremation and Funeral Service family. His dedication to serving and helping others continues as Brown’s Pre-Need Specialist.

Ana Calvo

Office Manager

Amanda Alvelais

Provisional Embalmer and Cremationist

We would like to introduce our Care Center Team Member, Amanda Alvelais. Amanda is our crematory operator and licensed cosmetologist. She takes a great deal of pride in making sure the loved ones of families are treated with care, compassion, and dignity.



Amanda has previous experience in mortuary work and cosmetology and found a great fit utilizing both sets of skills in the funeral home to care for families in such a difficult time. She takes every small detail into consideration.



Amanda is originally from Colorado and spent several years in Las Vegas with her husband before relocating to the western slope of Colorado to be closer to her family. Amanda is very connected to the Brown’s family as she works alongside her husband, Brandon, and sister, Sarah, who are both funeral directors with Brown’s.



Amanda LOVES animals, especially cats, and dedicates her free time to caring for cats in the community, helping stray animals find loving homes. Amanda spends her most of her free time in the gym, weight training and cooking delicious vegan recipes. She loves the color pink, and will never pass up a good concert or a trip to Sephora and Starbucks.

Kloe Nelson

Funeral Director

Kloe Nelson has been an essential part of our team as a Funeral Director for a year and a half, bringing over five years of experience in funeral services. With a bachelor's degree in psychology and associate degrees in criminal justice and gender studies, Kloe offers a rich, interdisciplinary approach to her work.



In her role, Kloe meets with families to thoughtfully arrange services that honor their loved ones. She is driven by the opportunity to contribute in a personal and meaningful way, cherishing the chance to meet wonderful people and hear their remarkable stories. Kloe believes in the power of real empathy, which she defines as acknowledging that sometimes "it is not okay."



Outside of work, Kloe enjoys spending quality time with her daughter, engaging in embroidery, singing, and practicing self-care. One of her greatest honors is when families tell her, "this is exactly how he/she would have wanted this," affirming that she has met their loved one's expectations in the most heartfelt way.

Nikya Tattershall

Funeral Director

Nikya is a compassionate and dedicated Funeral Director. Starting out in 2021 as a Transportation Technician and steadily working her way towards directing. Nikya fell in love with the industry and found her passion for helping grieving families. Known for her empathetic approach, Nikya has expertly guided numerous families through some of their most challenging times, ensuring every detail is thoughtfully managed. From planning creative and personalized services to helping deal with the more challenging aspects of death, she provides exceptional care with a focus on honoring loved ones respectfully and meaningfully. Her commitment to service and her kindhearted nature underscores her deep respect for families and their unique needs. Nikya is a proud mother of four beautiful children. Her joys outside of work include spending all of her free time with her family, cooking, crafting, and trying new things! The only thing she admittedly is not good at is baking.

Tom Chapman

Care Team

Tom Chapman has been a vital member of our Care Team for two years, bringing a wealth of experience from his previous careers. Before joining us, Tom retired as a captain from the Grand Junction Fire Department and served as a code compliance officer within municipal government.



In his role at our funeral home, Tom is instrumental in training new Care Team members, sharing his knowledge and ensuring high standards of care. He particularly enjoys conducting long-distance transfers and guiding new team members through the intricacies of our services.



Tom's approach to helping families is profoundly shaped by his mantra: "Keep it simple." He excels in assisting people through the crucial first hour after the loss of a loved one, providing answers to their questions and offering reassurance about their concerns.



Outside of work, Tom is an avid mountain and road bicyclist, enjoys hiking and fishing, and loves spending quality time with his two grandchildren. His dedication to both his professional and personal life reflects his commitment to community and family.

Neah Stepisnik

Funeral Director

Neah is a mortuary science student who found a passion for helping grieving families while she worked as a CNA and EMT through the pandemic. She hopes to one day open up a terramation facility with her husband Michael so their son, Nikolai, can grow up learning to simultaneously care for others and the environment.


Neah has a passion for science, activism and art. In her free time she enjoys painting and pottery. She also loves spending her evenings cuddled on the couch watching scary movies with her family.


She lives by the motto Doo good, then throw it in the sea”. Neah brings a sense of gentleness and compassion along with her to work. She continues to work diligently to help comfort families through the most vulnerable times.

Hailey Soerensen

Funeral Assistant

Camden Lobato

Care Team

Nikki Nickerson

Funeral Assistant

Brooke Brennan

Receptionist

Dave Botruff

Embalmer and Cremationist- Emeritus

Dave Botruff received his degree in Mortuary Science from Southern Illinois University in 1981. He has been a skilled and compassionate funeral director, embalmer, and cremationist for well over 30 years.



Always ready to serve, David was a multi-year member of the Rock Island County Coroner’s Disaster Response Team in Illinois and also an active member of the Funeral Director’s Association.



Additionally, David has served in the Lions Club and volunteered with the Salvation Army during the Holiday Season. He is especially proud of the time he spent working with persons with developmental disabilities at the Grand Junction Regional Center.



Above all, David credits his close-knit family as the key to his success. He is dedicated to his wife of 41 years, 5 wonderful children, 13 amazing grandkids, and 2 delightful great-grandchildren.



We are happy to have David at Brown’s Care Center, where he oversees the crematory, embalming facility, and refrigerated care unit.

Hailey Wissel

Administrative Assistant

Daniel Smith

Funeral Director