Photos Provided
Sticklin-Brown Funeral Chapel staff: Lucy Davis, Jordan Keffeler, Christine Vierra, Amanda Curry, Billy Piontek and Samuel Gallow.
By Cynthia Mudge
For the C-C Chamber of Commerce
When selecting a recipient for the Chamber’s Business of the Year award, the Chamber Board looks for businesses that not only support the Chamber but also significantly contribute to, expand, and inspire the community. This year, that honor was bestowed on Sticklin-Brown Funeral Chapel.
Sticklin-Brown’s enthusiasm for community involvement is truly inspiring. Their roots in Lewis County date back to the 1890s with the founding of Sticklin, followed by the opening of Fissell Funeral Home in 1910, which later became Brown Mortuary in 1956.
The most recent chapter in the funeral chapel’s history came in 2009, when both locations became part of Dignity Memorial. In 2025, Sticklin and Brown officially merged to operate as Sticklin-Brown Funeral Chapel. While the name has evolved, the nearly 200-year connection to the local community remains unchanged and continues to be part of the organization’s DNA.
Sticklin-Brown actively supports a wide range of community efforts, including fundraising with the Chehalis Tribe for its Tribal Loan Fund, volunteering at Morton’s annual Jubilee, supporting Possibilities Women’s Center, and partnering with local churches.
Both Sticklin and Brown have long been Chamber members and continue to support Chamber initiatives as a trusted resource and enthusiastic advocate for businesses throughout Lewis County, including those beyond the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber’s namesake communities.
Christine Vierra, location manager for Sticklin-Brown, spearheads the organization’s community outreach and leads the team’s deeply personal care for client families. Vierra is also the newest member of the Chamber Board. Along with last year’s Ambassador of the Year, Amanda Curry, she has embraced Chamber involvement by volunteering at the annual banquet, assisting with décor, supporting ribbon-cutting ceremonies, Business After Hours events, Trick or Treat Transit, and numerous other activities. Vierra is a licensed funeral director and embalmer.
Her team includes Sam Gallow, Billy Piontek, Christine Vierra, Jordan Keffeler, Lucy Davis, Nancy Rattanababpha, Ashley Coulter, and Julie Breidel.
Sticklin-Brown Funeral Chapel is also known for its unique approach to the industry, emphasizing care, kindness, and a thoughtful reimagining of the traditional funeral home experience. The team focuses on honoring each individual, ensuring every celebration of life reflects the personality and wishes of the person being remembered and their loved ones. For the past two years, Sticklin-Brown has hosted Business After Hours events to celebrate its long history and help demystify funeral services for the community.
Lewis County is home to many businesses that have served their communities for 50 years or more. Sticklin-Brown Funeral Chapel stands out as one of the region’s hidden gems, quietly and consistently helping make the community a better place.
