Church Funeral Associates

Cliff Bryner

J. Clifford “Cliff” Bryner has more than 30 years of leadership experience guiding and shaping consumer funeral products, services and delivery channels. An accomplished financial strategist and sales team manager, his vision and expertise in customer-oriented business performance have attracted recognition and praise from industry as well as consumer sectors. As a speaker to groups of all sizes, Cliff also brings a wealth of experience, insights and valuable information to the consumer’s side of funeral matters. He is a knowledgeable, cheerful, considerate and encouraging advocate for the consumer as well as the affected church, synagogue, temple, mosque, or shrine. Cliff’s “insider” understandings of the funeral industry provide positive awareness and education that will empower every church and family member to make decisions that are wiser, more financially sound, more religiously sound, and more church- and family-friendly regarding every aspect of funerals. Cliff was originally sought for speaking and presenting by the insurance industry because of his experience in identifying insurance agent misrepresentations and fraudulent securities schemes. After becoming a published expert in funeral industry insurance products, he also became more active in addressing groups of many kinds in ways to protect consumers from overspending in funeral arrangements. Offering a rare blend of strengths in financial acumen and customer service, Cliff made his professional mark in the insurance industry by establishing new standards for product sales and profitability. His astute approach to building business is reflected in his executive and managerial accomplishments at Beneficial Life Insurance Company (Salt Lake City, UT); Hudson Reinsurance Corporation (Sarasota, FL); Bear River Mutual Ins. Company (Salt Lake City, UT) and Delta Dental Plan (Salt Lake City, UT). Pierce National Life Insurance Company (Los Angeles, CA and Greenville, SC). As marketing Vice President of Pierce National Life Insurance Company, he created and successfully introduced fifteen new insurance products and then more than doubled production in the field, setting new company records for insurance products designed to cover final expenses. Cliff acquired additional front-line experience in the funeral industry by opening the first discount casket store in Johnson County, Kansas. Here, he spent four years cultivating relationships with customers, church leaders and professional peers that continue to grow long after he successfully groomed the business for sale. Cliff also invested two years working for a casket manufacturer prior to opening the casket store, five years as a head minister and church executive, and was a duly licensed Assistant Funeral Director in the State of Kansas. Cliff’s unfailing record of improvements for consumers in the funeral industry is based on his commitment to customer-oriented business management. He is known for his ability to quickly identify and respond to consumer concerns by discovering or creating refinements in organizational structure, product lines, and point-of-sale strategies to better serve customers while strengthening the company. Cliff graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. He and his wife, Susan, have five children and seven grandchildren and live in Independence, Missouri, where she helps troubled elementary school students.

Bruce R Watkins Jr

Bruce R. Watkins Jr. announced the opening of Church Funeral Associates, at 4541 Paseo in midtown Kansas City, Missouri.

“For 100 years my family has believed funeral service should be professional and dignified. But unfortunately affordable services are hard to come by these days” say’s Bruce R. Watkins Jr. “Construction, maintenance, overhead and inflated merchandise cost of traditional funeral home/chapel facilities is enormous. This cost is then transferred to the families we serve. After years of interaction with families, pastors and funeral service professionals, our team of associates has established a familiar and affordable alternative. By featuring the church and utilizing its facilities we are able to discount our merchandise and lesson our service fee. Our funeral home effectively ‘partnerships’ the clergy and funeral home in a ministry providing a sacred tribute while saving your family thousands of dollars.”

“Bringing funerals back to the Church, where they belong,”

… has become the motto of Church Funeral Associates.”

In 1909 founder and grandfather T.B Watkins and John T. Watkins recognized our growing community’s need to receive quality and dignified funeral services. The brothers established Watkins Brothers Funeral Home. Their beliefs and traditions passed to the second generation, including my father Bruce R. Watkins Sr., embalmer, funeral director, politician and community leader. Striving for excellence in funeral service, the family traditions continued under the guidance and leadership of family matriarch Olivia Riley Watkins, the second (1950) and third facilities (1968) were constructed.

Bruce R. Watkins Jr., a member of the third generation, and licensed funeral director for more than 30 years, continues that legacy as co-founder and owner of Church Funeral Associates.

Church Funeral Associates has served the greater community successfully in Mission, Kansas since 2006. “We are proud to serve families of all faiths, denominations and cultures,” say’s Bruce Watkins Jr. “Now, with the Missouri location we can better service everyone on both sides of the State line.

“To better serve our families, a Ministerial Advisory Board has been established. We believe we are more able to respond to the wishes and concerns of the Clergy with this inter-denominational forum where many funeral topics are discussed. The board is still open to new members, so just contact me if you feel inclined.”

Bruce often says to families and clergy, “Your Church, not your life savings.”

Duly awarded by the States of Missouri and Kansas, Church Funeral Associates is a Licensed Funeral Establishment providing “at need” and “before need” funeral planning.

Bruce is a graduate of the University of Nevada Las Vegas, College of Business Administration, and the Kansas City Kansas Community College School of Mortuary Science. Church Funeral Associates is a member of the MO/KAN, Missouri State, NF&MA and National Funeral Directors Associations.

To learn more of Church Funeral Associates, visit www.churchfuneral.com. E-mail Bruce@churchfuneral.com. Phone 816-442-8143.

“Your Church, not your life savings!”