Jon Bates:  

After I graduated I moved back to Pampa, Texas where I came from and went to work for my Great Uncle and then to Clayton Floral Shop. While working for the flower shop I would take flowers from the funeral home to the church and then to the cemetery. I also delivered flowers to the funeral home. I was interesting in what was going on at the funeral home so I decided to write Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in Dallas, Texas to see what I would have to take. Well on September 1, 1976 I started Dallas Institute of Mortaury Science in Dallas, Texas. The first part of February, 1978 I graduated and the ceremoney was held at the Gaston Avenue Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas. After graduation I got my first job at James B. Totten Funeral Home, Electra, Texas on February 14, 1978. Electra was a town of almost 3,000 people. It was a culture shock going from a big city to a little town cause at that time there was no computers and no cable. The funeral home did 2 to 3 services amonth. I was there for a year and three months. On April 11, 1979 I received my Funeral Directors License. Next place I worked was at Vernie Keel Funeral Home in Gainesville, Texas. Grainesville is off of I-35 north of Dallas. The town was 15,000 population. Ther Funeral Home did a lot more services and there I received my Emblamers License. Next I went back to Dallas for 6 months and then moved back to Pampa where I lived until 1984. In 1984 I with out to Tucson for a...Expand for more