
In honor of the late Mr. Benjamin Underwood
Owner, CEO
Mr. Benjamin A. Underwood, age 83, of Louisville, returned to his Heavenly Father on Friday, April 22, 2022.
Mr. Underwood was a proud funeral director and embalmer for almost fifty years and fulfilled this important calling with respect and dignity to every person he came across. He was an “old school” funeral director full of purpose. His brilliant and intentional decisions can be seen in all of his locations.
Benjamin Underwood
Mr. Benjamin A. Underwood, age 83, of Louisville, returned to his Heavenly Father on Friday, April 22, 2022.
He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, currently in the Shepherdsville Branch. He has served in many callings and positions of responsibility throughout his lifetime of dedicated church service including Bishop, Young Men’s President, High Priest group leader, high counselor, and Sunday school teacher.
For over 25 years, he was passionately involved in coaching youth basketball, softball and football in church and community leagues. He was a long-standing and esteemed coach at Lyndon Recreation Center and was the founder of a community middle school football program.
Mr. Underwood was the founder, co-owner, and president of Schoppenhorst, Underwood & Brooks Funeral Home which is founded on the principle of the Golden Rule. He lived and exemplified this teaching. His passion has always been to provide thoughtful, affordable and compassionate care to the families he serves.
Mr. Underwood was born in Louisville, KY on March 14, 1939 to the late Hallie Robinson Kruse and Ralph Ellis Underwood. He graduated from DuPont Manual High School, Murray State University, and Kentucky School of Mortuary Science. At Murray State, Ben was a member of the debate team. In 1961, he placed second in individual honors in the Kentucky State Tournament featuring every college and university in the state of Kentucky. The first-place finisher was Dino Curris, later President of Murray State. Ben also was on the team that defeated Harvard. Ben was also on the international intercollegiate debate team in 1961. He served his country in the U.S. Army at Fort Knox and Fort Jackson, South Carolina and he was a proud member of Crescent Hill Masonic Lodge #456 F&AM.
After a significant childhood experience with his grandfather’s funeral and several signs throughout his youth, he was left with an intense desire to begin his important work as a funeral director. After pursuing other jobs, he began his profession as a funeral director when he purchased Neurath Funeral Home on East Market Street. Shortly thereafter, he acquired Schoppenhorst Bros. Eventually, he sold it and opened the location at Brooks with his mother, Hallie Kruse. In 2013, Ben purchased the Hardy-Close Funeral Home located across from the courthouse in historic downtown Shepherdsville. After much renovation, he has turned it in to a beautiful community funeral home. Later in 2015, a long-standing dream was realized when he built a magnificent funeral home in Mt. Washington with the help of his son, Zane. Mr. Underwood was a proud funeral director and embalmer for almost fifty years and fulfilled this important calling with respect and dignity to every person he came across. He was an “old school” funeral director full of purpose. His brilliant and intentional decisions can be seen in all of his locations.
Mr. Underwood leaves a legacy of generosity, kindness, intellect, and wisdom.
In addition to his parents, his son, Zane Loren Underwood; his wife, Sally Chism Underwood and his infant sister, Susan Underwood preceded him in death.
He leaves to cherish his memory, his son, Ben Underwood, Jr.; his daughter, Shannon Clauson (Rob) with children, Samantha (Spencer) , Seth (Laurel), Sadie and Shad; daughter, Kerri Horton (David) and children, Graeme, Greyson and Gavin; daughter-in-law, Traci and children, Trevor, Boston, Gage and Mallory; son, Joel Underwood (Tricia) and children, Austin, Shane and Abby; son, Beaux Underwood; great-grandchildren, Goldie and Kennedy and a host of other dear family and friends.
Funeral service was held Saturday, April 30, 2022 at 12:00pm in the chapel of Schoppenhorst, Underwood & Brooks Funeral Home, Mt. Washington (Hwy. 44 east at 123 Winning Colors Dr.) with burial at Brookland Cemetery. Family and Friends paid respects on Friday, April 29, 2022 from 1:00pm until 8:00pm and again Saturday from 10:00am until the time of service at 12:00pm at the funeral home.
Staff members of Schoppenhorst, Underwood & Brooks Funeral Home are caring and experienced professionals who understand that each family is unique and has personal requests and traditions. These requests and traditions are of utmost importance to our staff of licensed funeral directors.

Angela Banks
Location Manager
Angela Banks
Angela Banks is our Location Manager for the Preston Hwy/ Brooks location. Ms. Banks is a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer and has been employed with Schoppenhorst, Underwood & Brooks Funeral Home since 2010. She is a 2010 graduate of Mid-America College of Funeral service and was Valedictorian of her class. Ms. Banks has two sons, Tyler (Mandy) and Tanner Smith and 5 grandchildren. She is a member of Little Flock Baptist Church.

Benny Evans
Funeral Director/Embalmer
Benny Evans
Benny B. Evans is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer with 49 years of experience in the funeral profession. He is married to Andrea Evans, a retired teacher from Hebron Middle School. Mr. Evans is a member of Kenwood Heights Christian Church and the Suburban Masonic Lodge #740 F&AM.

Barry Lawson
Funeral Director
Barry Lawson
Barry Lawson has been married for 41 years to Beverly and has lived in Bullitt County for 51 years. He is a licensed Funeral Director and has been employed with Schoppenhorst, Underwood & Brooks Funeral Home since 2009. Mr. Lawson is a Deacon and member of Penile Baptist Church.

John Bishop
Funeral Director/Embalmer
John Bishop
John graduated from the old Kentucky School of Mortuary Science in 1977. He has been locally employed for 45 years in funeral service (including 10 years at the original Schoppenhorst, Underwood & Brooks Funeral Home on Market St.) He was baptized in 1988 at the Old Cecilia Catholic Church and is now a member of St. Gabriel Catholic Church.

Maureen Purcell
Funeral Director
Maureen Purcell
Maureen Purcell is a Licensed Funeral Director and has lived in Louisville, Kentucky her entire life. She graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1995 with a degree in Human Services. Her father was a manager for several cemeteries in the Louisville area and this inspired her to work in the funeral profession. In 1994, she was given the opportunity to work with Ben Underwood at Schoppenhorst, Neurath and Brooks Funeral Home (the former name of Schoppenhorst, Underwood & Brooks Funeral Home) in the pre-planning department. After several years, she went to work for Highlands Funeral Home, and then worked for Ratterman Bros. in St. Matthews and Middletown for over 13 years. Maureen stepped away from funeral service for 9 years managing a doctor’s office. She returned to work for Schoppenhorst, Underwood & Brooks Funeral Home again in August 2020. She has 3 children, 6 grandsons and 1 granddaughter.

Connor Polston
Funeral Director
Connor Polston
Connor Polston is the head funeral director at the Schoppenhorst, Underwood & Brooks Mt. Washington location. Connor grew up in Louisville, Kentucky and graduated from Louisville Male High School. His funeral career started in July 2017 at Hardy-Close Funeral Home as an apprentice. He became a licensed funeral director in 2019, when he moved to Schoppenhorst, Underwood & Brooks Funeral Home. Connor is married to Paige (Himes) Polston who is from Mt. Washington and graduated from Bullitt East. They have two children, Grayson and Paislee. They attend Church of the Crossroads and live in Twelve Oaks neighborhood.

Lisa Rambo-Clark
Funeral Director
Lisa Rambo-Clark
Lisa Rambo-Clark has been a licensed Funeral Director since 2009 and employed with Schoppenhorst, Underwood & Brooks Funeral Home since 2021.
Mrs. Rambo-Clark knew when she was 11 years old, that she wanted to pursue a career in the funeral industry. She began her career in 2001 in Louisville.
Mrs. Rambo- Clark lives in Valley Station with daughters, Sarah and Olivia, and her mother, Mary.

Beth Pryor
Funeral Director/Embalmer
Beth Reno
Beth Reno is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in Indiana and Kentucky. She graduated in 2017 from the Mortuary Services Program provided by Vincennes University. Beth grew up in the funeral business and knew it was where her passion was. She is a resident of Mt. Washington and attends Calvary Christian Church. Beth is honored to be a part of Schoppenhorst, Underwood and Brooks Funeral Home.

Vickie Lawson
Funeral Director/Embalmer
Vickie Lawson
Vickie Lawson is a Licensed Funeral Director, Licensed Embalmer and Licensed Insurance Agent. She graduated from Mid America College of Funeral Services in 2014 with honors. She began her career at Hardy-Close Funeral Home in Shepherdsville in 2016 and recently joined Schoppenhorst, Underwood & Brooks Funeral Home. She lives in Brooks with her husband and their 2 cats and is the proud grandmother of Eli, who attends the University of Kentucky.

Marissa Lieras
Funeral Director/Embalmer
Marissa Lieras
Marissa was born and raised in Louisville, KY her whole life. She graduated Mid-America in 2021 and started in the Mortuary Service, doing behind the scenes work. She turned down academic scholarships to other colleges to follow her dream of becoming a Funeral Director and Embalmer. She started at Schoppenhorst, Underwood and Brooks Funeral Home in February of 2025 with the opportunity to work closer with families and pursue her true passions. Marissa really enjoys reading, classic cars, traveling, and outdoor adventures with her daughter, Elliana.

Hillard Blake Newsome
Funeral Director
Hillard Blake Newsome
“I find life is a precious gift of God to be shared with others. I have had the privilege for the last twenty years to work with the most caring and wonderful staff at Schoppenhorst. Because of these wonderful co-workers, my life has been blessed beyond words.”
“As a Funeral Director, my dreams have been fulfilled. I have realized that it is so rewarding to help others during their time of need. A smile, a kind word, a hand shake will let others know that I care. I love people and God has blessed me to become a published author; writing of the beauty I see in people and nature. I also received the Good Neighbor Award in 1995.”
“I just want to live humbly, and each day extend a helping hand to my fellowman.”
BY: Hillard Blake Newsome

Paul Rountree
Funeral Director
Paul Rountree
Paul Rountree has been married for 7 years to his wife Peggy and is lifelong resident of Bullitt County. He is a licensed Funeral Director and has been employed with Schoppenhorst, Underwood & Brooks Funeral Home since 2004. Mr. Rountree is retired from General Electric and is an associate pastor for Mt. Zion Full Gospel.

Valerie Blackwell
Associate
Valerie Blackwell
Valerie Blackwell joined the Schoppenhorst, Underwood and Brooks Funeral Home staff in 2015 after retiring from the JCPS Teenage Parent Program as a Student Advocate and Outreach Counselor for 27 years. Her experience as an adoption and grief counselor allowed for a natural transition to the funeral industry. As a military dependent, she lived in several countries and states graduating from high school in Orlando, Florida. She received a BS in Psychology from Brigham Young University and a Med in Educational Psychology from the University of Louisville. She and her husband, Mark, have lived in Louisville since 1982. They have four children and seven grandchildren.

Don Kubac
Associate
Don Kubac
Don Kubac was a science and math teacher when the tragic death of one of his students inspired him to pursue a career in funeral service. After graduating from the Kentucky School of Mortuary Science, he was employed by Mannel Funeral Service in Northern Wisconsin. For many years thereafter he served as the instructor of chemistry and pathology at the Kentucky School of Mortuary Science and Mid America College of Funeral Service. His tenure there allowed him to be a part of the funeral service education of many of the funeral directors in Kentucky and Indiana as well as many other states.
After retirement in 2012, he became part of part-time staff of Schoppenhorst, Underwood & Brooks Funeral Home where he feels truly honored and blessed to continue to service those bereaved.

Melvin Underwood
Associate
Melvin Underwood
Melvin R. Underwood has been a resident of Bullitt County for 46 years. He has been employed with Schoppenhorst, Underwood & Brooks Funeral Home since 2013. Mr. Underwood has been married for 47 years, has two daughters and three grandchildren. He is an ordained minister and Pastor of the Friendship Separate Baptist Church and a member of Highland Park Lodge 865.

Billy Roy Shepherd
Associate
Billy Roy Shepherd
Billy Roy Shepherd is a lifelong resident of Bullitt County and has been employed with Schoppenhorst, Underwood & Brooks Funeral Homesince 2013. He is a retired Bullitt County Jailer and Commonwealth of Kentucky Parole Officer.

Ralph C. Lawson
Associate
Ralph C. Lawson
Ralph Lawson has been employed with Schoppenhorst, Underwood & Brooks Funeral Home since April of 2013. He is a resident of Shepherdsville, Kentucky and was married for 31 years to the late Jeanette Lawson. Ralph has one daughter, Holly and retired from General Electric and the United States Navy. He is a Baptist by faith and a member of Carlisle Avenue Baptist Church and has been a Free Mason for over 41 years.

Judy Swift
Associate
Judy Swift
Judy Swift has been employed with Schoppenhorst, Underwood & Brooks Funeral Home, Mt. Washington since May 2015. She was born and raised in Pleasant Grove community of Bullitt County and attended Mt. Washington School for 12 years. Her class of 1967 will be celebrating their 50th reunion in September 2017. Judy is married to her husband of 47 years, Darrel and they have two sons Jason and Jarrod. She has worked with the Bullitt County PVA Office, as a Field Rep, under the direction of Rhonda Keith. In her spare time she enjoys helping others and spending as much time as possible with her family. “Helping Others Is What I Do Best”

Glenda King
Associate
Glenda King
Glenda Hill King has been married to Scott for 10 years, they have four children, Brian, Brandi, Andria and Jessica. She is originally from Edmonson County, Kentucky and she has been a Louisville and Bullitt County resident for most of her life. Glenda brings 46 years of educational administrative experience from the Kentucky Education Association and the University of Louisville. Glenda joined the staff of Schoppenhorst, Underwood & Brooks Funeral Home in 2020.

Debbie Adkins
Associate
Debbie Adkins
Debbie Adkins was born and raised in Louisville, KY. She worked and retired from Sears after 32 years of service. She was also fortunate enough to work for Jefferson County Public Schools and retired from JCPS after 12 years of service. Debbie and her husband, Paul live in Fern Creek. She is Baptist by faith & feels so fortunate to now be working at Schoppenhorst, Underwood & Brooks Funeral Home. It is her passion in life to take care of families in their time of need.

Rose Hosmon
Associate
Rose Hosmon
Rose Hosmon is from Brazil, South America and an American citizen since 2017. She joined the staff of Schoppenhorst, Underwood and Brooks Funeral Home in 2014 as custodial staff. In 2017, she transitioned to an Associate Position, and she was given the opportunity to work for Mr. Ben Underwood and his family as his housekeeper until his passing in 2022.
She is of Pentecost Faith. She and her late husband of 27 years did missionary work in several countries like Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Belize. They had three children who are in the ministry today. She also has five grandchildren, her earthly treasures.
Rose is grateful and honored to be part of the Schoppenhorst, Underwood and Brooks Funeral Home staff. Their professional care and outstanding service to families in such time of sorrow are commendable. We definitely go the extra mile for others in need.
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