our staff

Jason and Jessica Kirby

Owners

Nathan Evans

Manager - Funeral Director and Preplanning Consultant

Nathan Evans is the Manager at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, where he has served since November 2015. A Licensed Funeral Director and Licensed Preplanning Consultant, Nathan is dedicated to helping families navigate some of life’s most difficult moments with compassion and professionalism.

Born and raised in West Plains, Missouri, Nathan takes great pride in serving the community he calls home. He is also a proud Army veteran, having served his country from 2005 to 2012.

Nathan holds an Associate of Science Degree in Business Administration, which supports his leadership role within the funeral home. Above all, he is most proud of being a father to his boys, who are the center of his life.

Taylor Hall

Funeral Director and Preplanning Consultant

Taylor Hall is a licensed funeral director and licensed preneed consultant, currently serving as a funeral director at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. A native of West Plains, Missouri, Taylor was born and raised in the community he now serves. He is committed to helping families navigate some of life’s most difficult moments with care, clarity, and compassion.
Taylor began his career in funeral service in January of 2023, completing his apprenticeship at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Through this experience, he developed a deep appreciation for the importance of guiding families with both professionalism and empathy during times of loss.
In addition to his work in funeral service, Taylor serves as the Pastor of Discipleship at His Place House of Worship. He values time spent with his family, as well as reading, serving in his church, and playing the guitar. Taylor and his wife have one daughter and are grateful to be raising their family in West Plains.

Melissa Johnson

Funeral Director and Preplanning Consultant

Missi Johnson is a native of West Plains, Missouri, and a 1986 graduate of West Plains High School. She joined Robertson-Drago Funeral Home in 2011 and became a licensed funeral director and preneed agent in 2014. Missi has assisted many families with pre planning their funerals, offering guidance with care, compassion, and respect. She is committed to helping each family make informed decisions in a thoughtful and dignified manner. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and traveling. Her greatest joy is spoiling her grandchildren.

Wendy McDaniel

Funeral Director's Assistant

Wendy joined the team at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home in 2024 as a funeral director’s assistant and became an apprentice funeral director in 2026. She is passionate about honoring families with respect and care. Wendy loves spending time with her 2 daughters and in her spare time she enjoys camping, hunting, and floating the river and lakes while relaxing with friends and family.

Elena Stewart

Embalmer

Although born and raised in Springfield, Illinois; Elena considers the Missouri Ozarks her home, having lived in the West Plains area for 36 years. Answering a call to funeral service, Elena enrolled in the mortuary program at St. Louis Community College - Forest Park, graduating in 2009 with her Associate of Science degree. She subsequently completed her embalming apprenticeship at Robertson Drago Funeral Home, becoming fully licensed in 2010. She has been with Robertson-Drago for the past 17 years and considers it a great honor and a privilege to be trusted with the care of families loved ones during such a difficult time. Elena has been married to her husband, Wayne, for 25 years and are the parents of Lindsey; Trey; Cameron and wife, Mallorie; Drew; and Devin and husband, Jorge. Their four grandchildren are Rae, Layla, Sawyer and Julian.

Debbie Strong

Bookkeeper

Debbie Strong has been a West Plains resident most of her life, but her roots also run deep in the Dora
community of Ozark County. She received most of her elementary education at Fairview School and
then graduated from West Plains High School with the Class of 1986. She is a secretary and bookkeeper,
joining the Robertson-Drago Funeral Home staff in the fall of 2021.
Debbie is a life-long member of Needmore Church at Dora, Missouri, where she currently teaches a
Sunday school class and operates the church’s sound system. She enjoys going on adventures with her
friends, including hiking in the mountains, lounging on beaches along the Gulf Coast, and sailing through
the Caribbean. Debbie is part of a close-knit family that enjoys spending time together. Family game
nights are a weekly staple.

Brenda Jewell

Receptionist

Brenda joined Robertson-Drago Funeral Home part time in 2014 after retiring from the title insurance and escrow industry. She loves visiting with the families she greets and is passionate about comforting others. Brenda enjoys cooking, baking, music, spending time with family and is always looking for a good antique store.

Jennifer Pingleton

Receptionist

Jennifer joined Robertson-Drago in 2024. She was born in Bogalusa, Louisiana before her family moved to Thayer, Missouri. She grew up in a small southern Missouri town and graduated from Thayer High School in 1980. She and her husband, Ray have been married for 36 years and are blessed with two children, Chance and Kylie (Austin) and two precious grandsons, Camden and Rhett.

Dee Lewis

Receptionist

Dee graduated from West Plains High School in 1974 and took classes at MSU. She has been married to her husband, Lanny for 52 years. They have two children and five grandchildren. Dee enjoys cooking, sewing, gardening and canning. She and her husband love volunteering in the community and church. Dee began working at Robertson-Drago in 2023 after her retirement from the City of West Plains. She enjoys meeting and greeting the public.

Rose Ann Riley

Receptionist

Rose Ann began working part time at Robertson-Drago in 2011 after her retirement from West Plains R-7 School district where she was the board treasurer for 33 years. She and her husband, Bob, have been married for 61 years and have 2 sons and 2 grandsons. Rose Ann is a member of Smith Chapel Church where she is the treasurer and sings in the choir. She enjoys walking, reading and traveling.

Robert Howell

Funeral Director's Assistant

Robert began his career as a funeral director’s assistant in 2024. He has been married to his wife, Tina, for 13 years and they share six children and seven grandchildren. Robert enjoys fishing and spending time with his family.

Jeff Trantham

Funeral Director's Assistant

Jeff has been working for Robertson-Drago since 2025. He is a retired EMT and is the Fire Chief of the Rover Volunteer Fire Department, a position he has held for over 20 years. He also manages his family's cattle farm and helps with the running of Meadows Christian Event Center in Rover. He has enjoyed providing his sound equipment skills for events and weddings for over 40 years, his favorite is being involved with southern gospel music groups. Jeff has 3 sons, 2 daughters-in-law, a grandson and a granddaughter that keep him busy.

Charles Brotherton, Jr.

Transportation

Chuck was born and raised in Michigan, moving to West Plains in 1976. In 1985 he began a career in law enforcement, retiring from the West Plains Police Department as Police Chief. In 2014 he came to work as a driver for Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. He and his wife, Jackie, have raised 6 children and have many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Greta Bailey

Cemetery Manager

Greta became the manager at Howell Memorial Park Cemetery in 2023. She loves her customers and does her best to accommodate the needs of the families she meets. Greta enjoys time with her husband on their hobby farm and family trips to Branson. She adores her kids and grandkids.

Steven Johnston

Groundskeeper

Steven joined Howell Memorial Park Cemetery in 2021 as a groundskeeper. He enjoys tractors, trucks, tinkering with small motors, hunting, fishing, and attending gun shows in his free time. Steven loves his family and enjoys providing firewood for them.