Staff

Our dedicated staff members are here to provide support, compassion, and information to help you through your journey of grief and the celebration of your loved one’s life.

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Chris Highsmith Owner chrishighsmith@stephens-key.com

Chris Highsmith has been in the funeral busines for over 36 years. A 1979 graduate of Welch High School, attended NEO A & M college and the Dallas institute of Funeral Service. He graduated from Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in 1987. Raised on a farm, he enjoyed playing sports, rodeoing and hunting. Chris began working in the funeral industry as a maintenance man, and quickly realized he wanted to pursue a career in the profession. He has a genuine love of serving families in need and the passion grows stronger to serve with each day. Chris is excited to be of service to the Pryor Community and will bring the highest level of service and professionalism. His wife Vicki is a retired payroll accountant for KAMO power and now works with Chris, handling all accounting and bookeeping.

His children are Cameron Dennis in Ohio, along with a granddaughter Walela; Haley Chenoweth and husband Casey of Miami, and son Hunter Highsmith of Broken Arrow; and favorite pet "Zoey" a yellow lab. 

Chris and Vicki love working and provide a family atmosphere for their employees and the families they serve. If you don't know them, we encourage you to!

 

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Andrew Haire, Sr. Funeral Director/Embalmer Apprentice & Pre-Need Advisor andrew@stephens-key.com

Andrew began working with the Stephens-Key family in 2021. In October 2022, he joined the staff full-time. He is a Funeral Director/Embalmer Apprentice. In addition, Andrew is a Licensed Insurance Agent and can assist you with all of your pre-planning needs. He also holds certification from the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association as a Certified Crematory Operator as well as from the International Grief Institute as a Certified Aftercare Specialist. 

 

Andrew holds a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary, Bachelor's Degree from Oral Roberts University and is currently enrolled in Mortuary School at Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. In addition to working for Stephens-Key, Andrew is the Lead Pastor of Vinita Community Church in Vinita, OK. He is married to his wife, Ashley, and they have five children: Makenzie, AJ, Hannah, Emalynn, and Weston.

 

Andrew enjoys and is passionate about serving families as they honor their loved one.

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David Hampton Funeral Director/Embalmer david@stephens-key.com

David began working with the Stephens-Key family in 2022. He brings over 40 years of funeral service experience to the Stephens-Key family. This knowledge is invaluable to our staff and the families that we serve.

David is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma School of Funeral Science. In addition to working in funeral homes in Oklahoma, David owned and operated Hampton Mortuary in Checotah, Oklahoma for a number of years.

He is a US Navy Veteran, serving as a Corpsman during the Vietnam War.

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Parker Ballard Funeral Assistant parker@stephens-key.com

Parker began working with the Stephens-Key family in 2021. He is a currently a teacher and coach for Locust Grove Public Schools and holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration. Parker has a servant's heart and has enjoyed working in the funeral industry so much so that he has enrolled in the fall semester at Dallas Institute of Funeral Service where he will be studying for his funeral director/embalmer license. Parker is often times the first person that families will have contact with when he is making and assisting with death calls at our local hospitals and homes. He is an excellent ambassador for Stephens-Key and loved by the families we serve. We are grateful he has chosen to be part of our work family.

In his personal time, Parker is the father to a precious four year-old daughter, Koy. He loves horses, has a mowing business and loves to spend time with friends listening to live music and traveling.

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Rick and Gloria Stephens Founders

Rick and Gloria Stephens opened Stephens Memorial Chapel in November of 1996. Over the years they served many of the families in our community with love, care and compassion. In November of 2014, they acquired Key Funeral Home in Pryor and renamed the business Stephens-Key Funeral and Cremation Care . They continue to live and be involved in the local community as well as enjoying retirement on the lake and spending time with friends and family. We are proud to continue their business with the care and compassion they showed the families they served over the years. 

Chris Highsmith

Owner
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Chris Highsmith has been in the funeral busines for over 36 years. A 1979 graduate of Welch High School, attended NEO A & M college and the Dallas institute of Funeral Service. He graduated from Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in 1987. Raised on a farm, he enjoyed playing sports, rodeoing and hunting. Chris began working in the funeral industry as a maintenance man, and quickly realized he wanted to pursue a career in the profession. He has a genuine love of serving families in need and the passion grows stronger to serve with each day. Chris is excited to be of service to the Pryor Community and will bring the highest level of service and professionalism. His wife Vicki is a retired payroll accountant for KAMO power and now works with Chris, handling all accounting and bookeeping.

His children are Cameron Dennis in Ohio, along with a granddaughter Walela; Haley Chenoweth and husband Casey of Miami, and son Hunter Highsmith of Broken Arrow; and favorite pet "Zoey" a yellow lab. 

Chris and Vicki love working and provide a family atmosphere for their employees and the families they serve. If you don't know them, we encourage you to!

 

Andrew Haire, Sr.

Funeral Director/Embalmer Apprentice & Pre-Need Advisor
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Andrew began working with the Stephens-Key family in 2021. In October 2022, he joined the staff full-time. He is a Funeral Director/Embalmer Apprentice. In addition, Andrew is a Licensed Insurance Agent and can assist you with all of your pre-planning needs. He also holds certification from the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association as a Certified Crematory Operator as well as from the International Grief Institute as a Certified Aftercare Specialist. 

 

Andrew holds a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary, Bachelor's Degree from Oral Roberts University and is currently enrolled in Mortuary School at Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. In addition to working for Stephens-Key, Andrew is the Lead Pastor of Vinita Community Church in Vinita, OK. He is married to his wife, Ashley, and they have five children: Makenzie, AJ, Hannah, Emalynn, and Weston.

 

Andrew enjoys and is passionate about serving families as they honor their loved one.

David Hampton

Funeral Director/Embalmer
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David began working with the Stephens-Key family in 2022. He brings over 40 years of funeral service experience to the Stephens-Key family. This knowledge is invaluable to our staff and the families that we serve.

David is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma School of Funeral Science. In addition to working in funeral homes in Oklahoma, David owned and operated Hampton Mortuary in Checotah, Oklahoma for a number of years.

He is a US Navy Veteran, serving as a Corpsman during the Vietnam War.

Parker Ballard

Funeral Assistant
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Parker began working with the Stephens-Key family in 2021. He is a currently a teacher and coach for Locust Grove Public Schools and holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration. Parker has a servant's heart and has enjoyed working in the funeral industry so much so that he has enrolled in the fall semester at Dallas Institute of Funeral Service where he will be studying for his funeral director/embalmer license. Parker is often times the first person that families will have contact with when he is making and assisting with death calls at our local hospitals and homes. He is an excellent ambassador for Stephens-Key and loved by the families we serve. We are grateful he has chosen to be part of our work family.

In his personal time, Parker is the father to a precious four year-old daughter, Koy. He loves horses, has a mowing business and loves to spend time with friends listening to live music and traveling.

Rick and Gloria Stephens

Founders
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Rick and Gloria Stephens opened Stephens Memorial Chapel in November of 1996. Over the years they served many of the families in our community with love, care and compassion. In November of 2014, they acquired Key Funeral Home in Pryor and renamed the business Stephens-Key Funeral and Cremation Care . They continue to live and be involved in the local community as well as enjoying retirement on the lake and spending time with friends and family. We are proud to continue their business with the care and compassion they showed the families they served over the years.