Today we’d like to introduce you to Jim Ayres.
Hi Jim, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My father, Lt. Col James H. Ayres, was declared Missing in Action in Vietnam in 1971, when I was eight years old. Fast forward 36 years to 2007, when his remains were repatriated. During the process of planning the military funeral for him, I became intrigued with the funeral industry by watching the work of the civilian mortuary affairs specialist. Through a series of events, which I attribute to God’s guidance, I made a career change and attended mortuary school in 2010. I served funeral homes in Plano, TX, McKinney, TX, and Nacogdoches, Tx, before purchasing the funeral home in Commerce, Tx, in 2015. My wife, Teena, and I have experienced great success after ten years of hard work and consistent service to the Commerce community.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Teena and I always joke that “if we’d known then what we know now, we wouldn’t have made this leap!” It is hard work to build a business in a small community. There are obstacles to overcome that don’t make themselves known until you’re in the thick of it. It is very expensive to run a business, therefore, finances are always a concern. There have been some slim years, but, after ten years, we feel like we are beginning to make headway.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Right out of college, I taught school for a year. Following that year, I attended seminary and earned my Master’s degree. I served a church in Carrollton as Minister of Education for seven years. When my father’s remains were repatriated, after 36 years of being missing, I felt the need to move out of the ministry to care for my family. I then taught for the next eighteen years, waiting to hear from God as to what He had for me. In 2009, God moved strongly in my life and I answered a call from Him to enter the death care industry as a funeral director/embalmer. Because if my varied professional experiences, and what I learned about working with people, grief, and recovery, I feel I am uniquely prepared to serve families as they experience one of the worst days of their lives; the death of a loved one.
People today look for an opportunity to create memories, rather than the more traditional funerals of their loved ones in the past. I feel proud that I, working alongside the family, am able to guide them as they create a personalized, meaningful celebration of life for their loved one that they will remember far into the future. This attention to detail, along with a polished, professional service is what has help me build a reputation in the area for quality service.
Any big plans?
I am most looking forward to continuing to work hard and develop relationships with the families in Commerce, and the surrounding area, which will lead to my business growing. Being visible in the community and serving in various capacities enables the citizens to get to know me. I feel that people want to be acquainted with their funeral director. Most of all, I truly enjoy meeting the needs of families as I help them plan an appropriate celebration of their loved one’s life. There is no greater sense of satisfaction.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://commercefuneralhome.com
- Facebook: Commerce Funeral Home
