Our Excellent Staff
From our family to yours.
Chris Branson
President/Owner
cbranson@orileybranson.comChris began working in the funeral service industry when he was 17, during summers and holidays at Leppert Mortuary in Indianapolis. He is a graduate of Xavier University, Worsham College of Mortuary Science, and has been in funeral service since 1992. He was employed by Leppert Mortuary for 12 years, leaving there in 2005 as the general manager.
Chris, and his wife Mary Beth, purchased the funeral home from Sam Carlisle in January of 2007. They have two sons, Benjamin and Buddy. Chris enjoys the funeral service industry and serving the community in their time of need.
In addition to the day-to-day operation of the funeral home, Chris stays busy by serving in the community. He is active with the Mooresville Chamber of Commerce, Mooresville Senior Center, Mooresville Kiwanis Club, Mooresville Lions Club, Mooresville Masonic Lodge #78, and the St. Thomas More Knights of Columbus. He is a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Chris also serves as the Chairman of Citizens Bank and on the Franciscan Foundation Board of Directors.
Mary Beth Branson
Owner
Mary Beth brings a wealth of knowledge and personality to Carlisle-Branson that is much appreciated by the families we are honored to serve. She primarily enjoys working visitations, but also assists with family follow-up, after the service. Mary Beth spends much of her free time volunteering in the community. She serves on the Advisory Board of the United Way of Morgan County, is on the Board of the League of Miracles, and formerly served on the Literacy Coalition Board of Directors. She is actively involved at Saints Francis & Clare Catholic School, where she is a member of the school commission. Mary Beth is always available to assist our families in their time of need..
Greg Guffin, CFSP
General Manager & Licensed Funeral Director
gguffin@orileybranson.comGreg Guffin has been serving families as a funeral director since 2017. With nearly 30 years of experience, he is dedicated to guiding families with compassion. A lifelong resident of Central Indiana, Greg is actively involved in the Mooresville Masonic Lodge #78, Scottish Rite, Murat Shrine, and the Indiana Funeral Director's Association, where he serves as Secretary/Treasurer. He also contributes to the Vincennes University and Ivy Tech Funeral Service Advisory Boards.
Committed to lifelong learning, Greg graduated with honors from Vincennes University and earned an Executive Certificate in Leadership and Management from the University of Notre Dame. He holds the Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (C.F.S.P.) designation, requiring ongoing education beyond Indiana’s licensing standards.
Outside of work, Greg enjoys spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He loves traveling, fishing, playing basketball, and following sports teams like the Indiana Hoosiers, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Cubs, Bears, and Blackhawks. A dedicated race fan, he attends the Indianapolis 500 annually and supports family members in dirt track and go-kart racing.
Janna Clegg
Office Manager
Janna Clegg joined O'Riley Branson Funeral Service & Crematory in 2024 as the Office Manager, bringing a passion for service and a deep sense of pride in her work. What started as a job turned into a fulfilling career, as Janna finds immense joy in supporting families during their time of loss, from answering their first call to creating personalized materials for their services. She is honored to help bring comfort to families and provide lasting tributes to their loved ones.
A proud native of the east side of Indianapolis, Janna and her husband, Jeff, have called the Southside home for over 25 years. She brings nearly three decades of experience in Office Management, Visual Communications, and Customer Service, including work in both secular and church settings. Janna’s background allows her to offer personalized touches to every service, creating memorial folders, holy cards, and other materials that reflect each family’s unique needs.
Outside of work, Janna enjoys traveling with her husband and spending time with her family—especially her two grown daughters and five grandchildren. She is passionate about mixed-media art, board games, photography, and all things mid-century, with a special love for the 60s and 70s.
Tim Blessings
Licensed Funeral Director / Location Manager
Kennedy Downing
Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer
kdowning@orileybranson.comKennedy Downing has been serving families as a Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer since 2023. She finds great fulfillment in helping families by creating a positive and lasting impression of their loved ones, ensuring that each service is unique and personalized to meet their needs.
A Greencastle native and Greencastle High School graduate, Kennedy earned her associate’s degree in Funeral Service from Vincennes University in 2019. She has also completed specialized instruction in embalming and reconstructive surgery, allowing her to provide families with a peaceful and lasting image of their loved ones. She values the kindness and warmth of the community she serves.
Kennedy is a devoted mother to her two children, Jayce and Tatum, and loves supporting them in their activities as a baseball and cheer mom. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, attending concerts, and riding roller coasters.
Corben W. Kinder
Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer
ckinder@orileybranson.comCorben Kinder has been serving families as a Funeral Director & Embalmer since 2023. He takes pride in getting to know each family's unique needs and believes in the importance of building connections to help them through the grieving process. With a servant’s heart, Corben finds great fulfillment in guiding families with care and compassion.
A proud Morgan County resident and Martinsville High School graduate, Corben is an active member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Martinsville. He values his community and is dedicated to serving families in their time of need.
Corben holds a degree in mortuary science and is a licensed funeral director. He believes that kindness and genuine care are essential qualities in funeral service. Outside of work, he enjoys home projects, attending theatrical performances, and spending time with his dog, Maverick, who also works at the funeral home. He is a VIP member at Beef and Boards Dinner Theater and an IU Auditorium season ticket holder, with Come From Away being his favorite performance. In the evenings, he enjoys reading, TV series, and walks with Maverick.
Christina Naughton
Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer
cnaughton@orileybranson.comChristina Naughton has been serving families as a Funeral Director since 2022. She feels blessed to build meaningful relationships with the families she serves and considers it an honor to provide compassionate and professional care to her community.
A dedicated member of the south side of Indianapolis, Christina has been involved in the community for many years and is a proud member of the Perry Township Kiwanis Club. She is a graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and brings expertise and empathy to her role.
Outside of work, Christina enjoys traveling and playing cards with her husband, Tim, as well as spending long weekends at their lake house in Michigan. They cherish time with their three children, Josh, J'Aimee, and Jordan, and their three grandchildren, Sawyer, Norah, and Gwen.
John Stirling
Funeral Director
Wilma Cross
Greeter
Wilma Cross joined O’Riley Branson Funeral Service in 2020 as a Greeter, bringing a compassionate presence to the team. She finds great joy in offering comfort to grieving families, providing a simple smile or hug to show that she truly cares. Wilma is dedicated to supporting the community and is proud to work alongside Mr. Branson and the staff, who exemplify generosity in every circumstance. As a member of St. Mark Catholic Church, which is located next door to the funeral home, Wilma cherishes the close-knit, caring atmosphere of her community. Her ability to offer help wherever needed makes her an invaluable asset to the team.
Outside of work, Wilma feels blessed to be part of the O’Riley Branson family, where she is always ready to assist and offer a helping hand wherever she is needed.
Cyndi Cooke
Greeter & Receptionist
Cyndi began working with the Carlisle-Branson team in late 2011. A licensed insurance agent, Cyndi is often the very capable associate our families meet when pre-planning services. Cyndi's friendly and thorough nature provide a great fit for those who wish to plan ahead. In an effort to always provide the very best service, Cyndi follows up with each family that is served to ensure that all of the needs and expectations were exceeded. Cyndi and her husband, Gary, have one daughter. Cyndi's schedule can be very flexible, and she is happy to meet families in the comfort of their own homes if that is preferred.
Rose Sommers
Service Assistant
Rose Sommers has been a Service Assistant at O'Riley Branson Funeral Service & Crematory since 2019. She views her work as both a ministry and an honor, helping families navigate grief with compassion. Rose is grateful to be part of a team that meets people where they are with care and empathy.
A longtime member of St. Mark Church, Rose participates in various ministries and has served on the advisory board for the Mental Health of America organization. She co-facilitates O'Riley Branson’s biannual grief group, offering support to those in mourning.
With 40 years as a Registered Nurse, including seven in hospice care, Rose brings deep knowledge to her role. She is also a certified Spiritual Director. Outside of work, she enjoys time with her husband, children, and grandchildren, as well as reading, line dancing, pickleball, golfing, and camping.
Pat Merkell
Greeter
Ken Cain
Service Assistant
Ken Cain joined O’Riley-Branson Funeral Services in 2021 as a Service Assistant, where he takes great pride in helping families with their needs during difficult times. His commitment to being available and supportive ensures families receive the assistance they need, no matter the circumstances.
A lifelong resident of the Southside of Indianapolis, Ken has been married to his wife, Patty, for 46 years. Together, they have three sons and 11 grandchildren, and they have been dedicated parishioners of St. Barnabas for over 40 years. Ken's background in food service management and ownership has provided him with a unique set of skills that make him especially adept at serving others.
Outside of work, Ken enjoys spending time with his family and remaining actively involved in his church and community.
Paul Selke
Service Assistant
Karen Sahm
Greeter
Steve Miller
Service Assistant
Coming Soon
Brad Nichols
Service Assistant
Coming Soon
Jim Milharcic
Service Assistant
Jim Milharcic has been a valued Service Assistant at O’Riley Branson Funeral Service since 2019. He takes great pride in helping people and being part of a compassionate and supportive workplace environment. Jim enjoys meeting new people and providing comfort and assistance during their time of need.
A dedicated member of St. Mark Catholic Church, Jim is also actively involved with the Knights of Columbus Council 3660. His commitment to faith and service extends into his work, where he finds fulfillment in supporting families through difficult moments.
Jim has a natural ability to connect with people and provide reassurance when they need it most. He and his wife have been married for 55 years and cherish time with their three children and five grandchildren.
Jacob Guffin
Transfer Team Specialist
Jacob joined the O'Riley Branson team in early 2025 as a transfer team specialist. He grew up in Plainfield and is a 2021 graduate of Avon High School. In his spare time, he enjoys hanging out with friends, playing video games, watching movies and tv shows. When the weather is nice, he loves to go fishing.
When asked about his role as a transfer team specialist, Jacob said "I love to be able to help people when they need you the most. Being there in the end, is a daily reminder of how precious life is."
Finn
Family Comfort Specialist
Finn was born on September 21, 2022, at Shaw Springs Doodle Farm in Columbus, Ohio. He came to Indianapolis on December 30, 2022, and has been our O’Riley-Branson four-legged teammate ever since, heading to work every day. Finn displays a loving & gentle nature and enjoys people. Since joining our team, Finn has had a very positive impact on our families with his friendly personality and ability to recognize who may need a little extra support. In the evening Finn goes home with our funeral director Christina, and spends the evenings with his 2 brothers Titan & Tucker.
Wonderful wonderful! The staff are truly amazing people & are so helpful! They really helped my family in every aspect! I am extremely grateful of how they cared for my son & their ability to go above & beyond even after their services were completed 🙏🏼❤️