Ashley Valley Funeral Home | Vernal UT funeral home and cremation

Jake Phillips

Owner / Funeral Director

Jake is a licensed Funeral Director, Preplanning Consultant, and Certified Crematorium Operator with over a decade of experience in the funeral home industry. Jake was born and raised in the Uintah Basin.

Jake is married to Whitney Robb Phillips and together they have four children: Casch, Sayler, Navy and Lochlan; and a set of quadruplets who passed away shortly after birth Ocean, Knox, Piper and Lola.

Jake enjoys aviation and fishing with his children and wife.

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Whitney Phillips

Owner

Whitney is the daughter of Claye and Kym Robb of Vernal, Utah. She attended school in the Basin and graduated from Uintah High.

Whitney is a mother of four Caschtian, Sayler, Navy and Lochlan; and a mother of quadruplets that passed away shortly after birth Ocean, Knox, Piper and Lola.

Whitney is involved in the community by volunteering at the Terra Academy and serving in the Primary at her Church.

Ivan Merrell

Funeral Director's Assistant

Ivan Merrell started with the Ashley Valley Funeral Home when we first opened our doors. The son of Randy and LouAnn Merrell he is a Vernal native. He is married to Hollie Merrell and they have two rambunctious boys, Luken and Dylan. Working in EMS as well as having suffered the loss of close family members has blessed Ivan with the ability to empathize with those who are experiencing the grief of a loved one’s passing.

Kathy Torres

Pre-Planning Consultant / Aftercare

Kathy considers herself a lifetime resident of the Uintah Basin although she did live in Ada, Oklahoma for 5 years. Kathy and her husband Eloy Torres have been married for 41 years and raised 4 beautiful children, one son and three daughters. The wonderful world of horses has always played a major role in their lives. Having served on the Dinosaur Round-UP Rodeo Committee, a member of Vernal Trail Blazers, Rising Star Rider's, 4-H and lifetime members of the Utah State High School Rodeo association.

In 2016 Kathy's life and family were forever changed by the loss of their oldest daughter Kristin McKenzie Torres aka "Sissy". In the early days after (Sissy's) death she felt raw, torn apart and couldn't imagine surviving, let alone returning to any semblance of a normal life for her and her family. In searching for help and understanding she miraculously found her way to Ashley Valley Funeral Home. It was here she found what would be her lifelong calling. She would achieve her wish to be a companion for those who are grieving. Specializing and training in companioning the survivors of suicide, complicated grief, en-expected loss, loss of a child and so much more.

It was through devastation, loss and grieving that her life was forever changed. Not in the way that most would think, but rather the desire to teach her family and others that there are worse things than death. " We must choose wisely what we allow to define us." More importantly, we need to help our family and those who mean the most to us, by planning ahead and leaving them the tools they will need to move forward when we are no longer here.

Jade Owens

Funeral Director

Jade is a licensed Funeral Director, and Crematory Operator here at Ashley Valley Funeral Home. He started at the funeral home as a funeral assistant in 2017 before going onto college and obtained his Mortuary Science degree in 2020. He has always said, “I have felt called to this profession” and is happy to serve the families here in the Uintah Basin.

He was born in St. Anthony, Idaho to Lane and Rondee (Hulburt) Owens. He spent his summers growing up coming to Vernal to visit his mom’s family. In a roundabout way he considers himself a “native” to Vernal.

After serving an LDS mission Jade enrolled at BYU-Idaho where he met and married Claire Arnold from Vernal. They were married in the Vernal Temple in 2005. Together they have five children: Isabel, Aaden, Jackson, Grant, and Ruby.

Jade enjoys spending time with his family, camping, watching movies, and watching their children in their Sporting Events, FFA, Theater, Piano, and Church Activities.

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