History & Staff
Personalized service options allow you to honor your loved ones in a way that is both meaningful and healing. We hope to provide support and caring while delivering memorial services that celebrate life and help families find the peace they deserve.
If you’re seeking an honorable celebration of life, we invite you to learn more about where we came from, our vision, and the dedicated people behind our work.
A History of Caring
Summers Funeral Home had its early beginnings on February 1, 1911 in Boise, Idaho. Clyde E. Summers, an early employee of the funeral business, became a partner of P.L. Fry, and the funeral business became known as Fry & Summers. In 1913 Mr. Fry sold his interest to Harry Krebs. Mr. Krebs and Mr. Summers, now partners, changed the funeral business name to Summers & Krebs.
In January of 1927, Mr. Krebs sold his part in the business to Mr. Summers and the name of the business became Summers Funeral Home. Mr. Summers valued the importance of family and remodeled the mortuary as a memorial to his parents. Two of the newly remodeled rooms were named after his parents: the Adeline Room and the William Room.
Mr. Summers wanted his clients to know that "beautiful things need not be expensive." With this in mind, Mr. Summers provided guest rooms in the mortuary so that families coming from a distance would not have to pay for a hotel while the funeral arrangements were being made. This also allowed the families to be near their loved ones. Summers Funeral Home services were conducted with all due reverence and compassion to the families involved.
Summers Funeral Home became known as the mortuary where funeral arrangements were taken care of promptly and in one place by a staff of competent and compassionate individuals.
Summers Funeral Home became a monument to the future of Boise
A. Dale McMurtrey came to work for Mr. Summers in 1948. Dale and his wife, Shirley, lived in the home with Mr. Summers and helped continue the competent and caring funeral service started by Mr. Summers. In addition to handling 200 funeral calls a year, Dale and Shirley operated an ambulance service out of the funeral home. Mr. McMurtrey and his wife purchased the business from Mr. Summers in 1956.
By 1980, Mr. McMurtrey had bought and remodeled the Nazarene Church that was located at 2nd and State Streets in Eagle, Idaho, a nearby community to Boise. This newly remodeled funeral home became Summers Funeral Home, Eagle Chapel.
In keeping with the family tradition that Mr. Summers had started, the McMurtrey family sold the Summers Funeral Home business to employees of the firm: David B. Yraguen, with the business since 1977, and James B. Maguire, with the business since 1980. In 1991, Summers Funeral Home, Inc. built a third full-service funeral home in Mountain Home, Idaho. This facility was sold in 2005 to the manager of the firm.
Mr. Maguire and Mr. Yraguen closed the Eagle facility in 1995 to build a new funeral facility and crematorium in nearby Meridian, Idaho. Completed in 2001, the new Ustick Chapel is a state-of-the-art facility, but still retains the home-like atmosphere that is so important to us, here at Summers. Our goal is to provide a funeral home that doesn't feel like a funeral home.
The Summers Funeral Home staff continue the strong tradition of competent and caring service began by Mr. Summers in 1911. Summers Funeral Home have excellent reputations in the Treasure Valley community. The staff provides personal service in a compassionate manner. Summers Funeral Home continually strives to be one of the leaders in the funeral industry. They do this by offering the greatest value and personal attention to the families they serve.
Our Staff’s Dedication to Respectful Care
A funeral, or memorial service, should provide family members and loved ones with the chance to reflect, remember, and celebrate a life well-lived. Our goal is to create exceptional services and experiences that fulfill the wishes of your loved one. Our experienced Funeral Directors provide guidance on the crucial first steps toward healing.
Quinn Peterson
Director of Operations for Idaho Market
Quinn was raised in a small farming community in South Eastern Idaho and is the youngest of 10 children. It was on the farm that Quinn learned the value of hard work and integrity. Quinn earned his Eagle Scout award at the age of 14 and his love for scouting and camping continue today. After serving a 2 year mission in Okinawa, Japan, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, he met and married his wife, Ami. They have 3 children and have been married for 23 years. Quinn received his associates of Mortuary Science from Mount Hood Community College in Oregon in June of 1999. Quinn and Ami moved to Meridian, Idaho in 2001 when Quinn accepted a position at Summers Funeral Home in Boise. Currently, Quinn is the Director of Operations for Idaho Market for Foundation Partners Group. Quinn’s hobbies include crossfit, camping and spending time with family. Quinn is committed to serving families in the Treasure Valley during their time of need due to a loss of a loved one.
Brian Owings
Location Leader
Brian is a native Idahoan was born in Rupert Idaho. After some time growing up in Tucson Arizona, he moved back to Boise in the late 80’s. After graduating from Capital High he attended BSU for a short time. After working for Boise Cascade for a time Brian was introduced to the world of Funeral Service. He went back to school at Mt. Hood Community College with 3 kids in tow and began the adventure in Funeral Service. He has worked in the valley as a Mortician for 15 years.
"In my spare time I love spending time with my family. I have 6 kids and a wonderful wife of 18 years. I enjoy camping, fishing, working out and being outside. I truly enjoy working with families and helping them through their time of need. The greatest reward is being in the service of others."
CARRIE MELTON
FUNERAL DIRECTOR
Carrie entered the funeral profession through hospice care. After COVID arrived, she was no longer able to assist the elderly as she ran her own business providing podiatry care for the elderly. She then went on to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a Funeral Director where she could assist those through the grieving process.
Albert Johnston
Funeral Director
Albert started working in the funeral service industry in 2015, after working as a Deputy Sheriff for Ada County for 10 years and is a licensed Mortician. Albert has been married to Laurie Dow Johnston for 21 years and together they have four daughters. Albert and his family love the great whitewater rafting rivers in Idaho and spend as much of their spare time rafting them as they can. And being active in the community of Meridian where they have lived since 2005.
Hazel Thompson
Administrative Assistant
I was born in Venice, Florida and moved with my family to Moscow, Idaho in 1966. I graduated from Moscow High School and moved to Boise, Idaho to attend Link’s School of Business, graduating in 1978. After moving home for a short period of time I returned to Boise in July of 1979 and started work in a local funeral home where I worked for 32 years, while there I meet my husband, Jon and now have 4 children and 4 grandchildren. In January 2013, I joined Summers Funeral Home and have been working at the Ustick Chapel since then. I love working with our families making sure that their experience, in the worst of times, becomes an experience that will bring ease of mind.
I enjoy fishing, camping, bowling, photography, family dinners and spending time with my family and friends.
Jim Owings
Funeral Attendant
I am an Idaho native born, raised and educated in Idaho. I am married to my wonderful wife of 49 years. We have three children, eight grandchildren, and one great grandchild.
I have worked in the funeral industry for the last eight years and I also currently volunteer sixteen hours a week at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery.
When I am able to find some free time I love to fly-fish.
Mardi Skinner
Administrative Assistant
Mardi Skinner was born and raised in Nyssa, OR, graduating from Nyssa High School, Class of 1971. She holds a BS degree in Home Economics from Oregon State University, and BA degree in Education from College of Idaho. She taught a few brief years in the Boise School District, before joining the staff at Summers Funeral Home in 2000. Mardi has served as Administrative Assistant in the Boise office for 18 years, working part time since 2018. She brings many years of experience to Summers Funeral Home, not only in Funeral Service but in her life experiences. She is very detailed oriented and enjoys working with families.
Mardi lives in Boise with her husband, Rick Skinner. They have been married 19 years. She has 3 adult children and 2 granddaughters. She loves spending time with her family and her large extended family. Mardi is a member of P.E.O. Chapter AQ, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, and the Curves of Meridian.
