About Us

Gary Best and his wife, Tracey, are both originally from Northeast Ohio and wanted to live in the beautiful community of Middlefield after he served twenty years and then retired from the United States Navy. Mr. Best thoroughly believes in assisting others in times of need so he became a licensed funeral director to serve the community.

Gary, a native of Conneaut, Ohio is a 1985 graduate of Ashtabula St. John High School. Following graduation, he entered the United States Navy where he served: aboard ships; USS Affray, USS Leader, USS Adroit, USS Warrior (plankowner), and USS Inchon; as a recruiter in Vermont and New Hampshire; on a battle group staff position as the Damage Control Officer; and as the Senior Enlisted Leader of the Naval Reserve Center in Akron, Ohio. He is a Veteran of both Gulf Wars and provided assistance to refugees during the Kosovo Conflict.

Gary began his interest in the funeral industry in 1999 while stationed aboard USS Inchon in Corpus Christi, TX. He volunteered to work at a funeral home and it was during that time he received his calling. During his final tour in the U.S. Navy, Gary volunteered to serve as the Command Casualty Assistance Calls Officer for Northeast Ohio. He served eleven military families during his tour. Since his time in Corpus Christi, Gary has been involved with several other funeral homes in Ohio, Virginia, Florida, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. He now intends to bring the knowledge and experience he has learned to serve those in the Middlefield/Rock Creek areas with dignity, compassion, and respect.

Gary graduated from Granite State College, Excelsior College, and the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. He is a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the States of Ohio and North Carolina and holds a certificate for “Counselor” from the Navy National Apprenticeship Program. He is currently a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Middlefield (Life Member), Disabled American Veterans (Life Member and previous Chapter Adjutant), Embalmers Association of Cleveland, Ohio Embalmers Association, Ohio Funeral Directors Association, and Past Board Member of the Middlefield Historical Society. Gary is also a two-time Past Master and the current Treasurer of Western Phoenix #42 Free & Accepted Masons of Ohio in Parkman; five time and Current High Priest of the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Ohio, Grand River Chapter #104 in Rock Creek; Past Illustrious Master of Grand Council of Royal and Select Masons of Ohio, Geneva Council #145 in Madison; and Past Commander and current Captain General of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Ohio, Eagle Commandery #29 in Painesville, Current Sovereign Master of the Leroy F. Shanower Council #149 Allied Masonic Degrees, Past District Education Officer of the 25th District and current Grand Representative to The Netherlands of Royal Arch Masons of Ohio. Gary received the York Rite Cross of Honour in November 2022 and is the current Geauga County Hospitaler for Ohio Priory #18, Knights of the York Cross of Honour.      

Tracey recently retired from being an Advanced Language Arts and Reading teacher at Chardon Middle School after 25 years. She is now the owner/operator of Best Custom Embroidery, LLC and also helps at the funeral homes. Tracey graduated from Kent State University with a B.S. in Elementary Education, and two Master’s Degrees in Curriculum and Instruction as well as Gifted Education.

Tracey and Gary have three children between them. The eldest, Brett, is a self-employed Private Chef serving all of Central Florida. Audrey, a graduate of Chardon High School and Kent State University, is currently a Lieutenant Junior Grade in the United States Navy Nursing Corps. She will be transferring to Recruit Medical at Marine Corps Recruit Depot-Parris Island in December 2023. The youngest, Noah, also a graduate of Chardon High School, resides in Akron and is just beginning his junior year in the Pre-Dental program at Kent State University. 

.We believe that during time of need, families need to rely on dependable, trustworthy, and compassionate people. Through his life experiences, Gary has chosen this profession as a second career not because he had to, but, because he chose to. That difference alone will help him serve family members with the dignity and respect they deserve.