Our Team

John Chasca, Owner / President

Sharla MacKay, Director of Operations

Sharla MacKay was raised in Calgary, Alberta. After graduating from High School she took some time to travel the world and experience many different cultures. Her travels took her to over 65 countries worldwide and all seven continents. Since completing her many journeys, Sharla has now settled among the beautiful mountains of Cranbrook, British Columbia. Being raised in a family of funeral professionals, she has been around the industry her entire life. Sharla is a graduate of the Western School of Funeral Service and has been with McPherson Funeral Service since 2003.

Dane Chasca, Funeral Director

Dane was born in Calgary, Alberta. He lived in Ontario during his formative years, returning to Cranbrook in the summer months to help out at the family owned funeral home. Dane has been encompassed by the funeral industry his whole life. In 2013, after graduation from high school, Dane moved to Cranbrook and joined his father John and his sister Sharla full time at McPherson’s. Dane graduated from The Canadian College of Funeral Service in 2015, as a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer. Dane and his family are dedicated to providing excellent service to the families McPherson Funeral Service serves every day.

Gordon Murphy, Funeral Director

Gordon Murphy has been with McPherson Funeral Service since he arrived in Cranbrook back in 1981. A funeral director since 1969, Gordon was born and raised in Saint John, New Brunswick. Gordon received his Alberta Funeral director’s license in 1980 and then relocated to Cranbrook in June of 1981. Since then, he has become a valuable part of the community, and was named Cranbrook’s Citizen of the Year for 2001. His involvement in the community over the years has included work with the Compassionate Friends, Cranbrook Hospice Society, the Canadian Cancer Society, the PARTY program. Most of all, Gordon enjoys working with families at the funeral home.

Murray Forbes, Funeral Director

Murray was born in Scotland and moved to B.C. just prior to his 1st birthday. Murray grew up in Nanaimo, B.C. where he began his career in funeral service on a part time basis in 1982, commensurating to full time in 1987. He completed his apprenticeship in 1992 while working in Whitehorse, Yukon. While he very much enjoyed the unique life experiences that the Yukon and Northern B.C. offered, Murray took a placement in Grand Forks, B.C. where he fell in love with the culture of the Kootenays – a place where he longed to return to. Murray has had extensive experience in various aspects of funeral service, including working with the B.C. Coroner Service and crematorium operations, and is once again glad to be back in the Kootenays since joining the McPherson team in 2014.

Murray and his wife Marilyn have 4 children and 2 grandchildren. They are big supporters of Junior Hockey and the Arts. He is a past Chairman of Boundary Community Hospice.

Murray enjoys working with families during their time of need, and encourages funeral/memorial pre-planning.

Jason Meidl, Funeral Director

Jason was born and raised in B.C. Jason spent 5 years travelling abroad and settled in Creston, B.C. where he completed his apprenticeship and graduated from the Canadian College of Funeral Services in 2017. He is passionate about the funeral service and enjoys serving his families at their time of need. Jason and his family have recently moved to Cranbrook and are looking forward to becoming a part of the community. 

Brian Taylor, Funeral Director

Brian is from Fredericton, New Brunswick. He attended Fredericton High School and graduated in 1968. Brian enjoys serving families throughout the East Kootenays and helping families in their time of need. He also enjoys and playing darts when the opportunity arises and is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Brian has been with the firm for 27 years.

Monica Brown, Administrator

Monica was born in Edmonton Alberta, and moved with her family to Cranbrook at an early age. Being raised in the community Monica has seen many changes throughout the years and has enjoyed volunteering with various charity events hosted by the Cranbrook Fire Department. She graduated in 2000 with an A+ Computer Technician Certification & Business Management. Monica has spent many years working in various upper management titles, as well as a home business helping small companies with their accounting/business needs. In her spare time, you will find Monica with her husband/ best friend Jeff, together their passion is travel and they love to find new places and traditions to learn and explore. They also look forward to times when all the 5 grown children are home for a visit. Monica is very excited in her new career path, helping families and individuals in their imminent time of need, and joining this wonderful caring team at McPherson Funeral Services.

Joni Janzen, Food Reception Coordinator

Joni was born in White Rock, B.C, but at a very young age moved to Hudson's Hope, B.C. and spent her childhood there. Joni has resided in Cranbrook for the last 23 years with her husband Ron. Together they have 2 children, and are grandparents to 3 grandchildren. 
Joni has a Business Administration Diploma and for the past 20 years Joni has been self - employed in the geothermal industry. Prior to the business she worked for 10 years at the E.K P.A.R.T.Y Program and E.K Brain injury Association in administration duties. Volunteering has been a major part of Joni's life. During the raising of her children she could be found coaching sports teams in basketball, hockey and fastball, as well as volunteering with Hospice and facilitating grief recovery sessions. Currently Joni is the Kitchen Facility Coordinator at her church and is involved in a monthly program caring for Widow and Widowers in our community. Supporting families and individuals at difficult times is a passion for Joni and she is pleased to be a part of the McPherson Funeral Services team, in supporting our community and region in her role as Food Reception Coordinator.

Adam Gauthier, Pre-Planning Counsellor

Adam was born and raised in northern AB. He has been in the East Kootenays with his family since 2015.

Funeral pre-planning is a gift to those you love. He believes strongly in supporting families by making financial arrangements and end of life plans long before a death occurs. Adam travels throughout the region to meet families in Cranbrook, Kimberley, and the Invermere area. He loves meeting with people and helping them discover the significant benefits of funeral pre-planning.

Adam has recently joined the McPherson Funeral Services Team as our pre-planning counsellor.

Daryl and Barb Houser,
(recently retired) Pre-Planning Counsellors

Daryl and Barb Houser retired from our company in the summer of 2018 as our representatives for Canada Purple Shield / FamilySide, a company that has been helping people pre-fund their final arrangements for over 75 years. McPherson Funeral Services chose Purple shield to be our pre-need provider and Barb and Daryl were a great asset and much respected members of our team for over 13 years. We wish them well - in their much deserved retirement!