Meet Our Staff

Kim Mulkey

Managing Partner, Funeral Director & Embalmer

Kimberley is a native Houstonian and currently resides in Liberty County with her husband Chuck. She graduated from Alief Hastings High in southwest Houston, attended Houston Community College where she studied business, accounting, and marketing. Kimberley began working in the business as a student in mortuary school before graduating in 2002 with honors and distinction from Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service in Houston, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and a recipient of the R.L. Waltrip Chairman’s Award.

Upon graduation, Kimberley continued working as a licensed funeral director and location manager for The Settegast-Kopf Co. in Sugar Land and Uptown Houston for many years. She continued to grow within the company taking her to new levels with other funeral homes including Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home and Cemetery, Earthman Funeral Directors at Hunters Creek and Brookside Funeral Home at Champions where she was also the location manager for four years. 

Kimberley became the Managing Partner with the Sterling Funeral Homes team in October of 2015, bringing with her more than 13 years’ experience and professionalism in the industry. She is a member of the Dayton Rotary Club and a member of the Past Executive Board Member and Past President for the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, Board Member for the Anahuac Area Chamber of Commerce, Life Member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and an HLSR Livestock Committeemen. Kimberley continues to expand her involvement within the community. 

Kimberley and Chuck have three adult daughters and a grandson. Some of her hobbies include gardening, spending time with her family and riding with her husband on their motorcycle. 

"I am really excited to be in the communities of Dayton and Anahuac. I have enjoyed meeting new people here and look forward to serving and assisting many more families in their time of need."

Autumn Debo

Office Manager

Dechele Smith

Funeral Director

Dechele was born in Baytown and has been a native of this area her entire life. She now resides in Dayton with her husband and their two children. She is a graduate from Robert E. Lee High School in Baytown. She attended Lee College concentrating on her general studies, later transferring to Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Services where she graduated in 2017 with her associate’s degree in applied arts and sciences in the death care industry.

Dechele joined Sterling Funeral home in July of 2017 while still a student at Commonwealth. She also has works for Barbers Hill ISD in the transportation department as a bus driver. She enjoys spending time with her family, working with children, reading, listening to music and cooking.

I have always had a passion for taking care of others and I look forward to growing in the communities that I serve.

Roberta Thornton

Ambassador

Serving as an ambassador since 2011, Roberta Thornton joined the staff after retiring from her job as a counselor. Roberta taught English and journalism and counseled at the high school level in three different schools; she was at Liberty High School for 11 years. She finished up at Windham School District and now substitutes in Beaumont at a private school for ages three through eighth grade, in addition to working at Allison Funeral Home.

Roberta has been married to her husband since 1979 and raised three sons that are all married, have families and live in various parts of the country. She and her husband are members at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church and she is a part of the altar crew. Roberta is a member and past president of Trivium, a member of the Liberty County Historical Commission, and has a bunco group that has been on-going since the late "90s. Her hobbies include plants, traveling and loving on her pets.

Mary Estelle Vaughn

Ambassador

Estelle has been an Ambassador for Allison Funeral Service since 2010.

Estelle has worked as a security guard since 1992 for Liberty County Sheriffs Office, Patriot Security and Dragon. She lives in Liberty. Estelle has one son, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Estelle is a life member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the V.F.W.. She is a member of North Main Baptist Church. She loves to bowl, fish and play cards.

John Carter

Ambassador

John has worked at Allison’s for five years after retiring from his position at Enterprise Pipeline Co. of forty-three years. John started his career with a B.S. at McNeese State University and married Agnes Carter and moved to Liberty where he spends his time with his two daughters and their families, with a total of four grandchildren.

John is a twenty-five year member of the Liberty Lions Club and has spent the past five years delivering for Meals on Wheels. John loves golfing, skiing, traveling, casinos, McNeese football, Liberty high-school football and girls select softball. 

Leslie Russell

Administrative Assistant / Ambassador

Leslie has lived in Hardin most of her life. She enjoys working at Allison's and helping other people. She is the mother of two children and is the proud grandmother of two grandchildren and one on the way.