May 15, 2025 The Beacon • 21

By Jen Jones The Beacon

Bill Given, with Given-Dawson-Paisley Funeral Home, was recognized on April 30 at the Ohio Funeral Directors Association for 50 years in the funeral business. He was licensed on May 13, 1975.

Given said some people doubted he would go into the family funeral business, but his fourth grade teacher at Chestnut School always said he would.

“ I always had a fascination with history, science, medicine and jewelry— how it was made and the art of creating fine jewelry,” Given said.“ When I was 16 years old, I decided I needed a British sports car. I bought one and then knew I needed a job. So on a Saturday morning, I put on a sports coat and walked down Main Street to see where I thought I might want to work. I went in Hay Jeweler, which was where the probate court is now, and started working. Raymond Hay never married, and I think he hoped I would become a gemologist.”

Given went to Ohio State University but still wasn’ t sure what he wanted to study.“ I worked at Hay’ s and with my family at the funeral home on weekends. Back then the funeral homes ran the ambulance service too, and that was exciting to a young guy like me,” he said.

Coshocton EMS started in 1975, and that ended the funeral homes needing to provide ambulance services.

He still had nine months of college in Cincinnati to finish when he married his girlfriend Lori. Their son Jason was born in 1976, and their daughter Allison followed in 1979. They moved back to Coshocton in 1974, and Given completed a year internship, then took his state boards.

Given said there was a lot of discouraging talk about funeral homes then.“ There are always a few bad ones in every occupation,” he said.

So he started visiting high school kids to

Bill Given

talk about funerals.“ I always started with the Egyptians and their burial practice, then I talked about the Bubonic plague and how 60 % of Europe died. That always got their attention,” he said.

He shared how much the funeral business has changed in 50 years. Funerals used to be a few sets of calling hours the day before the funeral, then the funeral, the cemetery and a reception.

“ Now I am sure if I asked a high school student what a funeral was, they would say a cremation and a celebration of life later,” Given said.“ We used to have funeral services, the ambulance

“ There has been such a change of mindset. We have adapted our services to fit into the modern needs of families. That’ s what we do— plan a service that is exactly what they and their loved ones want. It brings a certain joy.”

Bill Givens service and medical equipment, like beds and oxygen. We had folding chairs we let out for weddings and parties.”

Given said many years ago, hearses were drawn by horses.

“ The mortality rate for children was so high many places had childsize hearses. I am thankful the medical profession has advanced so much over the years. The children are always the hardest ones to care for,” he said.“ Not so long ago, if a person died at age 65, 70, we would say they had a long life. Now the ages are much higher— even nearing 100 or over.

“ There has been such a change of mindset. We have adapted our services to fit into the modern needs of families. That’ s what we do— plan a service that is exactly what they and their loved ones want. It brings a certain joy.”

“ Bill is a wonderful funeral director, mentor and friend,” said Jessica Paisley, funeral director at Given-Dawson-Paisley Funeral Home.“ As manager of the funeral home, I have been incredibly lucky to have him with me throughout the years, guiding me, supporting me and helping the funeral home make a positive impact with the families we serve. His compassion, comfort and care to every family he has served has made a profound impact with their healing journey. It has been an honor working side by side with Bill.”

Given said,“ It’ s truly a gift to continue in a career you love. In a private business with family, you can continue as long as you want.”

Given has no plans to retire. He has hobbies to keep him busy. He plays guitar in a rock and roll band and was on WTNS just recently. He also is an avid collector of war memorabilia. His grandsons Cooper and Keegan enjoy looking at the huge collection when they visit from Tacoma.

Granddaughter Jillian completes their family. Given said she will start at Ohio University in the fall. The pride he feels for his family is evident as he talks about each member. His son Jason is a probate judge, and Allison is a research biologist.

“ It’ s interesting to me that Jason now works in the old Hay Jeweler building where I first worked,” Given said.“ I will be 73 in a few weeks, and I still don’ t know what I want to be when I grow up.”