Speers happy to be back in Rector

Alton and Dana Speer

"It was just an opportunity for us to come back home," Alton said. "We had been talking about moving back to Rector for some time, and then this opportunity came."

The two, who were high school sweethearts, are familiar to many. Alton formerly managed Irby's, but left to take positions at Russellville for three years and Paragould for the last 15 years.

Dana is a retired teacher who taught music at Rector for eight years before the couple moved.

"Even while we lived somewhere else, we felt like Rector was our home," Dana said. "It's where we were raised. We knew we wanted to come back here."

Alton will be assuming the position vacated by the retiring Shirley Vangilder, whom he hired 23 years ago.

"Shirley has done an outstanding job here," Alton said. "I'm sure I'll be calling her from time to time after she's retired."

Alton said he wants to maintain the family atmosphere for which Irby's has become known.

"We feel like with a town like Rector, being part of a family is just the way it is," Alton said. "We've always had this idea and philosophy of anybody that comes through that door, we treat like our family. A lot of times when someone comes here, they're in a difficult place emotionally. We're here to help them and make the entire process go as smoothly as possible."

The Speers also are quickly forming strong bonds with the Irby staff.

"We've got great people working here and in our other funeral homes," Alton said. "That's been one of the hallmarks of Irby Funeral Home. We all work together and genuinely care about the community and each other. We're not just employees, we're a family."

The business itself has a familial feel for the Speers. Dana's grandfather, W.H. Irby, founded the business and her father, Dan McBride, operated the funeral home for several years.

"There is that tradition, and it means a lot to us," Alton said. "Even if we didn't have that, if this was our first day on the job, we would still want the best for the people who come here and the community. That's just the way we are. It's how we were raised."