Our Staff

Carli Bailey

Owner/Funeral Director/Embalmer/Certified Crematory Operator

Carli is the daughter of Lesli Barkdull Neal and Russ Fichter and is the sixth generation of the Barkdull family to serve the Shelby Community at Barkdull Funeral Home & Crematory. A 2013 graduate of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, Carli has been a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer since November 2014. She was born and raised in Shelby where she graduated from Shelby Senior High School in 2009. Carli and her husband, Kyle Bailey, also from Shelby, welcomed their first son, Slayter, to the world in September of 2018, they then welcomed their second son, Roman in December of 2020 and daughter Stevi in 2023. Carli thoroughly enjoys spending her free time with her family and cats, relaxing watching television & movies, and a glass of wine. She is proud to serve the community of Shelby on the Shelby Foundations 100 Woman of Shelby Steering Committee and the Shelby Lions. Carli is also a member of National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), Ohio Funeral Directors Association (OFDA), OEA (Ohio Embalmers Association).

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Russ Fichter

Certified Crematory Operator/ Funeral Assistant/ Maintenance

Emily Chelski

Mortuary Student- Intern

Emily is a 2010 graduate of Crestline High School and Pioneer Career & Technology Center who currently lives in Lexington with her fiancé Scott and their 4 children. She currently attends North Central State College for Pre-Mortuary Science and will later transfer to Wayne State University for her Bachelors in Mortuary Science. Emily is a licensed Esthetician with 10+ years' experience in the beauty industry.  She is the mother of 4 children. 2 boys of her own; Landen and Kashton and two bonus kids; Blaine and Olivia. In her free time, she enjoys going on walks with her fur child, Tucker, working out, and gardening.

She looks forward to serving the community of Shelby and the surrounding areas.

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Kyle Bailey

Apprentice Funeral Director

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Eric A. Barkdull

Retired Funeral Director/Embalmer/ Certified Crematory Operator

Eric is a lifelong Shelby resident and a 1972 graduate of Shelby Senior High School. He attended Ohio State University and Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and has been a licensed funeral director since 1976. After over 40 years of serving the Shelby community, Eric entered retirement in December of 2021. He is a member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association and is past president of OFDA District #2. Eric is a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Shelby Rotary Club, Shelby Ad Club, Shelby Masonic Lodge #350 F&AM, and R.A.M. #178. Eric and his wife, Sharon, have two children. Eric enjoys music performance, skiing and tinkering with cars.