Our Staff

Carli (Fichter) Bailey

Owner/Funeral Director/Embalmer/Certified Crematory Operator

Carli is the daughter of Lesli (Barkdull) Neal and Russ Fichter. She is the sixth generation of the Barkdull family to serve the Shelby Community at Barkdull Funeral Home & Crematory. Carli is a 2013 graduate of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and 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 three cats, relaxing at home, watching television & movies, and a nice glass of dry red wine.

She is proud of her heritage of being a Barkdull and is thrilled to carry on the family legacy of serving the Shelby Community. She is a proud member of the Shelby Foundations- 100 Woman of Shelby Steering Committee, United Lions Club of Shelby, National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), Ohio Funeral Directors Association (OFDA), and OEA (Ohio Embalmers Association).

Kyle Bailey

Funeral Director Apprentice

Kyle is a 2009 graduate of Shelby Senior High School and a lifelong Shelby resident. He earned his B.A. in Biology from Kenyon College in 2014 before pursuing a career in the conservation field. Kyle previously worked as a Natural Resource Intern for Saguaro National Park in Tucson, AZ, before moving back home to Ohio to work as the Natural Resource Manager for the Richland County Park District then the Crawford Park District. He has spent the last decade managing natural areas providing essential habitat for wildlife as well as important educational and recreational opportunities to the local community.

Kyle is passionate about the natural world and currently volunteers as an Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist always willing to share his knowledge with others. In his free time, he enjoys spending time outdoors bird watching, fishing, backpacking, hiking, gardening, playing music, and traveling.

Kyle currently resides in Shelby with his wife, Carli Bailey, and their three children, Slayter, Roman, and Stevi Bailey. He loves spending time with his family visiting new places and creating lasting memories.

Kyle is eager to transition into the funeral home industry. He looks forward to being able to work with families and provide comfort to them during their time of need.

Reverend Nathan McBeth

Funeral Director/Licensed Ordained Minister

Nathan is a 1997 graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Science in Christian Ministries. He was ordained as a reverend in the Wesleyan Church in 2000, then went on to pastor Wesleyan Churches for almost 15 years in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. In 2014, he and his family moved back to his hometown of Marion, Ohio. Shortly after in 2015, he started his journey of becoming a funeral director becoming licensed in 2018 serving the Marion community for the next seven years.

Through the years of being a bi-vocational minister of churches, Nathan has amassed different experiences including assistant housekeeping manager at a university, human resources with training in behavioral management, a job recruiter, different manufacturing jobs, security, landscaping, and ordering specialist for food service in health care. These experiences have allowed Nathan to understand the logistics of the necessary care to detail needed to serve families in the communities where he has worked.

Nathan is a devout Christian and enjoys sharing the Good News to anyone of all walks of life. He has learned to "always be a student" in life. He married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Gale James, on June 21, 1997, and the two have been happily married for 27 years. They have three beautiful daughters, Abigail, Annette, and Allison. Nathan loves to spend time with his wife and family, but also enjoys watching OSU Buckeye Football, tinkering around in his garage with woodworking projects, diamond art, crafts, collecting tools, and outdoor maintenance around his residence.

As a licensed funeral director and minister, Nathan's many experiences allow him to be compassionate, caring, and understanding. He is looking forward to transitioning into the Shelby community to provide comfort and security during family's time of need.

Russ Fichter

Certified Crematory Operator/ Funeral Assistant/ Maintenance

Russ is a lifelong resident of Shelby and a 1979 graduate of Shelby High School. As the father of owner, Carli Bailey, Russ has deep roots within the Shelby Community and the family-centered values of Barkdull Funeral Home & Crematory.

Russ serves in many capacities throughout the funeral home and is often referred to as the team's "jack of all trades." He plays an integral role in maintaining the daily operations and appearance of the facilities, always ensuring that everything is cared for with professionalism, attention to detail, and respect for the families the funeral home serves.

Whether welcoming and directing visitors, maintaining the landscaping and facilities, assisting behind the scenes, or operating the crematory, Russ approaches every task with pride and dedication. He considers it a privilege to support families during difficult times and takes great satisfaction in helping provide a comfortable, well-maintained environment where families can gather, reflect, and honor their loved ones.

Outside of work, Russ deeply values time spent with family and friends. He is especially proud of his role as a grandfather to Slayter, Roman, and Stevi Bailey, and cherished every opportunity to spend time with them. In his free time, Russ also enjoys riding his Hartley and embracing the simple moments that come with family, friendship, and community.

Aizlyn Green

Student/Intern

Aizlyn is a 2025 graduate of North Central State College, where she earned her Associate Degree in Business Administration. She is a lifelong resident of Bucyrus and continues to call the community home, where she lives with her fiancé and their beloved dog,
Luna.

She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Mortuary Science at Wayne State University and is dedicated to achieving her goal of becoming a licensed funeral director and embalmer.

Aizlyn was drawn to funeral service through her compassionate nature and genuine desire to support families during some of life’s most difficult moments. She believes in the importance of providing comfort, guidance, and care with empathy and professionalism,
helping families feel supported every step of the way.

Since joining Barkdull Funeral Home & Crematory, Aizlyn has become an invaluable member of the team. Her willingness to learn, strong work ethic, and caring presence have allowed her to quickly grow within the profession and build meaningful connections with
the families she serves.

Outside of work and school, Aizlyn enjoys spending quality time with her family, watching documentaries, relaxing with a well-earned nap, and looking forward to future opportunities to travel and experience new places around the world.

As she continues her career in funeral service, Aizlyn looks forward to becoming a more active member of the Shelby community, meeting and connecting with more local families, and becoming increasingly involved with social and community organizations

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 three cats, relaxing at home, watching television & movies, and a nice glass of dry red wine.

She is proud of her heritage of being a Barkdull and is thrilled to carry on the family legacy of serving the Shelby Community. She is a proud member of the Shelby Foundations- 100 Woman of Shelby Steering Committee, United Lions Club of Shelby, National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), Ohio Funeral Directors Association (OFDA), and OEA (Ohio Embalmers Association).

Kyle is passionate about the natural world and currently volunteers as an Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist always willing to share his knowledge with others. In his free time, he enjoys spending time outdoors bird watching, fishing, backpacking, hiking, gardening, playing music, and traveling.

Kyle currently resides in Shelby with his wife, Carli Bailey, and their three children, Slayter, Roman, and Stevi Bailey. He loves spending time with his family visiting new places and creating lasting memories.

Kyle is eager to transition into the funeral home industry. He looks forward to being able to work with families and provide comfort to them during their time of need.

Through the years of being a bi-vocational minister of churches, Nathan has amassed different experiences including assistant housekeeping manager at a university, human resources with training in behavioral management, a job recruiter, different manufacturing jobs, security, landscaping, and ordering specialist for food service in health care. These experiences have allowed Nathan to understand the logistics of the necessary care to detail needed to serve families in the communities where he has worked.

Nathan is a devout Christian and enjoys sharing the Good News to anyone of all walks of life. He has learned to "always be a student" in life. He married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Gale James, on June 21, 1997, and the two have been happily married for 27 years. They have three beautiful daughters, Abigail, Annette, and Allison. Nathan loves to spend time with his wife and family, but also enjoys watching OSU Buckeye Football, tinkering around in his garage with woodworking projects, diamond art, crafts, collecting tools, and outdoor maintenance around his residence.

As a licensed funeral director and minister, Nathan's many experiences allow him to be compassionate, caring, and understanding. He is looking forward to transitioning into the Shelby community to provide comfort and security during family's time of need.

With You Every Step of the Way

Common Questions

Why have a Funeral?

Funerals play an important role in the mourning process. They provide surviving family and friends with an opportunity to share thoughts and feelings about the loss, offering an atmosphere of care and support. Funerals mark the finality of death and serve as a ritual for the living to show respect for the deceased, while also helping survivors begin the grieving process.

Even for those choosing cremation, a full funeral service can be held. Planning a personalized ceremony or service can help initiate the healing process. While overcoming grief is never easy, a meaningful funeral or tribute can offer comfort.

Should I choose Burial or Cremation?

Burial in a casket remains the most common method of handling remains in the United States, though entombment is also an option. Cremation is increasingly chosen because it can be more affordable and offers the flexibility of holding the memorial service at a later time when family and friends can gather.

A funeral service followed by cremation is no different from one followed by burial. Typically, cremated remains are placed in an urn, which can then be buried, placed in a mausoleum or columbarium, or interred in a designated urn garden at many cemeteries. Alternatively, the remains may be scattered, in compliance with state law.