Noreen Hyslop photo Miranda Moore graduated from DHS in 2002 and studied at the Mid-America College of Funeral Service in Indiana. She is currently one of few female embalmers licensed in the state of Missouri.

She was definitely the only girl in her Dexter High School graduating class of 2002 who aspired to become a licensed embalmer in the funeral business, but Miranda Moore had dreams of doing just that and six years later, she is one of few women in the state of Missouri to have accomplished that goal.

So, what inspires a young woman whose friends are all planning careers in the fields of education, medicine or journalism to ensue a career in the funeral business?

"In my senior year of high school," Moore recalls, "my great-grandmother passed away and we were sitting at her funeral and my mom and I were talking about being in the funeral business."

"I recall my mother telling me that I could be in the business because of my compassion and understanding and something just clicked for me."

Moore contemplated the possibility for a time and soon visited with local funeral director, Greg Mathis, and he walked her through just what the business entailed.

"I went right home and told my parents that this is what I want to do," she says.

Upon graduation, Moore entered the Mid-America College of Funeral Service in Jeffersonville, Indiana, where she spent 18 months in an intense program designed specifically for funeral service. The course of study included chemistry, anatomy, pathology, mortuary administration, business law, mortuary law, sociology, psychology, microbiology, restorative art and embalming. The coursework is demanding and not designed for slackers or the weak at heart.

Moore passed the National Board Exam in March of 2004 after completing the course and graduated with an Associates Degree of Applied Science of Funeral Service. She soon landed a position with Bradshaw Funeral Homes in Kennett, Missouri and began her work toward earning her licensure to be a funeral director.

The Dexter native and daughter of Nick and Lisa Moore, explains, "In order to earn a funeral director's license once you've completed mortuary school, you have to take the Missouri State Law Exam in Jeff City. Once you pass that, you become a licensed funeral director."

Moore worked under the leadership of Ben and Betty Bradshaw, who own funeral homes in Malden, Kennett, Gideon and Hornersville and once she earned the title of funeral director, she began a year's apprenticeship at the Kennett facility, this time under the direction of Norman Bradshaw and Jim Simpson. Once the apprenticeship was completed, she completed and passed the Embalmer's Oral Exam in April of 2005.

Moore describes her job as a diverse one, explaining, "I do everything from embalming and cosmetizing and dressing to casketing, meeting with bereaved families and putting together photo tributes."

There is something to be said for having pursued a career that brings a sense of personal satisfaction and Miranda Moore attests that she finds great satisfaction in her chosen field.

"Everyone has a calling in life and this is definitely mine," she says. "There is just something about being there for someone through a time that is probably one of the most difficult times a person will ever go through and when they come up to you after it's all over thank me for the service and for what I did to make their loved one look so nice, well it just confirms to me that I'm right where I need to be. I love doing what I do!"

Moore aspires to own her own funeral home someday and to establish a business that might be handed down for generations.

"It's a very unique and rewarding business," Moore reflects, "even though the hours are crazy sometimes and it can be hectic, but there is nothing more rewarding than helping people in a time of need."