JOHN KEPNER Photo by Cornelius Today

Oct. 7. John D. Kepner, president of Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Huntersville, is a new member of the board of directors of Selected Independent Funeral Homes. He was installed as a director of the world’s oldest association of independently-owned funeral homes at their annual meeting in San Antonio.

Kepner’s grandfather and father were both past presidents of the National Selected Morticians and his brother James Kepner is also a past secretary-treasurer of Selected.

“With my family history and dedication to Selected, I am truly honored to carry on their tradition of service,” said Kepner, who was businessperson of the year in Lake Norman in 2016.

Fourth generation

Kepner, a fourth-generation funeral home owner, said the path forward in funeral service is through listening and taking notice of the changing consumer.

Time to adjust, pivot

“It’s a real critical time right now in funeral service,” said Kepner. “We need to be able to adapt and pivot if need be, to meet the consumer where they are.”