History and Staff

A funeral, or memorial service, should provide family members and loved ones with the chance to reflect, remember, and celebrate a life well-lived. Our goal is to create exceptional services and experiences that fulfill the wishes of your loved one. Our experienced Funeral Directors provide guidance on the crucial first steps toward healing.

A History of Caring

With Washington State having one of the highest cremation rates in the US at 61.16%*, it did not make sense to have large elaborate facilities and vehicles that few families use, yet every family must pay for. Instead, it made more sense to utilize a low-overhead yet professional building, allocate resources more efficiently, and utilize new technologies (such as the internet) to reduce expenses. Through these simple cost reductions, Edwards Memorial is able to offer substantial savings to families without compromising quality of service.

* Source: Center for Health Statistics, WA State Dept. of Health, 03/2005

Our Staff’s Dedication to Respectful Care

A funeral, or memorial service, should provide family members and loved ones with the chance to reflect, remember, and celebrate a life well-lived. At Edwards Memorial, our goal is to create exceptional services and experiences that fulfill the wishes of your loved one. Our experienced Funeral Directors provide guidance on the crucial first steps toward healing.


Angela Mitchell
Location Leader/Funeral Director
University Place/Federal Way

Angela Mitchell joined Edwards Memorial in March 2021 and became the location leader of University Place and Federal Way in Sept of 2022. A Native Washingtonian, Angela graduated from The University of WA in 2009, achieving a bachelor's degree in education and sociology.

While she had dreams of becoming an Educator, she went on to pursue her passion for photography and sales. Angela flourished in an inspiring and competitive career as a field trainer in both photography and sales for Lifetouch Portrait Studios for 13 years. She really loved training people and helping them grow. When Angela tells her story and how she became a funeral director, she says “I spent many wonderful years helping families create memories,…now I have the privilege of helping families celebrate the memories of their loved ones.”


Bryan Sherwood
Funeral Director
​University Place/Federal Way

Bryan with a ‘Y’ has dedicated 20 years as a funeral director after serving in the US Navy. He was born is sunny California and his time in the Navy sent him around the world. His good nature brings warmth and happiness to the team.


Heather Lyons
Funeral Director Intern
​University Place/Federal Way

From stunning Colorado, Heather became a funeral director intern in 2022. Her spare time is spent gardening and sketching. Her travels lead to incredible photography stemming from her time as a professional photographer.


Nina Polkinghorn
Lead Administrative Assistant
​University Place/Federal Way

Nina joined the Edwards Memorial team in October 2022. Originally from Idaho, she moved to Washington as a teenager and has since embraced the Pacific Northwest as her home. During the summer, she enjoys geocaching, hiking, and camping, while the rainy season sees her enjoying books and movies.


Lisa Herrig
Funeral Director Intern/Embalmer Intern

Born in Indiana, raised in Auburn, WA. Lisa has always had a strong interest in helping people. She has 30 years of experience as an embalmer intern and funeral director intern in Pierce and King County. Lisa loves to take drives all over especially in the Washington countryside. She loves being a grandmother and travels to see her grand kids whenever she can. She also enjoys spending time with her husband of 36 years.