KeyNews Summer 2025

President’s Message

Greetings to all involved in the cemetery industry! My name is Paul Simms, and I have the privilege of serving as your president for the next two years. I would like to extend my gratitude to Ernie Petersen for his steadfast leadership as the outgoing PCCFA President. Fortunately, Ernie will remain active on our PCCFA Board of Directors, as well as being involved on various committees.

To provide a brief overview of my background, I graduated from Butler Area Senior High in 1983 and earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Political Science in 1987 from Grove City College. As a young child, some of my earliest memories include visits to the cemetery my parents just bought, Butler County Memorial Park. Throughout my teen years, I pushed lawn mowers, powered string trimmers, and drove tractors during the summer to help maintain the appearance of the cemetery. Eventually, I was allowed into the Administration Building, where I began to learn the sales and administrative aspect of the business.

Unfortunately, my Father suddenly passed away in 1993 and I was vaulted into the position of President at the age of 28. My Mother worked closely with my Dad, serving as Secretary/Treasurer of the cemetery since their purchase of it in 1967. She worked at the cemetery every day until she retired in 2004. I have been married to my wife, Mary, for 28 years, and we have four children. During the COVID lockdown, we decided to get an F1B Golden-doodle and luckily, I am very compatible with him and his fur!

I look forward to tackling the challenges and seizing the opportunities that lie ahead for the PCCFA in 2025 and beyond. As always, I encourage you to share any concerns or suggestions for improving the PCCFA with me or any board member. Let’s prepare for a productive year. I hope to see each of you at our upcoming events!

Yours in Service, Paul Simms