Bert Vandiver has been a part of the fabric of Waco, Texas since he graduated from Baylor in 1981. Born at Providence Hospital on New Year's Eve of 1958 to J.B. Vandiver, Sr. and Gracie Lavenia Vandiver, Bert was raised in Central Texas. With a degree in business, Bert explored different careers as a young man before being led into the funeral business in the early 1990s. He graduated with honors from Dallas Institute of Funeral Service, and then completed an apprenticeship in Waco at Wilkerson Hatch Funeral Home. Seeing a need for another funeral home in Waco, he opened BrookView Funeral Home on Bosque Blvd. In 1998, Bert sold BrookView and left to serve as manager of SCI owned Connally Compton Funeral Home. This progressed into a managerial position for all of Central Texas’ SCI funeral homes. In 2000, he built Gatesville Funeral Home, which he still owns and operates. Bert’s dream was to build a beautiful new facility in the West Waco/Woodway area. In January 2008, true to his word, he began construction on that beautiful new funeral home, which opened January 2009. Gracie Lavenia Vandiver was Bert’s beloved mother, and he named Grace Gardens for her gentle spirit. It honors her that every aspect has been arranged for a family’s comfort, including the knowledge that someone will be present with their loved one 24 hours a day. Respectfully, Bert invites you to visit Grace Gardens at your convenience.
Bud was born and raised in Greenville, Texas. As a teenager, he spent most of his spare time working in and around local florists and funeral homes. Bud and Rita, his wife and a preacher’s daughter, were married in the small northeast town of Celeste. From this union were born three daughters and a son. They now enjoy their ten grandchildren. Bud spent over a quarter century with the Texas Department of Public Safety, retiring in 2002. Upon retirement, he realized that there was something lacking in his life. He returned to his first love, the funeral business. Bud had a lifelong dream of becoming a funeral director. He pursued and completed his collegiate work to become a Funeral Director in 2007. That same year, Bud’s son died suddenly at the age of thirty-three. This devastating loss gave Bud and his family first-hand knowledge of the importance of care and compassion during the time of sorrow and grief.
Brian was born and raised in Grand Island, Nebraska and moved to Texas in 1995 to pursue a career in the funeral industry. Brian graduated from Bellevue University in Omaha, Nebraska with a degree in business and from the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in Dallas, Texas. Upon graduating from the Dallas Institute, he completed his apprenticeship at Restland Funeral Home in Dallas, and remained on staff there for several years. Brian then took a job with the SCI funeral home corporation and worked at SCI-owned Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home in Dallas, before transferring to Waco in 1998 to work at Connally Compton Funeral Home with Bert Vandiver. In 2001 he left the funeral business to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry. But Brian missed the compassion and emotions of serving families in the community and helping them during their time of loss. With the 2009 opening of Grace Gardens Funeral Home and an opportunity to work with Bert again, Brian came on staff as a funeral director/embalmer.
Trey graduated from Robinson High School in 1988 and Tarleton State University in 1992. He also is a graduate of McLennan Community College’s Long Term Care Program. Trey is very active in the Waco community, being a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Robinson, the Optimist Club of Waco, Waco Founders Lions Club, and the Heart of Texas Builders Association. He is also a board member of the Robinson Cemetery Association. Trey served two terms as president of the Robinson Chamber of Commerce and is a former member of the Family Abuse Center’s Board of Directors and the McGregor Main Street Board. Trey chaired the Friends for Life Golf Tournament in 2008. He has been in the funeral industry for the last ten years and joined the staff of Grace Gardens Funeral Home in 2009. Trey is a certified crematory operator.
Kathalene Bolfing
Funeral Director/Pre-need Counselor
gracegardensfh@hot.rr.com. Kathalene was born and raised in Waco. She attended Reicher Catholic High School, as well as Connally. In late 2007, after discussing the funeral service industry with Bert, she decided it was time for a career change. In December of 2008, she graduated with honors from Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service, and is a current member of the National Funeral Service Honor Society. She enjoys spending time with her two children, Erika and Tyson, and doing anything outdoors. Kathalene looks forward to helping your family during their time of need, in any way that she can.
Sallygrew up in Zavalla, Texas until 10th grade and then graduated fromhigh school in Liberty. She was employed by Texas Power and Light for 37 years.Sally also worked for Bert Vandiver for three years when he first openedBrookView Funeral Home in Waco. She has volunteered with Meals on Wheels andFamily Abuse Center and is currently a member of First Baptist Church Woodway.Sally enjoys reading and traveling as well as playing bridge.
Betty McCullough
Betty was born and raised in Mexia, Texas, and graduated from Mexia High School in 1957. She attended Baylor University on a music scholarship in 1957-58 and was an accompanist for the Baylor school of Music. Betty was a member of the Baylor Golden Wave Band and played the French horn. Betty was a legal secretary for 19 years with the law firm Fulbright, Winniford, Bice and Marable, P.C. She later opened a dress shop and had ladies apparel and accessories.Betty married Jay McCullough in 1960 and they have 3 children and 5 grandchildren.Betty is an active member of Western Heights Baptist Church. She is the past president of the Lone Star Chapter of American Business Womens Association. She has been a volunteer at Providence Health Center in Cardiac Rehab. Betty enjoys traveling and visiting with her grandchildren and playing card games with friends.
