Joseph K. Ashford CSFP, is the General Manager at our Messinger Pinnacle Peak location in Scottsdale. Joe is a Licensed Funeral Director, Embalmer and Cremationist. He has been with Messinger Mortuaries since 1995. He began his career serving our country with the United States Coast Guard from 1967-1973. Joe graduated from Miami-Dade Community College with a degree in Business Studies, continuing on to receive his degree in Mortuary Science at Worsham College and then graduating from the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practices. Prior to joining Messinger’s, Joe served as a Funeral Director and Embalmer in Illinois and Colorado. Joe and his wife, of 37 years, have two children and three grandchildren. His community involvements include the Pinnacle Peak Rotary Club and The Carefree/Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce. He is also Past President of the Colorado and Arizona Funeral Directors Associations. Joe is the owner of Entrusted Pet Cremation Service, a pet cremation and pet memorial product company.

Robert C. Drechsler, Licensed Funeral Director, Licensed Embalmer, and Licensed Cremationist has been with Messinger Mortuaries since 1989. He is a graduate of the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science and Arizona State University with a BA in Psychology. He served as an adjunct professor at Mesa Community College in the Mortuary Science Department for 2 years. Currently he serves as a preceptor for this program and is a member of a disaster preparedness team. Robert has been married to his wife, Lesley Ann, for thirty-four years. They have four children and reside in Tempe, AZ. He is a 3rd Degree Knight of Columbus, Christians in Commerce, past member of the Scottsdale Sunrise Kiwanis Club, where he served as president and secretary. Robert continues to serve the Scottsdale area in his chosen profession as he has for the past 19 years with over 30 years of experience.

Christian Simmons, Licensed Funeral Director, Licensed Embalmer, began his career with Messinger Mortuaries at Messinger Payson Funeral Home, Payson, AZ in 2003 and became affiliated with Messinger Pinnacle Peak Mortuary in 2005. He is a graduate of Butler County Community College in Butler, PA; Huntington University in Huntington, IN, and received his Mortuary Science Degree from Mesa Community College, Mesa, AZ. His father is a Presbyterian Minister and Christian is the oldest of three children. He is a member of the Scottsdale Foothills Rotary Club; National Funeral Directors Association; Cremation Association of North America and the Arizona Funeral Directors Association. He resides in Scottsdale, AZ and attends Highlands Church where he is a drummer in their Worship Band.