David Farley


David graduated in the Class of 1966 from Indiana College of Mortuary Science. He is a third generation Licensed Funeral Director and is President/Owner of Venice Memorial Gardens.

His civic and professional involvement has included positions with church boards, Past President of Florida Funeral Director’s Association, National Funeral Director’s Association, Cremation Association of North America, Salvation Army Advisory Board, Florida Medical Examiner’s Commission, Venice Area Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Hospice of Southwest Florida, Past President and Board Member of Funeral Services, Inc., and the Florida United Children’s Home. He served a total of 13 years as an elected City Councilman for the City of Venice.

Joanne Farley


Joanne graduated from Florida State University in 1965 with a B.S. in Nursing. She is a Licensed Registered Nurse, and Owner of Venice Memorial Gardens.

Her civic and professional involvement has included positions with church boards at Grace United Methodist Church, YMCA, Youth Group Advisor, Florida Trail Association, Appalachian Trail Association, WWII Memorial, Patriot’s Park Freedom Walk, St. Mark's Pre-School, Harvard Medical School Nurses Health Study and Daughters of the American Revolution.

Mary Farley Williams


Mary is a Venice native and graduate of Venice High School. She continued her education at the University of Florida earning her A.A. in 1990. She graduated from the University of Central Florida in 1991 with a B.S. in Education. She also received her Master’s in Education from the University of Central Florida in 1998.

Mary grew up in the funeral profession as the daughter of David and Joanne Farley. Her responsibilities with Farley Funeral Home and Crematory have included administrative and pre-arrangement services.

Her civic and professional involvement has included roles within the Venice Area Chamber of Commerce, Widowed Persons, Rotary and special programs within the Sarasota County School System.

Michelle Farley Williams


Michelle is a lifelong resident of Venice and graduated from Gupton Jones Mortuary College in 1991 with an A.S. in Mortuary Science. Michelle grew up in the funeral profession as the daughter of David and Joanne Farley. She is a fourth generation Licensed Funeral Director.

Her civic and professional involvement has included positions with church boards, The Loveland Center, Kiwanis and the North Port Area Chamber of Commerce.

John Williams


John graduated from Troy University in 1993 with a B.S. in Accounting and St. Petersburg College in 2003 with an A.S. in Mortuary Science. Advanced education in the funeral, cremation and cemetery profession includes a diploma from the ICFA University in Memphis, Tennessee. He is both a Licensed Funeral Director and Certified Public Accountant.

His civic and professional involvement has included positions with church boards, Salvation Army Advisory Board, United Way Allocations Panel, All Faiths Food Bank, Florida Funeral Association and the Florida Cemetery, Funeral and Cremation Association. Professional memberships also include both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Tanya E. Scotece


Tanya graduated from Briarwood College in 2005 with an A.S. in Mortuary Science and the University of South Florida with a B.S. in Criminal Justice. She is currently pursuing graduate studies in Criminal Forensics at Florida Gulf Coast University. She is a Licensed Funeral Director, Certified Funeral Service Professional (CFSP) and a Certified Funeral Celebrant.

James Eric Swope


Eric is a Sarasota County native and graduate of Riverview High School. He began his career in funeral service as a teenager. Upon graduation from high school, he enrolled and graduated from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service with an A.S. in Mortuary Science. He is a Licensed Funeral Director and has served this area since 1990. Eric and his wife Celeste have two children, Kendra and Camden. Eric and his family live in North Port.

Bruce C. Kingsbury


Bruce graduated from Florida Southern College with a B.S. in Business Administration and from St. Petersburg College with an A.S. in Mortuary Science. His civic and professional involvement has included board positions with the Kiwanis Club of Venice, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and the Venice Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of Grace United Methodist Church. He and his wife Jennifer, son Brendon, and daughter Meredith are long time residents of Venice.