About Us

Meet Our Caring Staff

Staff Photo

Ryan and Kristal Phelps

Owners / Managers / Directors

Ryan and Kristal Phelps have owned and operated Hood Mortuary since 2005. Their passion is assisting and serving the Durango Community during one of the most difficult times most will face.

Ryan has worked in this industry at Hood Mortuary since 1994. He attended Fort Lewis College and Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service.

Kristal (a Durango Native and Pioneer family) attended Fort Lewis College. She assists client/families with services as well as pre-need funeral planning.

Ryan and Kristal attended Durango High School (Class of 1994) and are High School "Sweethearts". Pictured here with their daughter, Sarah - A Senior at Durango High.

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Danielle Holcomb

Manager / Director / Cremationist / Embalmer

Danielle Holcomb is a San Diego, California transplant with family roots in southwest Colorado. She is currently attending Arapahoe Community College and completing a degree in mortuary science. She has a true passion for caring for people and being empathetic during all aspects of an individuals’ life or circumstances. She is a visual artist who loves gardening and hiking with her partner and three rescued dogs.

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Cat Smith

Director / Embalmer / Pre-need Counselor

Cat Smith is a dual licensed funeral director from Oklahoma. With a great passion for learning, she has practiced funeral directing in Oklahoma, Colorado, and New Mexico and has experience in the non- profit sector with anatomical gifts of tissue donation. Outside of work, Cat loves tending to her tropical plants, spending time with her dog, Goat, paddle boarding, and riding her motorcycle. Cat has a strong desire to serve others, loves to learn new concepts, and to continuously grow into betterand more refined versions of herself.

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Joe Doyle

Cremationist / Technician