Barry Tuck

Owner/Licensed Director/Certified Celebrant

Barry has served the Funeral and Cemetery Profession for just over 40 years. He is honored to support his community at a time of their greatest need.

Having experienced tremendous loss himself, Barry feels he is well equipped to listen to and support those experiencing a loss.

Barry worked for independent funeral homes early in his career and then moved to the corporately owned groups. It was with the corporately owned homes that Barry took on expanded management roles and upon leaving the corporate world he was accountable for multiple funeral/cemetery locations within the Province of Manitoba. Coaching and training his own team took up most of his time and it led him to reconsider his career objectives. Having the opportunity to come back to the grass roots of our profession in our community has allowed Barry to meet with families one on one and truly help where he is most needed. Today Barry spends most of his time meeting with families who are considering prearrangement, at the time of their loss and as a Certified Celebrant leading services for their loved ones.

Believing that service to community is an integral part of owning and operating any business, Barry finds himself very involved with the Masonic Fraternity. Two of the Lodges and the Shrine Club meet within our funeral homes. Barry is a Past Master of Euclid Lodge #158 in Parksvile and is a member of Nanaimo Lodge #110 in Nanaimo and Barclay Lodge #90 in Port Alberni. He is also a Past President of the Parksville Qualicum Shrine Club. Having the opportunity to participate in the “community of caregivers” finds Barry involved in many educational seminars and he is the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Oceanside Hospice Society.

In his spare time Barry enjoys landscaping, kayaking, golf, hiking, road cycling and he has a passion for bird photography. Of course, Barry adores his 3 grandchildren and along with wife Rae, loves spending as much time with them as possible!

Having witnessed the profession transition over many years, Barry believes we have a responsibility as a Family Company to think in terms of “People before Profit”, as it relates to the career opportunities for our Team and indeed the ethical treatment of the community and the families we serve. 

Email: 

Rae Tuck

Owner | Client Care

Rae is accountable for the oversight of the Financial and Property Management of our company as well as being a Pre Need Specialist, supporting our client families as they begin to plan ahead.

Having worked as a Professional Commercial Property Manager for many years, Rae is well suited to handle the detailed aspects of the behind the scenes responsibilities. Rae’s ability to oversee the business side of our company allows her to serve our client families by ensuring we will be a sound and healthy company for many years to come!

Being involved in the community is important to Rae.  Yates is a proud sponsor of 100 Women Who Care Oceanside (hosted at the Parksville Yates facility) which sees Rae and over 300 women donating over $30,000 per quarter to a local charity!

Rae is a member of the Chamber of Commerce Clubs of Port Alberni, Qualicum Beach and Parksville as well as the Qualicum Beach Rotary Club and 100 Women Alberni. 

Rae is a proud "Nana" to three grandchildren and is a strong family advocate. She enjoys her morning workouts, doing yoga/meditation and many outdoor activities. If not at work, you will find Rae with her grandchildren, gardening or enjoying nature in this beautiful place we call home.

Email: 

Steve Knapp

Licensed Director

Steve is one of our five Licensed Funeral Directors whose primary responsibility is to look after our Port Alberni location, which often takes him to the communities on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Assisting client families with their loved one’s end of life arrangements has been a progressive process for Steve beginning over 10 years ago with Yates. 

After 27 years in Social Services, Steve has had a seamless transition to our profession. A desire to help others in their time of need is evident in Steve’s character. 

A huge sports enthusiast, has seen him coach hockey in the Oceanside Minor Hockey Association. 

During camping season Steve can be found almost every weekend entertaining friends at his nearby RV/Resort location! 

Jill Major

Licenced Director

Jill is a Licenced Director.  Jill began her career at Yates as an administrator and when an opportunity came up for her to further her career in the Funeral Profession she jumped at the chance. 

Jill’s warmth, compassion, friendliness and knowledge quickly puts people at ease.  She is an asset to the Yates team and we are so pleased she became a Licenced Funeral Director in 2021!

Having come to us with several years of administration in real-estate, paired with her caring personality and passion to help others, Jill finds her career in our profession very rewarding.

Jill moved to our community from Ontario in 2015.  She  enjoys the benefits of raising her two children in a very community oriented environment and is happy to call the Oceanside her home!

Jessica Dovey

Licenced Director

Jessica joined the team at Yates Memorial Services in 2021, as an apprentice funeral director and embalmer. Jessica spent her childhood surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the West Coast of Vancouver Island and after spending a decade in Alberta, Jessica returned to her roots with her husband and two children, embracing the coastal lifestyle that has always been close to her heart.

Jessica’s journey into funeral services has allowed her to combine her innate compassion with her desire to help others during their most difficult times.  Jessica brings a comforting smile, friendly ear, and caring demeanor to every family she assists.

She believes that some of the most important values to live by include putting family first, being kind to everyone, and never taking life for granted. In a world where negativity can often overshadow positivity, it's essential to remember that a smile and a kind word can change someone's day for the better. By practicing empathy and understanding, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of those around us.

Janine Knights

Apprentice Director

Janine joined the Yates family in 2022. She looks forward to expanding her career in funeral services, where she can offer guidance and support to Oceanside families through their most difficult time of need. 

Janine is so grateful to be a part of such a dedicated and compassionate team of professionals.  Her life experiences have taught her that it's not just about what we achieve but also how we impact those around us along the way. Whether it's through laughter, support, or simply lending an ear, she hopes to leave a lasting impression on everyone she meets.

Janine grew up in the Oceanside area, and had a wonderful childhood surrounded by family and friends with endless amounts of adventure, laughter, and love.

Shortly after graduation, Janine met her best friend and husband Kris, and the pair began their adventure together. They both feel very fortunate to be raising two bright and bubbly young boys in the same wonderful community they grew up in.

Enjoying all that the area has to offer, she can often be found playing softball, camping, hiking, fishing, snorkeling, stargazing, and cooking delicious meals for friends and family. Her passion for outdoor adventure has led her to some unforgettable experiences and breathtaking views that serve as constant reminders of how fortunate we are to live on this beautiful Island.

Krissy Blyan

Client Care

Krissy joined Yates in August 2019 and has become an integral part of our team. As the front office administrator, Krissy greets our clients as they walk in the door, answers our phones, and carries out the numerous important administrative tasks that are required to keep our business operating. Krissy takes great pride in her role at Yates and treats everyone with the utmost respect and care.

Krissy was born in Ontario and moved to BC in 1997. Krissy married her high school sweetheart in 2017, and together they have two children. Krissy’s family enjoys riding their bikes together, camping, and spending time on their boat fishing and exploring.

Krissy is very social and knows many people in the Oceanside community. She has many friends, and family is of utmost importance to her. Krissy’s kind and generous heart serves her well in her personal life and in her career. Yates is so lucky to have her.er.

Donna L. Liberty

Client Care

Donna has been with Yates Parksville in many administrative and accounting roles since 2007. Best described as a Client Care Specialist, Donna is now our first contact with clients in Port Alberni, whether that be by phone or in person. Donna is ultimately the person who works in the background for clients who have met with a Licensed Funeral Director. To satisfy our Provincial and Regulatory Boards there are countless administrative procedures behind the scenes and Donna has become an expert in satisfying those requirements. 

Having lived in the Oceanside Community for over 35 years, Donna worked with the SOS for over 20 years. She has coordinated many initiatives such as Caring for Kids at Christmas, Haven Home and Meals on Wheels. 

A lover of pets and wildlife, you can find her on the beach everyday with her puppy Cassie. And, once a year at the New Year’s Polar Bear Swim you will actually find Donna in the water! She has been a steady participant for over 24 years! 

Heather Ash

Accounting Assistant

Heather has brought her tremendous accounting/administrative skills to our team. Having a desire to be “perfect” in her work lends well to the expectations of serving our client’s needs. Among many, many tasks, Heather helps clients access their pre funded arrangements at the time of need and in turn creates and performs required audit checks of all our financial procedures related to those funds, ensuring we are compliant with our Provincial Regulators.

A warm and caring person, Heather’s contribution to our success is not only measured in numbers but in her enthusiasm and commitment to the team.

Born and raised in the Oceanside community, Heather loves to explore the entire Island and enjoys the outdoors!

Carlea Tuck

Accounting Assistant

Carlea joined our Team in 2017 to further support her family and serve our community.

A detail-oriented and organized person, Carlea comes to us with a Residential Property Management background. Having graduated with a Linguistics Degree from the University of Victoria, Carlea has a diverse background that suits our ever-evolving profession.

Carlea has an interest in the outdoors, reading, cooking and home improvement and leads a very busy lifestyle!

As a devoted mother to Oliver and Bowen, and wife to Bradd, Carlea believes in balancing her professional life with that of nurturing a wonderful family.

Heather Ross

Client Care

Real Lachance

Cemetery Care/Transfer Specialist

Real has a unique position within our group as he is the Cemetery Care Specialist in Parksville and serves on one of our two teams of evening/weekend Transfer Specialists. Having over 30 years of landscaping experience, you can find Real pruning and detailing our beautiful cemetery into a peaceful parklike setting. Indeed every second week, Real, then spends his evenings and weekend on-call to serve the community transferring loved ones from their place of passing into our care at the funeral home. 

As an avid photographer, Real is well known around the world for the postcards and pictures he creates and sells. Real enjoys gardening at home (of course!) and is proud of the tomatoes he produces year after year. 

Glen Friesen

Crematorium Operator

Glen works as our crematorium operator. 

Glen believes that if he can make someone else’s suffering just a little bit less, he is doing a good job.

In his spare time, Glen loves gardening and nature. A week at Bamfield is Glen’s happy place.

Henri van Amerongen

Transfer Specialist

As a Transfer specialist Henri spends every second week/weekend on call to serve the community transferring loved ones from their place of passing into our care at the funeral home. 

Henri is a volunteer at SOS, a life coach and counselor.  He spends his spare time renovating his home, with his loving wife Debbie.

Henri appreciates the opportunity to give support to our families in need.

Natasha Young

Transfer Specialist

As a Transfer specialist Natasha spends every second week/weekend on call to serve the community transferring loved ones from their place of passing into our care at the funeral home. 

Natasha's home-based furniture refurbishing business keeps her busy restoring old furniture and is a great outlet for her creativity and passion for saving old furniture.

Natasha appreciates the opportunity to give support to our families in need.

Justin Wuest

Cemetery Care

Dylan Davies

Cemetery Care

Schalk Engelbrecht

Cemetery Care