Staff

Staff members of Gillies Funeral Home & Cremation Services are caring and experienced professionals who understand that each family is unique and has personal requests and traditions. These requests and traditions are of utmost importance to our staff of licensed funeral directors.



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Cindy Alsum Manager and Family Services Advisor

Cindy was born and raised in north Whatcom County graduating from Nooksack Valley. She married John Alsum in 1984, and together they have four children and 13 grandchildren. John and Cindy were partners in the family business Alsum & Bode Furniture and then Furniture Medic before Cindy started in the funeral industry. She is a member of Grace Baptist Fellowship and likes to Klompen Dance, work in her yard, and take on any new challenge set in front of her.

 

 

When it comes to preplanning your funeral, Cindy loves to listen to families; finding what is important to each person, whether personal or financial, allows her to create meaningful options to honor their legacy. 

 

 

Cindy’s knowledge and care to detail in designing memorial markers is one she enjoys. Cindy believes your loved ones’ memorial should be one that brings a little smile to your face, with their story told in granite or bronze, keeping in mind the cemetery regulations of where it will be placed. There are so many exciting options for families today.

 

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Mylon & Shannon Smith Funeral Director

Mylon has been on staff since February of 1995.  He received an Associates of Arts Degree from Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake in 1991, and his Funeral Director's License in 1998.  As a Funeral Director, Mylon meets with families, and conducts funeral services.

He married Shannon (his high school sweetheart) in 1991. Together they have four children and two grandchildren. The Smith family enjoys raising and showing Guernsey dairy cows at local and national shows.

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Michelle Jameson Administrative Assistant

I was born and raised in the Seattle area and grew up visiting extended family in Lynden. With a background in the education field, my passion has always been helping and serving people. My son and I now live in Lynden and attend CrossPoint Church. We appreciate being part of this community and enjoy participating in local activities and events. I joined the Gillies family in 2024 and truly value the opportunity to serve and walk with families through their time of grief.

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Ron Hendricks As needed family and service assistant

I am a lifelong resident of Lynden and attended Lynden Christian Schools followed by Bellingham Technical College and Trinity Western University. I owned and operated a business in Lynden for 30 years prior to working for Trinity Western University in the advancement department working with estate and end of life planning. I, along with my wife Karen of 50 years attend North County Christ the King church in Lynden and also volunteer at New Way Ministries; a local women's shelter in Lynden. We have three children and nine grandchildren. We love good coffee and long walks together. I joined Gillies in 2019 and love serving the families in their time of need.

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Galen Laird As needed family and service assistant

I was born and raised in Lynden and grew up on the family farm. Following graduation from Lynden Christian High School in 1974, I joined the automotive world working for Hinton Chevrolet and retiring after 45 years in the service department. I am active in the Lynden Lions Club and Lions International as well serve as an Elder at First Christian Reformed Church in Lynden. I have been married to my wife Candace for 42 years and have two sons and their families in Lynden and in Everson. I joined the team at Gillies in December of2022 and serve families during sadness and loss.

Cindy Alsum

Manager and Family Services Advisor
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Cindy was born and raised in north Whatcom County graduating from Nooksack Valley. She married John Alsum in 1984, and together they have four children and 13 grandchildren. John and Cindy were partners in the family business Alsum & Bode Furniture and then Furniture Medic before Cindy started in the funeral industry. She is a member of Grace Baptist Fellowship and likes to Klompen Dance, work in her yard, and take on any new challenge set in front of her.

 

 

When it comes to preplanning your funeral, Cindy loves to listen to families; finding what is important to each person, whether personal or financial, allows her to create meaningful options to honor their legacy. 

 

 

Cindy’s knowledge and care to detail in designing memorial markers is one she enjoys. Cindy believes your loved ones’ memorial should be one that brings a little smile to your face, with their story told in granite or bronze, keeping in mind the cemetery regulations of where it will be placed. There are so many exciting options for families today.

 

Mylon & Shannon Smith

Funeral Director
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Mylon has been on staff since February of 1995.  He received an Associates of Arts Degree from Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake in 1991, and his Funeral Director's License in 1998.  As a Funeral Director, Mylon meets with families, and conducts funeral services.

He married Shannon (his high school sweetheart) in 1991. Together they have four children and two grandchildren. The Smith family enjoys raising and showing Guernsey dairy cows at local and national shows.

Michelle Jameson

Administrative Assistant
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I was born and raised in the Seattle area and grew up visiting extended family in Lynden. With a background in the education field, my passion has always been helping and serving people. My son and I now live in Lynden and attend CrossPoint Church. We appreciate being part of this community and enjoy participating in local activities and events. I joined the Gillies family in 2024 and truly value the opportunity to serve and walk with families through their time of grief.

Ron Hendricks

As needed family and service assistant
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I am a lifelong resident of Lynden and attended Lynden Christian Schools followed by Bellingham Technical College and Trinity Western University. I owned and operated a business in Lynden for 30 years prior to working for Trinity Western University in the advancement department working with estate and end of life planning. I, along with my wife Karen of 50 years attend North County Christ the King church in Lynden and also volunteer at New Way Ministries; a local women's shelter in Lynden. We have three children and nine grandchildren. We love good coffee and long walks together. I joined Gillies in 2019 and love serving the families in their time of need.

Galen Laird

As needed family and service assistant
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I was born and raised in Lynden and grew up on the family farm. Following graduation from Lynden Christian High School in 1974, I joined the automotive world working for Hinton Chevrolet and retiring after 45 years in the service department. I am active in the Lynden Lions Club and Lions International as well serve as an Elder at First Christian Reformed Church in Lynden. I have been married to my wife Candace for 42 years and have two sons and their families in Lynden and in Everson. I joined the team at Gillies in December of2022 and serve families during sadness and loss.