The Cremation Process, Step by Step: What Really Happens
Dalton Hoopes Funeral Home — Grantsville & Tooele County, Utah | Updated June 30, 2026 Send Flowers | Plant a Tree When someone you love dies, you are asked to make decisions you have never made before, usually within a day or two. If cremation is on the table, the question families ask us most […]
What Is Direct Cremation and Is It Right for My Family?
Losing someone you love is hard enough. The last thing any family needs is to feel overwhelmed by funeral decisions — or pressured into services they don’t want or can’t afford. That’s why more and more families across Tooele County and the Wasatch Front are choosing direct cremation as a simple, dignified, and affordable alternative […]
Leisa Van Orden
Leisa Van Orden, age 63, passed away on June 20, 2026 in Tooele, Utah from complications of Type 2 diabetes. She was born March 27, 1963 in Ogden, Utah to Rulon Grant Van Orden and Barbara Brown Van Orden, both now deceased. She was raised in Teton Valley, Idaho. She travelled all throughout the western […]
Connie Mair Kirk
Connie Jean Mair Kirk, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away on June 23, 2026, at her home in Tooele, Utah, from complications of type 2 diabetes. She was born on February 21, 1960, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Darwin Lindsay Mair and Beth Elaine Sutton. Connie grew up in Grantsville, Utah, […]
Patrick Albert Hearty
Patrick Albert Hearty passed away at age 79 on June 19, 2026, at home while recovering from surgery. Pat was born to Clyde and Gertrude Hearty in 1947 and raised in Grantsville, Utah alongside his beloved sister, Cherry. Pat was well-liked around town and was the Grantsville High School Student Body President in 1965. Pat […]
Timothy Peterson
Timothy “Timmy” Peterson was born on June 17, 1963, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the youngest of six boys to Fred Peterson and Charlyn Ranck. Tim is survived by his children: Chelsey, MacKenzie, and Ian Marshall. He lived and breathed for his children, putting them first and sacrificing everything to give them a good life. […]
What Happens If There Is No Will? Understanding Intestate Succession and Your Family’s Future
One of the most common questions families face after the death of a loved one is: what happens if there is no will? The answer can have a significant impact on a family’s finances, relationships, and future. When someone dies without a valid will, state laws determine who receives their property and how their estate […]
What Does a Funeral Director Do? Understanding the Vital Role Behind Every Funeral
When a loved one passes away, families are often faced with difficult decisions during one of the most emotional times of their lives. In these moments, many people find themselves asking, what does a funeral director do? While most people understand that a funeral director helps organize a funeral, the role goes far beyond scheduling […]
Patty Kay Bingham
Patty Kay Smith Bingham returned to her Heavenly Father on June 4, 2026, after a year-long battle with cancer. Patty was born September 2, 1957, alongside her twin brother, Perry, to Roy Estel Smith Jr. and Charlotte Ann Hulse. Patty grew up in Orem, Utah, the third of six children. With her first husband, Daniel […]
Are Funeral Expenses Tax Deductible? Understanding the Tax Rules for Funeral and Burial Expenses
When a loved one passes away, families are often faced with emotional decisions and unexpected financial responsibilities. Between funeral arrangements, burial costs, cremation services, and other final expenses, many people naturally wonder: are funeral expenses tax deductible? The answer is more nuanced than many expect. While most families cannot claim funeral expenses on a personal […]