Our Staff

Ira M. Speck

1908 – 1994

In 1930, Ira M. Speck began working for Blount Funeral Home as an ambulance driver. Mr. Speck began to assist Mr. Blount in other areas of funeral service, thus creating an interest in becoming a Funeral Director and Embalmer. Mr. Speck was born October 10, 1908 in Overton County Tn. to the late Floyd Morgan & Narcissia Allred Speck. Mr. Speck operated Speck Funeral Home for fifty years and founded the Overton County Memorial Gardens. He was a Shriner, Past President of the Livingston Rotary Club and Past Patron in the Eastern Star. He and his wife Vera enjoyed their cabin at Dale Hollow Lake where they enjoyed their leisure time and fishing. Vera Hyder Speck was born in Putnam County Tn. to the late Melvin & Ida Walker Hyder she was a Past Matron and Past Grand Warder in Tennessee, member of Grand General, & Grand Choirs and member of the General Grand Choir of Eastern Star. She enjoyed singing in the Overton County chorus for many years. Mr & Mrs. Ira M. Speck where members of the Livingston First United Methodist Church.

Chris Speck

Owner/Manager/Embalmer & Funeral Director

Chris has been in the funeral service since June 2001.  He is a 2001 graduate of Livingston Academy.  He is a 2003 graduate of John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science in Nashville, Tenn.   He is a Licensed Funeral Director, Licensed Embalmer & Licensed Preneed Sales Agent in Tennessee, working at both Speck and Livingston Funeral Homes.  A former Overton County Commissioner, Chris has served as Secretary-Treasurer on the Overton County NRCS Soil Conservation Board. He is a lifelong resident of Overton County.  Chris and his wife, Wendy have four children, Madelyn, Emma, Morgan, & Katie.  He is a member of the Livingston Rotary Club and Netherland Church of Christ.

Telephone: 1-931-823-1201

Email: 

Wendy Rice Speck

Owner/ Non-Licensed Assistant

Owner and Non-Licensed Assistant of Speck and Livingston Funeral Homes, Wendy began her career in funeral service as a Funeral Assistant at Cole & Garrett Funeral Home in her home town of Goodlettsville, Tennessee. Wendy is a 1999 Graduate of Beech High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee.  She married Chris Speck in 2003 and moved to Overton County.  Wendy and Chris have four children, Madelyn, Emma, Morgan & Katie Speck.  She is a member of the Livingston Rotary Club and Netherland Church of Christ.

Telephone: 1-931-823-1201

Darrell Flowers

Funeral Director / Insurance Agent / Manager of Livingston Funeral Home

Darrell is a Licensed Funeral Director, Licensed Insurance Agent, Licensed Pre-need Sales Agent and Manager at Speck and Livingston Funeral Homes with over 16 years experience.  A lifelong resident of Overton County, he is a 1976 graduate of Livingston Academy.  Darrell and his wife, Gail Qualls Flowers are members of the Bible Baptist Church in Rickman  He and Gail live in the Pleasant Valley Community of Overton County.  They have two children, Kimberly Flowers Montgomery & husband, David & Russell Flowers & wife, Becca and five grandchildren, Madye, Matthew, & Logan Montgomery and Amelia & Liam Flowers.

Telephone: 1-931-823-1201

Email: 

Steve Vaughn

Office Manager

Steve started with Speck and Livingston Funeral Homes in the 80’s as a Insurance Agent.  Since March of 2007 he has been a Funeral Assistant with Speck Funeral Home.  Steve is a lifelong resident of Overton County.  He is a 1979 graduate of Livingston Academy.  Steve is married to Marilyn Lee Vaughn, they are members of the Trinity Assembly of God in Algood, Tenn.  They have three daughters, Emily, Katie & Amanda Vaughn.  Steve and Marilyn live in the Rickman Community of Overton County.

Telephone: 1-931-823-1201

Melissa Allred

Housekeeper / Non-Licensed Funeral Assistant

Melissa has been in the Funeral Service Profession for 20 years. She enjoys cleaning and assisting the families that we at Speck and Livingston Funeral Homes serve. She was raised in Alpine, TN where she still resides near her family & friends. She is the daughter of Mary Allred Collins & the late Lonnie Allred. She is the mother of three children, Brandon Hargis & wife Pat, Rodney Hargis, & Michele Cook & husband Rob; two grandchildren, Ava Cook & Wade Hargis. She enjoys spending time with her family and grandchildren. During the spring and summer months you will often find her in the garden or yard working. She also enjoys a good summer day of yard sales.

Samantha Mays-Amendola

Embalmer & Funeral Director

Samantha is Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer working at Speck and Livingston Funeral Homes. She is a 2016 graduate from Clay County High School and a 2017 graduate from John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science in Nashville, Tenn.  She is a native of the Hermitage Springs Community in Clay County. She and her husband, John, have one son, Jasper., and daughter, Zula.   She is a member of Campground Methodist Church in Hermitage Springs, Tenn.  

Donna Speck

Office Administrator / Non-Licensed Assistant

Office Administrator & Non-Licensed Assistant for Livingston Funeral Home. Donna moved to Overton County after graduating Jackson County High School in 1978. She was a office receptionist for many years for a parts company that is known now as Hutchinson. She and her husband Thurman Speck live in the Spring Creek Community of Overton County. They have one son, Chris Speck & his wife Wendy. She enjoys reading and spending time with her grandchildren. She is a member of the Netherland Church of Christ.

Telephone: 1-931-823-1271

Grover C. Brown

1933 - 2021

Mr. Brown was a Licensed Funeral Director, with more than 37 years experience in funeral services.  Grover was a lifelong resident of Overton County, graduating Livingston Academy in 1951.  He was an Exec. Vice President and employee of Union Bank and Trust Company for 21 years. He also was a Livingston Rotary Club member for 49 years. Grover was married to the late Joan Speck Brown, the daughter of Ira and Vera Hyder Speck. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Livingston, Tennessee. 

Keith McCormick

Funeral Home Assistant

Keith is a native to Overton County, Tennessee.  A 1973 graduate of Livingston Academy.  He received his Business Management Degree from Tennessee Tech in 1977.  Keith is married to Mrs. Gail Seber McCormick.  They have two Children, Blake McCormick and wife Kayla, and the late CPL Brad McCormick.  Keith and his wife Gail are members of Netherland Church of Christ, in Rickman, TN.