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Lee’s journey to Ransdell Funeral Home is a story of Love, plain and simple. His story has to begin with his parents in order to tell it accurately. Charles Wycliffe Congleton, Lee’s father, grew up in Sulphur Kentucky along with his sisters Madonna, Nadine, and (Alma) Sissy. Attending Henry County High School as a teenager he ran into Janice Yvonne Egerton, Lee’s mother, on a double date. Jan was growing up on a farm in Trimble County near Campbellsburg with her brother Billy and sisters Maurine and Sue. Charles and Jan fell in love. They moved to Lexington to attend the University of Kentucky. Charles graduated with a Degree in Mechanical Engineering and immediately joined the United States Air Force. He was stationed near London, England. Lee was born October 12, 1964. Upon leaving the Air Force, the Congleton family returned to Lexington, Kentucky to plant their roots. It was here that Lee grew up with his sister Brooke and brother Christian.
Charles and Jan started a Consulting Engineering Firm that would later be known as CMTA Consulting Engineers. As all children of parents whom work for themselves do, Lee grew up in the business. He mowed the lawn and cleaned the office with his sister on weekends while he was in high school. When he graduated from high school, he began drafting and running errands for the Engineers at the company. He gradually gained more and more responsibilities and eventually became a Project Manager. His main projects were designing Humana Hospitals. He later left the family business for an opportunity to be trained in another field of Engineering and went to work for a pre-cast company in Winchester Kentucky. Lee worked with granites from all over the world as well as concrete and structural steel. He worked on large commercial structures at the University of Kentucky Medical Center and Glaxo Pharmaceutical Research Company. Over the years he began to realize he was more interested in running the overall company than the projects themselves. A career change needed to be made. Lee created a small construction company to pay for his education and he enrolled in the University of Kentucky. Doing appliance, electrical, plumbing and HVAC repair, for mostly professors at the University and some property owners at night and with classes during the day, he was very busy. Lee graduated with a Bachelors of Administration in Finance and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Upon graduation, he returned to a division of the family business to learn the difficult task of running your own business.
It was at this time that Lee met his future wife Frederica Ransdell. The event that would bring him to Ransdell Funeral Home. This ultimately happened through his parents. Both of his parents still had family in Henry and Trimble Counties that were visited. The Congleton farm in Sulphur was a frequent stopping point for picnics and the cutting down of a Christmas tree every year. When someone in the family passed away, Ransdell Funeral Home took care of them. It was during these events that Lee and Frederica (Ransdell at the time) became friends as she was with everyone she met. Lee offered that if she was ever in Lexington, to let him know. While working on a drug prevention project in Lexington, she decided to do just that. Lee fell in love. After a three year courtship they were married on July 25th, 1998. They both lived in Lexington while Frederica completed her College career. After completing his work with the family business he discovered that Frederica wanted to return to her home and continue her work at Ransdell Funeral Home. They moved to Eminence in 1999 and lived in the apartment above the funeral home. Lee work for a mechanical construction company in Louisville, Kentucky as the Chief Financial Officer. He would attend visitations at night simply to see his wife. He would also help her out as needed during the weekends. He found that he enjoyed helping her during these times. When Frederica became pregnant with their first child Hannah in 2000, they both realized that Lee wasn’t home very much. The intent was to purchase the company in Louisville, but the hours of work and driving would not allow for much family time. Frederica asked him why not purchase the family business and they could work together. He could run the business side and she would handle the funeral side.
They purchased the funeral homes in May of 2004 the same year their second child Keegan was born. Lee obtained a degree from Mid-America College of Funeral Service and was licensed soon after that. His construction background has allowed them to expand their business into the monument industry. This has given Lee a chance to be outside, which is something he relishes. Lee found the need to start this expansion after helping many families with designing a permanent memorial for their loved ones. He felt that he could shorten the length of time and expand their options, while keeping their costs down. They now create monuments for the families they serve as well as the public.
Lee has been a member of, or been involved in the following:
• Campbellsburg Lion’s Club – past President
• Eminence Rotary Club
• Bedford and Milton Masonic Lodge’s
• Bedford Baptist Church – Treasurer
• Assistant Coach for basketball, baseball and football.
• Deputy Coroner – Trimble County
• University of Kentucky Alumni Association
• Henry County Chamber of Commerce
• Henry County Historical Society
Frederica (Ransdell) Congleton was literally born into the funeral service. She was raised living above the funeral home until the age of five. Being the daughter of the Bill and Betty Ransdell, she was constantly helping them around the funeral home. From the time she was a little girl, Frederica knew she wanted to be “a balmer”, just like her Father, Bill Ransdell. She was always helping, opening the door during visitations as a toddler and setting up chapel and making coffee as a young teenager. It was in High School that she realized that she wanted to do more in the family business. Her parents began to actively “train” her in the delicate profession of Funeral Director. Frederica graduated with honors from Trimble County High School in 1989 as the senior class president.
Immediately upon graduation from High School she began her apprenticeship required for licensing. Thereafter, she enrolled in Mid-America College of Funeral Service graduating in 1992. Never looking back, she stepped into the role of Funeral Director and Embalmer at the Campbellsburg location, where she lived in the upstairs apartment. During this time she was very involved in Daughters of the American Revolution, Campbellsburg Woman’s club and Bedford Rotary Club. Frederica managed the funeral home in Campbellsburg, but worked at all locations of the Ransdell Funeral Homes. She was single and liked being busy and saw the need, so during this time she also worked as the Prevention Specialist for Trimble County in association with the Partners in Rural Prevention. The Partnerships of six counties – Bullitt, Henry, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble – were involved in a project directed at awareness of substance abuse. She embraced all of these rolls until 1996 it was then that she found love, and this would alter her path. She met a wonderful man, Lee Congleton, who lived in Lexington, Kentucky. She moved to be closer to him and felt the need to further her education at the University of Kentucky. As she attended college, she worked part time at a local funeral home as well as an insurance agency. She graduated from U of K in 1999 with Bachelor of Administration Degrees in Marketing and Management. Frederica and Lee married on July 25, 1998. It was a year after her marriage that her husband asked her “I have completed my work here in Lexington. I can do what I do anywhere in the world. Where would you like to go? ” Her response “I want to go back home”.
She returned to Ransdell Funeral home in 1999 moving in to the apartment above the funeral home at the Eminence location with her husband. In 2001 they gave birth to their first child Hannah Katherine. Many people got to visit with the new Mom and Daughter as both were permanent fixtures at the funeral home. Hannah could be found following in her Mother’s footsteps opening the door, cleaning or just visiting. Also during this time, Frederica became involved with the Funeral Directors Association with Kentucky. From 2000 until 2002 she served the state association as the Women’s Auxiliary President. In May of 2004, they purchased the Ransdell Funeral Homes from her parents. Within hours of the signing of the contracts, another wonderful arrival happened. They added to their family a lively little baby boy named Keegan Isaac. They purchased all three of the locations taking the business into another generation of family. Many people did not know this: when Frederica’s Father passed away in 2008, many people were not aware the funeral homes were purchased four years previous. She was asked regularly “will you be stepping in for your father?” This has always been a great source of pride with Lee and Frederica. They kept the traditions of the funeral home all the while making improvements, the best of both worlds.
Frederica can still be found opening the door during funerals, only now you will see her two children helping, as she did years ago.
Frederica loves being involved in the communities carrying on the tradition of always giving back. If not at the funeral home she can be found volunteering for Campbellsburg Women’s Club, at various school events, or sporting events. Frederica and her family are members of Bedford Baptist Church, where she has gone since a little girl. Feeling honored to serve the Henry and Trimble communities and help families through some of their most difficult days is the driving point for the funeral home. She instills that our family is serving your family, and many people can be heard saying that is what they feel like when they are at Ransdell Funeral Home – Family!
Frederica is a member of, or been involved in the following:
• Bedford Rotary Club (first woman president)
• Campbellsburg Lion’s Club
• Campbellsburg Women’s Club
• Eastern Star
• Daughters’ of the American Revolution
• Trimble County Historical Society
• Henry County Historical Society
• Trimble County Middle School Site Base
• Bedford Baptist Church
• University of Kentucky Alumni Association
“Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.” – St. Therese de Lisieux
Jay officially began his career at Ransdell Funeral Home in 2009. Un-officially, he has been headed this way for most of his life. The unique talents that Jay brings to the table can only be understood in his story of how he ultimately came to be with us at Ransdell Funeral Home.
Upon graduation from high school Jay enrolled into culinary school to chase his dream of becoming a pastry chef. He was one of five selected by his class to serve as an apprentice in the French Embassy in Washington, DC. After his graduation he started a business as a wedding event planner. For twelve years he planned and executed all aspects of various types of weddings. His company prepared every detail “in house." Jay’s expertise started with the wedding cake and he would build out from there following with the decorations, planning and even the flowers. His planning of weddings were almost identical to the details of planning a funeral service. His flower arrangements also began to catch the eye of wedding attendants. He began creating arrangements for separate occasions upon request. His floral designs began appearing at all types of events including local funerals. Jay ultimately sold the business in pursuit of more “weekend time” with this family.
Enjoying his work with flowers, he took a job at a local florist. Jay not only created the funeral designs but would deliver and assist with their arrangement at the funeral homes. This was his first “real” link with the funeral industry. He was fascinated with the detail and the care that went into a funeral service. He worked as the Director of Catering and Conventions with the Radisson Hotel, Director of Food Services for Holiday World and a local country club, and ended as Director of Food Services at an assisted living facility. Through all of this, Jay continued doing floral arrangements for various functions. His skills caught the eye of a local florist and was offered a job. It was at this time that he began to realize he was drawn toward learning more about the local funeral homes and the role that they play in the community. Working closely with funeral directors, he began to see more and more of what they do.
Jay describes the moment he chose to change his career. He was dining out for dinner with his wife one night. He confided in her, reluctantly, that he was interested in becoming a funeral director. He was reluctant only because it would require a bit of sacrifice for both of them for him to go back to college. Martha (his wife) was excited and very happy in anything he wanted to do. Jay enrolled in Mid-America College of Funeral Service and moved to Trimble County. Nearing graduation he stopped in Ransdell Funeral Home and enquired about the internship. He was a perfect fit. His love of the area, the people, and the profession, as well as the skills he has brought with him, has made Jay Ingram an integral part of the Ransdell Funeral Home family.
Jay is married to Martha Jones Ingram. They have four boys and two wonderful grandchildren. They live in Trimble County and are members of the Bedford Baptist Church where Jay serves on the Decorating Committee. Martha travels and is committed to a career in healthcare.
Jay is the son of the late Freddie L. and Elizabeth Jean Ezell Ingram.
Ken’s life in the funeral service began quite by accident. It was while he was in school at Hanover College in Southern Indiana - pursuing a pre-law major and political science minor hoping a law school admission was in his future - that he was offered a part-time position with a funeral home in Madison, Indiana. There he became very interested in working with families who had just lost a loved one and decided to instead pursue a degree in Mortuary Science. So, instead of law school, mortuary school was in his future.
Ken graduated from the (former) Kentucky School of Mortuary Science in Louisville, Kentucky in August 1980. At that time, he was working for the (former) Vail-Holt Funeral Home in downtown Madison. He received his Indiana funeral director and embalmer license in 1981 and his Kentucky funeral director and embalmers license in 1993.
In 1988 Ken married the former Carla Ginn of Milton, Kentucky, who he met when she visited his home church, First Baptist Church of Madison, more than three years prior. She was currently directing the Gifted and Talented Program for Trimble County Schools, just across the Ohio River in Kentucky. They were married at First Baptist Church in August and moved to Florida. There Ken worked for the Fisk Funeral Home in Saint Cloud and Carla became the guidance counselor at Highlands Elementary School in Kissimmee, Florida.
In 1992 their first daughter, Emily Kathleen, was born and they decided it would be best to move back closer to home. Ken was offered the position of Director of the Body Bequeathal Program at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. He served as the funeral director in charge of those wanting to bequeath their bodies to medical science at the time of their death. He and his family returned to Madison to live at that time, commuting to Louisville each day to work. Carla returned to her former position in the Trimble County Schools.
Ken was sought after and offered a position at Vail-Holt Funeral Home in Madison in 1996. At that time, that firm and the other funeral firm in town, Lytle’s, were in the process of being sold to Carriage Services, Inc., a national funeral home and cemetery acquisition company from Houston, Texas. He became the general manager for Carriage Services for three funeral home locations in Madison and Hanover. A few years later the corporation sold the funeral homes back to their original owners and left Madison. Ken decided to stay exclusively with the Lytle Funeral Home and was there until November 2019.
At that time, Ken formed a company and notified area funeral directors he was available on a contractual basis to help them wherever he could. Several funeral homes in Southern Indiana and Northern Kentucky utilized his services of embalming, making arrangements, conducting funerals, etc. for several months until he was offered a full-time position with Ransdell Funeral Home in March 2020, where he now enjoys helping the people of Trimble County and surrounding areas at their time of need.
Ken also served two times as a deputy coroner in Jefferson County, Indiana, and is a certified Medical-Legal Death Investigator for the State of Indiana. He also holds life insurance and securities licenses in Indiana, Kentucky, Florida and Virginia, and is a Registered Representative and financial advisor with World Financial Group/Transamerica Financial Advisors.
In May 1999, Carla, Emily and Ken began the year-long process of adopting a child from Russia. Their journey began with an adoption fair in Louisville, and continued the process with a local adoption agency as well as an adoption agency in Washington, D.C. which specialized in foreign adoption. On April 30, 2000, Ken and Carla began the trek to Perm, Russia via Cincinnati, Ohio, Washington, D.C., New York, New York, and Moscow, Russia. It was in Perm that they met Alysa Grace at nine months old in a “baby house” and took her home to Madison to meet her sister Emily and the rest of her family.
Ken and Carla currently live in Madison and have raised two beautiful daughters. Emily is a graduate of Manchester University in North Manchester, Indiana and is a family case manager for the Department of Child Services in Madison. She married Jared D. Sweet on December 9, 2023 and lives in Madison. Alysa graduated in 2020 with a degree in graphic arts and visual communications from Ivy Tech Community College in Columbus, Indiana. She accepted a position with Craig Toyota in Madison as their marketing director in July 2021, and on October 17, 2021, she married her "best friend" Blaine Stewart in a double ring ceremony.
Ken and his family are active members at First Baptist Church in Madison. He past chairman of the Board of Deacons and Board of Trustees and currently the chairman of the Church Council. He is a former member of the Finance Team and sings with the church worship band. He is also a member of the Indiana Funeral Directors Association and Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky, and a former member of the Madison Kiwanis Club.
Bill was born and raised in Trimble County Kentucky. After graduating from high school, he found that he was interested in two possible careers. One was Education and the other was the Funeral Service. He ultimately chose Education and enrolled into Eastern Kentucky University and obtained his Bachelor of Arts and then his Master’s in Education and Administration. He married his high school sweet heart, Jewell Scott, on June 19th, 1965. He spent his first three years teaching in Trimble County Kentucky. In 1969 he transition over to Indiana working in the Hanover area and in 1978 began teaching in Madison, Indiana. It was during this time that Bill and Jewell were also blessed with the birth of their son, Trent and later a daughter, Haley. He also realized that he still had an interest in the funeral profession. Bill decided to mail a letter to local funeral homes requesting part-time work.
His letter was answered by Jim Holt, the owner of the Vail-Holt Funeral Home. He began working during the evenings, on vacation, and during the school summer breaks. Bill continued working in both professions until 1982 which is when he accepted a job as a Vice-Principal and later as Principal. Being a Principal, unfortunately, didn’t allow him the time to work at the funeral home anymore. After 37 years of service, he retired from Education in 2002. Bill returned to working part time at the funeral home as they needed him. In 2008, he was approached by Lee and Frederica Congleton, the owners of Ransdell Funeral Home, they asked and the reply was met with a resounding yes. It was a perfect fit for the entire team. In a short time he transitioned completely over to the Ransdell Funeral Home. Bill also is a Deputy Coroner in Trimble County. He is a member, Sunday School Teacher and serves as deacon for Bedford Baptist Church. He also volunteers on the Apple Festival Committee.
He enjoys spending time with his wife, children: Trent (Lori) Henderson and Haley (Jonathan) Turner and his six grandchildren. Jewell and Bill can always be found attending one of the grandchildren’s game or school events. Bill really feels honored to have the opportunity to serve the residents of Trimble and Henry Counties through his employment with Ransdell Funeral Home. He counts it as a special privilege to be helping families as they journey the difficult path that comes with the loss of a loved one.
Rita grew up in Vevay, Indiana and graduated from Switzerland County High School. After graduation, she attended Indiana University Southeast in New Albany, Indiana.
In 1982, she began working at the King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison, Indiana and left after twenty-eight years of service. She is a Certified Cardiology Technician and enjoyed working at KDH, especially in the Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab Department. She loved helping people recover from heart and lung problems. Following her work at KDH, she was an in-home caregiver for ten years.
Rita has lived in Madison since 1989 and has been married to Dwight Addleman for twenty-six years. They enjoy traveling, boating, antiquing, camping, swimming, making crafts, and spending time with family and friends. She also enjoys swimming, spending time at the beach, and UK basketball.
Rita has served on the Ohio Valley Opportunities board of directors for many years and helped with the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. She is a member of Mount Sterling Baptist Church, Vevay, the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary of Rising Sun, Indiana, and is a “people person” who enjoys helping others.
Rita grew up in a funeral family, as her father, Gerald “Jerry” Harlow, was a funeral director for more than forty years. She worked with her father at the funeral home in Vevay and joined the staff of a Madison funeral home in 2016 when she decided to change career paths and follow in her fathers’ footsteps. She is excited to begin this new chapter in her life.
She is proud to say that she works for Ransdell Funeral Home where the staff is professional, caring and sensitive to the needs of each family served.
Ken was born and raised in Bedford, KY, growing up on Gills Ridge Road. He is the son of Bob and Wilma Boyer. After graduating in 1983 from TCHS, Ken received his associate degree in computer aided drafting from Louisville Technical Institute. He also worked as an intern at General Electric in Louisville, KY while attending school.
In 1986 Ken began a career with Dow Corning Corporation in Carrollton, KY. After advancing in multiple roles, he retired in 2021 after over 30 years of service.
Ken is a lifelong member of Bedford Baptist Church and was ordained a deacon in 2000. Having an interest in music and soundboard engineering since his early teens, he has been the Sound Technician at BBC for over 40 years.
In 2006 Ken was invited by the gospel group The Infinite Realm to become a member and be their Sound Engineer. Being with their group has been very rewarding and he enjoys traveling with them and being part of their ministry.
Ken and his wife, Sherry Garrett Boyer, have been married since 1996 and reside in Milton, Ky. They enjoy spending time with their family, traveling, and their two dogs.
In March of 2023, Ken was contacted by Ransdell Funeral Home about joining their team. He immediately said “yes” as he felt it was a way to give back and help others in their time of need. Being a long-time resident of Trimble County, he knew he could be a familiar, friendly face that people can connect with. Ken really enjoys his co-workers and being part of a respected community service business.