History & Staff

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I was born in Hemet, California in 1974. Soccer, the Ramona Pageant, and Boy Scouts played major roles in my life during my younger years. I lettered in high school soccer, learned to love the Hemet community spirit through the Ramona Pageant, Valley Wide parks & recs. and earned an Eagle Scout with 3 Palms. These activities are still passions that I support.

After graduating from Hemet High school, I attended college graduating from San Francisco College of Mortuary Science in 1996. For the next year, I participated in a training program working at many privately owned funeral homes throughout the United States and Mexico. This experience taught me the diversity of service provided in the funeral profession. Through these teachings and experiences I now have my Embalmers, Funeral Director, Cemetery Manager, Crematory Manager, Limited Life Insurance licenses.

Returning to the valley, my family opened a third mortuary to serve the Perris area. Managing this new facility and purchasing my home in the Perris, I began actively supporting local organizations while growing our new business. Joining the Perris Chamber of Commerce, I participated in various committee and Board of Directors positions including president. After expanding our business to include a facility in Moreno Valley, I joined the Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce and have enjoyed participating in a variety of activities with the organization.

Along with my brother Hamilton, we have assumed the leadership of our family owned and operated business, Miller-Jones Mortuary & Crematory / Menifee Valley Memorial Park, which was founded by our parents. We have six locations serving Southwest Riverside County. Along with our professional staff, we provide meaningful, appropriate and affordable funeral services to the families we have the privilege to serve. I am fortunate to enjoy the support of my lovely wife Julia and children Joscelin, Jeren, and Judsen. My family lives and works in the community and is dedicated to making this valley strong and successful.

Joseph Smolinski is a licensed Funeral Director, and the manager of Miller-Jones Mortuary in Sun City has been in the funeral professional since 1994. An active participant in his community, he has been a member and officer of several organizations committed to improving community life including the Menifee Valley Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club of Menifee Valley/Sun City, Menifee Valley Community Cupboard, and the Menifee Valley Medical Center Foundation. He is a member of St. Martha's Catholic Parish in Murrieta and the Knights of Columbus. Joe comes from a large family, having 5 brothers and 3 sisters. He is a native of Orange County, where he attended Cypress High School and Cypress College. Joe has lived in the Menifee Lakes area with his son, Kyle, since 1993.

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Curt Welshon joined Miller-Jones Mortuary and Crematory in 2010 as a Licensed Funeral Director. He married his wife, Barb, in 1987 and moved to Hemet the following year. They have raised two children and enjoy spending time with their four grandchildren. In his spare time, he enjoys taking walks in Simpson Park, working around the house, and being involved with his grandchildren. For twenty-five years, he worked for the retail banking industry, receiving various production awards.

The best way to aid families is by helping them make informed decisions and to assure that they are aware of the many options Miller-Jones Mortuary has to offer them. It all starts by listening to the family members and understanding what is important to them. Effective listening is the key to developing personalized services and a positive and meaningful experience.

When asked what inspires him, Curt said, “Having the opportunity to assist families during a difficult time and helping soothe the transition by inspiring the making of new memories for the future.”

Kimberly Jones is a member of the senior management team at Miller-Jones Mortuary. She attended San Francisco College of Mortuary Science, and graduated with the last class in 2002. Kimberly has been part of the Miller-Jones family since 2000, when she started her embalming apprenticeship. Progressing through her education and various positions, she began supervising the Memorial Care Center, a state of the art care facility, where she supervised more than 15 employees. Kimberly is a licensed funeral director, embalmer and certified crematory operator. She now oversees the management of the Memorial Care Center, Documents & Permitting, Public Relations & Advertising, and Company & Community Events. As a part of Miller-Jones' community outreach, Kimberly is very active with her involvement iand is on the Board of the Soroptimist International Club of Hemet-San Jacinto, Friends of Valley Wide Foundation, Healthy Valley Foundation, Solace Center. A native of San Jacinto, Kimberly is the middle child with 2 older sisters and 2 younger brothers. She and her husband, Hamilton, have one son and one daughter that keep them busy and active. On her off days she enjoys spending time with family, camping and just relaxing at home.

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Olga is a resident of our Hemet Valley for over 30 years and graduated from Hemet High School in 1992. She and her family are members of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church and also attend St. Anthony’s Catholic Church.

Olga has been an important part of the Miller-Jones family since July of 1998. Over the last 17 years she has served in many different capacities from receptionist to funeral arranger. She has worked both in our San Jacinto office and most currently in our Hemet office. Olga brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our firm. Aside from providing excellent customer service to all, she also speaks Spanish which is a valued asset to those we serve.

She has three children; Eddie, Jesus Jr., and Jackie. In her spare time Olga enjoys spending as much time as possible with her family.

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Josefina serves as a funeral arranger and has been with Miller-Jones Mortuary since February of 2004. A native of Mexico, she has lived in the Valley since 1977, and is a graduate from Hemet High School. She attended Mt. San Jacinto Community College where she obtained credentials in child development and worked in the nursing profession as well. Josefina and her husband of 20 years, Luis, have two children, Moises and Paloma.
Josefina is an active parishioner at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, past president of Hemet Elementary school site council, and a volunteer with C.A.S.A. In her spare time Josefina enjoys cooking, reading, and family outings. Josefina’s ability to speak both Spanish and English helps her serve families in an appropriate and professional manner in their time of need, which is of primary importance to Josefina.

Mark Van Camp first joined Miller-Jones Mortuary & Crematory in 2001 as a Service Director; assisting families on the day of their funeral services. Today, he serves families as a funeral and cemetery counselor at Miller-Jones - Perris and Moreno Valley facilities.

Mark has two sons, and a Chihuahua. Mark says, "My extended family, of course, also includes all of the wonderful people I have had the privilege of working with. Many of the friendships I have made, I am sure will last a lifetime".

Born in Tiffin, Ohio, Mark's family moved to California when he was eight years old. A graduate of Santiago High School in Garden Grove, he moved to Perris in 1990, and he has been a Sun City resident since 2004.

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Robin Christopherson has been a licensed Funeral Director for more than 32 years. He joined the Miller-Jones family in June 2004, and serves our families in Hemet. Robin says, "Working in funeral service is a noble profession dedicated to service to others. With clergy and others, funeral directors help families during one of life's most difficult trials. No money can buy the personal satisfaction one feels when a family returns to express their thanks for your caring attention to their needs. At Miller-Jones, I have the privilege of working with the "A-team" where Caring and Quality are Number One."

Robin and Donna, his wife, moved to the Inland Empire in July 2003. He shared these feelings about their move, "We love our new home and the friends that we are making. There have been many adjustments, but family and church are constants we can hold onto. It helps that Donna and I are best friends and equal partners. When making the decision to move we knew it wouldn't matter where we lived, if we were together."

Robin received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the California State University in Long Beach; and his graduate studies for a Masters Degree in Education.

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Lisa Hinerman joined Miller-Jones Mortuary and Crematory in 2012 after relocating from Idaho. She joined as an Administrative Assistant at our Perris location and now serves our families as a Funeral Arranger at our Perris and Moreno Valley locations. She finds tremendous satisfaction in helping families during their time of need. Her career mission is to ensure that the families she serves are cared for with the utmost dignity and respect.

Born and raised in Deming, New Mexico, Lisa learned early in life the true meaning of hard work and family values. Lisa comes from a family who is involved in the funeral industry. She worked along side her uncle since the age of 16 at the family owned funeral homes in southern New Mexico.

Lisa enjoys spending her spare time trail running, biking, kayaking and camping in the great outdoors.

Tammy Elkins is Human Resources Manager at Miller-Jones Mortuary & Crematory. Tammy comes to us with 20 years of human resource management experience. Originally born in Lowell, Massachusetts, she was raised in San Diego, where she met and married her husband. Tammy, her husband and now 2 children have lived in Murrieta for over 21 years.

Tammy is a well rounded, hands on human resource professional. She has worked and consulted for both large and small companies, established and start-up operations. Immediately prior to working with Miller-Jones Ms. Elkins worked with a number of entrepreneurs, helping them create the infrastructure to grow their companies. Most recently this meant being responsible for the growth of a Design/Build firm from a staff only a handful to over 300 in only 2 years through successful recruitment strategies, position design, and human resource management.

While working with a Fortune 500, publicly traded municipal finance firm, she was responsible for all aspect of human resources, benefits coordination, recruitment, position design, legal compliance, policy creation, training, career development planning, FMLA, ADA and Worker’s Compensation.

Tammy previously worked with Kemper insurance for about 10 years, where she functioned in a variety of roles culminating into Human Resources, Generalist/Counselor. While at Kemper Insurance she was responsible for recruitment, benefits, performance reviews, salary administration. She also had the opportunity to be trained on insurance claims and benefits, an insight that has proven useful throughout her years as a human resource professional.

Tammy is an active member of Professional in Human Resources Association (PIHRA), and has held positions as Communications/Publicity Chair for PIHRA District 17. She has completed extensive coursework in human resources management, obtaining her Certificate in Human Resources Management from the University of California, Riverside.

I graduated from Scappoose Union High School in Oregon and majored in music at Santa Barbara Junior College. I was married and widowed after 39 years and have 4 children, 10 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
I stepped into the banking world for 10 years and after a brief “retirement” came here and worked as a Receptionist. I’ve been a Service Director and as a utility person, filled in when and wherever I was needed. I’ve worked in all our locations and am proud and honored to have worked with a compassionate

Staff for 18 years. I have been the Sun City Weekend Receptionist for too many years to count.

My interests include, reading, traveling the world, (when I can) playing various games with the many friends I’ve made over the years.

I have been married for 30+ years. Bonnie and I have three adult children and four grandchildren. I grew up in Whittier, CA. I graduated from Cal Hi and then the University of California, Irvine. I have been involved with pastoral ministry and Christian education.

I became a service director at Miller-Jones in 2002. Shortly after that, I became the pastor at Grace Church on Goetz Road. Life is a gift from God and everyone’s should be celebrated by those who knew and loved them. It is a privilege to help families commemorate the life of one that has passed.

Mark Hopkins is from Los Angeles, California. He resides in MorenoValley where he conducts funeral services for Miller-Jones, all over the Inland Empire and surrounding counties.

Mark has been a funeral service director for 25 years. He started his career with Forest Lawn Mortuary Hollywood Hills in 1987. After two years of service Mark was promoted to manager of funeral services for Forest Lawn Covina Hills. After ten years of service, Mark relocated to Las Vegas Nevada to work for Palm Mortuary and Crematory, working in a variety of different positions within that company. Mark always maintained a lead roll in Funeral Service.

Joining Miller Jones in 2011 Mark is well trained in traditional, non traditional and all faiths and religious funeral practices with his years of experience. Mark has three children and a grandson in the Las Vegas area.

It is a great honor for him to serve the families that come to Miller Jones. “I am very proud to work for a company that has such a high quality of customer and community service, Miller Jones definitely gives back as much as they receive”.

Mark also attends Crossword Christian Church in Moreno Valley, where he is involved with the men’s prayer group.

I was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1953 and moved to Southern California (Orange County) in 1976. After spending many summer weekends boating in Canyon Lake, in 1992 we decided to make this 'little bit of paradise' our home.

I have been married for 34 years, have 3 grown children and 2 teenage grandsons. We have been at Cornerstone Community Church for 18 years. I have been the wedding coordinator there for 13 years and been active in prison ministry at Chino Institute for Women.

My prior work experience includes banking, food and beverage service, catering, and we owned a restaurant. I was a licensed realtor in new homes as well as resales, and my husband and I have bought and flipped homes and own and manage rental properties.

In 2007, I flew back to St. Louis to be with my mother in the last weeks before she passed away. When I returned home I realized how important the hospice and funeral staff were to our family at that time and felt a strong desire to help others in the same way. When I had the opportunity to tour Miller-Jones I realized this was the place I could fulfill that calling. I joined them first in Pre-need as I am very passionate about the difference preplanning arrangements can make when a family is faced with loss. I am now a service director with a commitment to making each memorial service a memorable day that will be a first step in the families healing.

After personally experiencing the professional care and understanding of Miller-Jones staff & services.I joined Miller-Jones in 2012 as a Service Director and now I am currently a team leader on the night time transportation team.

I worked Highway Construction for 30 years and 10 years as a Sales Manager for a family owned Company assisting Credit Union Mortgage Departments.

I moved to Menifee in 2008 from Huntington Beach to care for my parents and property. I attend Grace Free Church in Menifee. I am unmarried with 3 children and 8 grandchildren. I enjoy being outdoors, camping and spending time with family.

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