With the exception of a few years, Lori Dillon was raised in Fulton and attended Fulton Public Schools. She married her husband, Joe Dillon, in 1988 and moved to a farm in Portland where they still reside. For several years, she worked for the Kingdom of Callaway Chamber of Commerce. In 2009, she made a career change and found her niche as an funeral home office manager. Falling in love with the business, she served a one-year apprenticeship, learning the ins-and-outs of being a funeral director. She is a state-licensed funeral director, preneed agent and life insurance producer, and self-proclaimed chaos coordinator with Maupin Funeral Home. In her free time, she enjoys being at home with her family, playing with her grandchildren and breakfast dates with her chosen sisters.
What was your first job?
I babysat a lot when I was too young to have a job. My first grown-up job was icing donuts at Paradise Donuts on Court Street when I was 15. Through my high school years, I worked at Hardees.
Who inspires you the most?
Definitely my husband. It doesn’t matter what life throws at him: illness, injury, tragedy. He is the most optimistic, grounded and level-headed person I know. He has a great sense of humor and a kind heart. Whether it be stress from work or just from life in general, he is my strongest supporter and my safe place. I am a better wife, mother, grandmother and employee because of his encouragement and understanding.
What have you done that has been most fulfilling?
Being a mom. It is an amazing gift to watch your tiny human mature into a responsible adult with his own family. As an added bonus, our son, Richard, and his wife, Amy, chose to build their lives and home on the family farm. We are beyond blessed to have them so close and be able to interact with them and their children almost daily.
What is something you are proud of that you’ve been recognized for?
I think the most meaningful compliment I have ever received is I had a polite and well-mannered child. I would like to take full credit, but he reminds me he brought a lot to the table. He has his dad’s sense of humor.
If you could do any job in the world, what would it be?
Sometimes when things are stressful in our office, I think I would like to do anything else. But in the end, I think being a funeral director and helping families is what I am supposed to be doing. If I had to do something else, it would involve me working from home with a cup of coffee on my desk and a dog at my feet.
What is a job you wouldn’t want to do?
There are so many jobs that would be difficult in today’s society. Law enforcement, nursing and teaching are careers I would shy away from. In my opinion, they should be more appreciated and better compensated.
What is your favorite thing about Callaway County?
I love how this community takes care of each other, especially children. When SERVE, Inc. puts out the call for Adopt-A-Family or their Back-to-School Program, Callaway County comes trough for them. When someone faces a tragedy or illness, the community willingly opens their hearts and wallets, or volunteers to do what they can to see each other through. Honestly, isn’t that what life is all about? Doing what you can for family, friends, neighbors and even strangers.