Once you request the services of Marlatt Funeral Home, we will immediately put our experienced funeral professionals to work for you. A single, dedicated individual will stay in contact with you every step of the way and guide you through the decision-making process. He or she will carefully explain your options, make recommendations at your request, take care of all the small details, and ensure that you and your family’s personal touch is always present.


Marlatt Funeral Home is family owned and operated and was founded in 1957 by Dean and Nell Marlatt. Their son Kim, his wife Cindy, and son Karl now carry on the family tradition of compassion and service. All faiths and cultures are welcomed and accommodated.

Marlatt Funeral Home & Crematory

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Karl Marlatt Owner, Funeral Director, Embalmer & Crematory Operator karl@marlatt.com

Karl is a proud 3rd generation funeral director.  Karl grew up helping his parents Kim and Cindy Marlatt at the funeral home and officially began working for the them in 2006. In 2013 Karl graduated from Lake Washington Institute of Technology with a degree in Funeral Service.

 

Karl is honored to be able to follow in his parent’s footsteps and in the legacy of compassion and service they have created.  He takes a great deal of care helping the families he is able to serve.  He genuinely feels that being a funeral director is his calling in life and appreciates the opportunities he’s given to help those who have lost a loved one and being able to guide them through one of the most difficult times of their lives.

 

When Karl's parents decided to retire, he and his wife Mary took on the responsibility of continuing the high standards of service that his grandparents and parents had established in the funeral industry.

 

 

When Karl's not working, he enjoys going on adventures with his kids and wife.  They love looking for treasures at the local beaches and exploring places in Washington state that as a native Washingtonian he hasn't even visited! Karl loves his state and the community he is given the honor to serve.

 

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Mary Marlatt Owner & Pre-Planning Specialist mary@marlatt.com

Mary joined the family business in 2017.  Prior to working at the funeral home, Mary worked for many  years in finance and human resources for a large not-for-profit healthcare organization.  She now helps keep her families tradition of exceptional service striving at Marlatt Funeral Home. 

 

Mary is married to Karl Marlatt and they grew up together in the Kent area. She completed college at Central Washington University and received her Bachelors of Science in Business Management with an emphasis in Accounting and Supply Chain Management.

 

Mary has always had a passion for helping those in need.  She's had the opportunity to run numerous charity drives geared towards helping those who needed it the most in our community.  Her dedication to helping others made her transition to the funeral profession seamless. 

 

Mary has many roles at Marlatt's, but her most enjoyable role is as a Pre-Planning Specialist.  She loves having the opportunity to sit down with individuals and listen to their life stories.  She is able to help them plan themselves a good good-bye and give them the peace of mind that they will be taken care of when they pass and their loved ones will have minimal decisions to make on their behalf. 

 

When not working, Mary enjoys going on adventures with Karl and their two sons, DIY house projects and baking.  

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Kim Marlatt kimmarlatt@marlatt.com

Kim is the oldest son of the funeral home’s founders, Nell & Dean Marlatt. Growing up in Kent, he helped out at the funeral home, the Marlatt Ambulance Service, and Pet Haven- the family’s pet cemetery on Kent’s West Hill.

 

As a young adult, he attended college at Big Bend in Moses Lake, studying aviation. After the death of his father in 1980 he came back to the funeral home to help his mother run the business; which he and his wife Cindy purchased in 1989. He earned his funeral service degree in 1990 at the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science. 

 

Kim grew up working side by side with his parents and witnessed the pain of those who were mourning a loss.  Because of this, Kim developed a deep compassion and love of people, as well as a genuine ability to serve others.  He takes great care in educating the next generation of funeral directors in order to help them develop the dedication, professionalism and compassion needed to help the families they have the honor to serve.

 

Kim has retired from Marlatt Funeral Home and has entrusted it to his son Karl and wife Mary.  Kim still enjoys helping out the funeral home from time to time, which allows him to stay connected to the community and families Marlatt's has the honor to serve. 

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Kim G. Brown Funeral Director, Embalmer, Crematory Operator & Pre-Planning Specialist kimbrown@marlatt.com

Kim began his career in 1972 working as a groundskeeper at the Forestvale Cemetery Association in Helena, MT.  He attended the University of Montana and later relocated to San Francisco to attend the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science.

 

While living in San Francisco, her owned a trade business where he worked for 9 local funeral homes and also worked for 10 years at the Sinai Memorial Chapel of San Francisco. In 1992 he relocated to Spokane, WA and worked as a Funeral Director/Embalmer for Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home. In 2001 he relocated to Kent, WA where he worked as lead Funeral Director and Embalmer for Bonney-Watson Memorial Corp. for 14 years.  In 2015 he joined the Marlatt team as a Funeral Director/Embalmer and Pre-Planning Specialist. 

 

Kim loves to talk with people and hear their life stories.  He also loves making a positive influence in his community and has been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Kent for numerous years.

 

Kim enjoys everything music and has played in numerous jazz bands.  When not playing music, he spends his time with his beloved dogs and friends.

 

 

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Melissa Curtis Funeral Director, Embalmer, Crematory Operator & Pre-Planning Specialist melissa@marlatt.com

Melissa enrolled in Mortuary school shortly after finishing her degree in Culinary Arts after graduating from High School a year and a half early. She is a Licensed Funeral Director, Embalmer Intern, and Certified Crematory Operator.

 

 Melissa started at the Marlatt Funeral Home in 2019. She is a very compassionate, driven and dedicated individual who is honored to serve families within her community. In her free time, she enjoys weightlifting, hiking, gardening, spending time with her fur babies and various other hobbies.

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Laura Bonawitz Funeral Director, Embalmer & Crematory Operator Laura@Marlatt.com

Laura is a licensed funeral director, embalmer, and crematory operator with over 16 years of experience in the funeral industry.

 

Born and raised in the northwest, Laura has a deep connection to the natural beauty of the region and enjoys spending time outdoors gardening and hiking. When she isn't working, you can find her at home with their husband, two children, beloved dog and chickens. 

 

Laura is passionate about creating unique and meaningful life celebrations that reflect the personality and legacy of each individual she is honored to serve.

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Kelly Sanders Funeral Director, Embalmer & Crematory Operator kelly@marlatt.com

Kelly grew up watching his uncle work in the funeral industry and was interested in a career in the field from a young age. He earned a degree in Funeral Service Education from Mount Hood Community College and has since worked in the field for almost 30 years. He feels it is an honor to be able to serve others at one of the most difficult times of their lives.  

 

Kelly's favorite activity is spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He also loves to cook and fish. 

 

Marlatt's was fortunate to add Kelly to the team in 2020.  He is a master of his trade and takes immense care of the families he serves.

Karl Marlatt

Owner, Funeral Director, Embalmer & Crematory Operator
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Karl is a proud 3rd generation funeral director.  Karl grew up helping his parents Kim and Cindy Marlatt at the funeral home and officially began working for the them in 2006. In 2013 Karl graduated from Lake Washington Institute of Technology with a degree in Funeral Service.

 

Karl is honored to be able to follow in his parent’s footsteps and in the legacy of compassion and service they have created.  He takes a great deal of care helping the families he is able to serve.  He genuinely feels that being a funeral director is his calling in life and appreciates the opportunities he’s given to help those who have lost a loved one and being able to guide them through one of the most difficult times of their lives.

 

When Karl's parents decided to retire, he and his wife Mary took on the responsibility of continuing the high standards of service that his grandparents and parents had established in the funeral industry.

 

 

When Karl's not working, he enjoys going on adventures with his kids and wife.  They love looking for treasures at the local beaches and exploring places in Washington state that as a native Washingtonian he hasn't even visited! Karl loves his state and the community he is given the honor to serve.

 

Mary Marlatt

Owner & Pre-Planning Specialist
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Mary joined the family business in 2017.  Prior to working at the funeral home, Mary worked for many  years in finance and human resources for a large not-for-profit healthcare organization.  She now helps keep her families tradition of exceptional service striving at Marlatt Funeral Home. 

 

Mary is married to Karl Marlatt and they grew up together in the Kent area. She completed college at Central Washington University and received her Bachelors of Science in Business Management with an emphasis in Accounting and Supply Chain Management.

 

Mary has always had a passion for helping those in need.  She's had the opportunity to run numerous charity drives geared towards helping those who needed it the most in our community.  Her dedication to helping others made her transition to the funeral profession seamless. 

 

Mary has many roles at Marlatt's, but her most enjoyable role is as a Pre-Planning Specialist.  She loves having the opportunity to sit down with individuals and listen to their life stories.  She is able to help them plan themselves a good good-bye and give them the peace of mind that they will be taken care of when they pass and their loved ones will have minimal decisions to make on their behalf. 

 

When not working, Mary enjoys going on adventures with Karl and their two sons, DIY house projects and baking.  

Kim Marlatt

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Kim is the oldest son of the funeral home’s founders, Nell & Dean Marlatt. Growing up in Kent, he helped out at the funeral home, the Marlatt Ambulance Service, and Pet Haven- the family’s pet cemetery on Kent’s West Hill.

 

As a young adult, he attended college at Big Bend in Moses Lake, studying aviation. After the death of his father in 1980 he came back to the funeral home to help his mother run the business; which he and his wife Cindy purchased in 1989. He earned his funeral service degree in 1990 at the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science. 

 

Kim grew up working side by side with his parents and witnessed the pain of those who were mourning a loss.  Because of this, Kim developed a deep compassion and love of people, as well as a genuine ability to serve others.  He takes great care in educating the next generation of funeral directors in order to help them develop the dedication, professionalism and compassion needed to help the families they have the honor to serve.

 

Kim has retired from Marlatt Funeral Home and has entrusted it to his son Karl and wife Mary.  Kim still enjoys helping out the funeral home from time to time, which allows him to stay connected to the community and families Marlatt's has the honor to serve. 

Kim G. Brown

Funeral Director, Embalmer, Crematory Operator & Pre-Planning Specialist
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Kim began his career in 1972 working as a groundskeeper at the Forestvale Cemetery Association in Helena, MT.  He attended the University of Montana and later relocated to San Francisco to attend the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science.

 

While living in San Francisco, her owned a trade business where he worked for 9 local funeral homes and also worked for 10 years at the Sinai Memorial Chapel of San Francisco. In 1992 he relocated to Spokane, WA and worked as a Funeral Director/Embalmer for Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home. In 2001 he relocated to Kent, WA where he worked as lead Funeral Director and Embalmer for Bonney-Watson Memorial Corp. for 14 years.  In 2015 he joined the Marlatt team as a Funeral Director/Embalmer and Pre-Planning Specialist. 

 

Kim loves to talk with people and hear their life stories.  He also loves making a positive influence in his community and has been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Kent for numerous years.

 

Kim enjoys everything music and has played in numerous jazz bands.  When not playing music, he spends his time with his beloved dogs and friends.

 

 

Melissa Curtis

Funeral Director, Embalmer, Crematory Operator & Pre-Planning Specialist
photo

Melissa enrolled in Mortuary school shortly after finishing her degree in Culinary Arts after graduating from High School a year and a half early. She is a Licensed Funeral Director, Embalmer Intern, and Certified Crematory Operator.

 

 Melissa started at the Marlatt Funeral Home in 2019. She is a very compassionate, driven and dedicated individual who is honored to serve families within her community. In her free time, she enjoys weightlifting, hiking, gardening, spending time with her fur babies and various other hobbies.

Laura Bonawitz

Funeral Director, Embalmer & Crematory Operator
photo

Laura is a licensed funeral director, embalmer, and crematory operator with over 16 years of experience in the funeral industry.

 

Born and raised in the northwest, Laura has a deep connection to the natural beauty of the region and enjoys spending time outdoors gardening and hiking. When she isn't working, you can find her at home with their husband, two children, beloved dog and chickens. 

 

Laura is passionate about creating unique and meaningful life celebrations that reflect the personality and legacy of each individual she is honored to serve.

Kelly Sanders

Funeral Director, Embalmer & Crematory Operator
photo

Kelly grew up watching his uncle work in the funeral industry and was interested in a career in the field from a young age. He earned a degree in Funeral Service Education from Mount Hood Community College and has since worked in the field for almost 30 years. He feels it is an honor to be able to serve others at one of the most difficult times of their lives.  

 

Kelly's favorite activity is spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He also loves to cook and fish. 

 

Marlatt's was fortunate to add Kelly to the team in 2020.  He is a master of his trade and takes immense care of the families he serves.