Our knowledgeable staff are passionate about providing families guidance and support during the funeral planning process and well after the funeral. Together, we can honor your loved one’s life while beginning your grief journey.
I began in the funeral service in April 1982 with Lotz Funeral Home in Roanoke. Attended Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in Atlanta, Georgia, graduating in Feb 1984. Named Manager of Rader Funeral Home in December 1984 until resigning in May of 1996 to begin Botetourt Funeral Home in Buchanan. The Eagle Rock Funeral Home was purchased from Bill and Myrtie Simmons in 2002. Renamed Botetourt Funeral Home, Eagle Rock Chapel began its operation in January 2003.
Outside of being a member of the Virginia Presbyterian Church and a charter member of his father's church, Good News Baptist Church in Roanoke, Ray is presently the Fire Chaplain of the Botetourt County Fire & EMS, President 2015-2016 of the for Virginia Funeral Directors Association, Advisor for the VFDA Disaster Response Team, member of the Blue Ridge and Shenandoah Funeral Director Associations, a Certified Celebrant for those families without a church home, and working towards becoming a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner, and a member of the Harley-Davidson Owners Group.
Along with his wife, Bobbi, he loves woodworking, model trains, motorcycles, and his Jeep Rubicon.
Born at home on Valentine's day in 1950; I later graduated from James River High School in 1968 and went to American School of Beauty and received my license in 1969. I owned and operated my own beauty shop until retirement in 2005 going to work fulltime alongside my husband, Ray, whom I married in December of 1993. I continue to fix hair, greet people during visitations, and assist in funerals at the funeral home.
I began the journey of my funeral home career in January of 1997. I was the office manager for several years, during which I was blessed with my beautiful loving daughter, Kayla Nicole, August of 98.
I began my apprenticeship and went to John Tyler in Richmond, VA to receive my Mortuary Science degree and graduated with honors December of 2004. I received my funeral service license early spring of 2005. I continue to work in the family owned business of Botetourt Funeral Home. As Bobbi's daughter and Ray's inherited daughter, we strive as a family team, to make each and every funeral as close to perfect as we can. "We can't take away the pain, but we can help you through the painstaking process of arranging a memorable funeral service for your loved one."
After having grown up around the funeral home business, Kayla joined Botetourt Funeral Home officially, in September of 2019. She is the granddaughter of owners, Ray and Bobbi Sloan, and Karen’s Daughter. Kayla graduated from Virginia Western Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Business, which she uses to assist in office duties, and with assisting with funeral services. She also helps custom design monuments and operates our laser engraver.
Stephen-Patrick began working with us in January 2021. He graduated early from Lord Botetourt High School in December of 2020, then began taking classes at Virginia Western Community College. Stephen-Patrick is currently studying to become a Funeral Director, and is also a certified crematory operator. He enjoys golf, tennis, basketball, and traveling with his family. He attends Villa Heights Baptist Church, where he is actively involved in the young adult Sunday school class. He is from the Blue Ridge area, and operates his own mowing business on the side.
After retiring from the Bank of Botetourt in 2015, Sue came to work at Botetourt Funeral Home in January of 2016. She assists with the financial side of the Funeral Home, and also assists with funerals. She is Jerry’s wife, and enjoys sunflowers, traveling, and is a Nana to four grandchildren. Sue also has served in the mission field, traveling to the Standing Rock Native American Reservation in South Dakota, and the Dominican Republic.
After retiring from the State of Virginia in 2011, but also worked for Winn Dixie for 28 years, Jerry joined the staff of Botetourt Funeral Home in November of 2011. Jerry wears many different hats of job titles, from assisting on the grave crew, to being on our removal team, assisting with funerals, working in the crematory, mowing the grass, maintaining vehicles, and many other duties. Jerry is married to Sue, enjoys traveling, and he is a PaPaw to four grandchildren. Alongside Sue, he also has worked on mission trips to Standing Rock, Dominican Republic, and Philadelphia. Jerry and Ed enjoy playing golf together.
Botetourt Funeral Home, Inc.
Known throughout the area for his musical talent and having sung with David Austin as Austin and Wood for over 40 years, Keith Wood started out with us playing the piano and other musical instruments at funerals. Ray and Bobbi thought his talents would be good also during the visitations and he has excelled at that and we have gotten many compliments on Keith's joy of giving to others through his music. He also answers the phone and does data input for us during the evening hours.
Jim and Kathy live on Timber Ridge in Buchanan, he is a retired U S Air Force Master Sergeant, and also he has retired from the Commonwealth of Virginia as the Botetourt County Health Department Office Manager. He and his wife are memebrs of the Virginia Presbyterian Church in Buchanan. Jim works in all aspects of the funeral home and enjoys helping families in their time of need