Our Staff

Avery began her career in funeral service with Wilks Funeral Homes in Pocatello, Idaho, in 2022. She graduated from the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in April of 2024. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Idaho State University.

Avery deeply enjoys her work and has found that her favorite part of being a funeral director is seeking ways to personalize funeral planning and services. She is fond of building long-term friendships with the families she serves and particularly enjoys using her educational background to help those struggling with grief.

Avery and her husband, Shiloh, were married in 2023 and live happily in Twin Falls, Idaho, with their two dogs, Sirius and Malakai. When not working, Avery and Shiloh can often be found gaming in one form or another; from tabletop games to PlayStation 5, they love them all! Avery also enjoys hiking and swimming at locations throughout Idaho.

Andrew was born in Elko, Nevada, and was raised in the Twin Falls area.

Andrew graduated from high school in 2015 from Filer High School, where he was an active member of the FFA Chapter, played golf, raised 4-H animals, and many other extracurricular activities. While in high school, Andrew began his career in funeral service, where he found his passion.

After high school graduation, he attended the College of Southern Idaho before graduating from Mt. Hood Community College with a degree in Funeral Service Education. Shortly after completing his funeral service degree, he moved to the Boise area, where he served his apprenticeship and became a licensed mortician in Idaho. Andrew accepted a job outside the funeral industry but soon realized his true calling was serving families in their time of need.

He followed his passion for funeral service out-of-state for two years. In March of 2024, Andrew returned home to Twin Falls, where he is proud to assist the community of Twin Falls again. Andrew finds funeral service a true calling and a passion of his. He loves how every day at work is different, there are always things to learn about business, and building lasting friendships.

When Andrew is not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, taking advantage of the great outdoors in Idaho, and traveling the world. Although there are many things to do, being around his family is his favorite.

Anthony has proudly called Kimberly and the Magic Valley home from a young age. Following his high school education, Anthony continued his education at the College of Southern Idaho EMT program. He began his funeral service career in 2022 and is excited to accomplish the funeral director apprenticeship program. Honesty, hard work, and compassion hold great importance in his life, and Anthony looks forward to opportunity of putting these attributes to work in serving the Magic Valley through funeral service.

When Anthony is not working, he enjoys exploring the outdoors and traveling with his four wonderful children; three daughters and a son. Family is everything to him. He is thrilled to be a part of the Wilks Funeral Homes family, and plans to continue to provide dignified and respectful service to families in the Magic Valley area.

Laura was born in Bellevue, Washington. She lived in Wyoming and moved to the Magic Valley in the 5th Grade and has been proud to call the Magic Valley home since then. She graduated from Twin Falls High School. She went on to attend CSI. Laura has been a part of the Wilks family since 2023.

Laura lives in Kimberly with her husband Steve, and 9 Children. She enjoys watching her children play sports and supporting them in every aspect of their lives. Laura feels honored to serve families and their loved ones in their time of need and looks forward to the opportunity to serve the community.

Ray’s journey began in the scenic area of Salmon, but shortly after his birth, his family returned to the familiar community of Buhl. There he grew up on his family’s vibrant farm, where his childhood was filled with the joys of rural life, and he proudly graduated from Buhl High School. Eager to expand his horizons, he went on to earn his degree from the College of Southern Idaho (CSI) before transferring to Idaho State University (ISU), where he not only completed his Bachelor’s degree but also found his spouse, Angela.

After graduating from ISU, Ray embarked on a new chapter in Louisiana, where he passionately pursued ministry in 2006. It was during this exciting phase of life that he and Angela welcomed their beautiful daughter, Allie. Together, they’ve created cherished memories, cheering on Allie at her sporting events and savoring precious moments at home as a family. Ray continued to devote himself to his ministry in Louisiana until 2015, when the allure of home beckoned them back to Idaho. There, he continued his ministry work while sharing his knowledge as a teacher at Lighthouse.

In 2024, Ray took an inspiring step by joining Wilks Funeral Homes with a heartfelt mission: to assist families in crafting meaningful future plans. With a commitment to building trust and fostering relationships, he dedicates himself to helping individuals create funeral plans that truly reflect their wishes and desires.

We are proud to have Jeannie Lorraine as one of our funeral ambassadors. Ms. Lorraine came to Twin Falls, Idaho in 2017 following some very satisfying life stops in California and Oregon. When Ms. Lorraine lived in California, she led a rewarding life as a mother to four children, and as an elementary school secretary where she helped guide and foster the multitudes of students who passed through the school hallways on their way to a higher education.

Following Jeannie's retirement of over 20 years serving in education, she and her husband decided their next phase of life would be devoted to their grandchildren. This brought them to Oregon. Never one to be still, Jeannie found time to help with another one of her passions, wildlife. She devoted many hours volunteering at the Chintimini Wildlife Center and Wildlife Hospital where she helped care for and treat injured or orphaned animals.

Following the passing of her husband, she moved to Twin Falls to continue her loving involvement in the lives of her grandchildren. Jeannie is a tremendous asset to those she encounters. She does everything she can to serve and help families navigate the grief process with words and actions both of healing and empathy.

Denice, born in Ely, Nevada, grew up in Twin Falls, Idaho, where she attended school. She had three children and worked two jobs in grade schools before marrying Karl Hays in 1982, gaining eight children. Together, they raised 11 children and have enjoyed 43 years of marriage, along with their 37 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren.

The family briefly lived in Kansas, where Denice began driving a school bus—a job she has continued for 43 years. She later moved to Wyoming and then back to Idaho. In 2005, Denice started working in the funeral profession and joined the Wilks family in December 2023.

She is also an active member of the First Presbyterian Church, serving as an Elder and Deacon and helping at the church camp for 28 years.

Brock and Laci Wilks co-founded Wilks Funeral Homes in 2008 with the construction of our Chubbuck location.

Brock started his career in funeral service in 2002 at Colonial Funeral Home. Laci graduated from Idaho State University's Nursing Program that same year and worked for over 10 years as an emergency room nurse. Together Brock and Laci have six children.

The Wilks family loves Idaho. Idaho affords them the opportunity to experience the beautiful outdoors. They love spending time camping in the mountains and enjoy taking road trips. Both Brock and Laci look forward to many years of dedicated loyal service to Southeast Idaho and the Magic Valley areas.

Founding Parke's Magic Valley Funeral Home in 1997 Mike and Catherine established a reputation of service to the community. Following an illness that took most of Mike's strength away, Mike and Catherine made the difficult decision to step away from the service they loved. However the spring of 2008 brought new hope to Mike as the recipient of a liver transplant. He and Catherine were once again able to become active in serving the people of the Magic Valley. Still limited by health concerns, Mike and Catherine made the decision in July of 2023 to pass the mantle of serving the Magic Valley Community to Wilks Funeral Homes.

Although retired, Mike and Catherine are still active in the Twin Falls community and continue to look for ways to give back.