Award-winning death care advocate joins Parting Stone’s senior team to lead community engagement and professional partnerships
SANTA FE, N.M. — Parting Stone, the pioneer in solidified remains, is proud to announce the appointment of Katey Houston as Head of Relationships and Community. Houston, a 20-year veteran of the death care industry and recipient of the 2025 NFDA Inspiration Award, joins the company to lead strategic engagement between funeral professionals and the families they serve.
The appointment marks a significant addition to the Parting Stone senior team. Founder and CEO Justin Crowe noted that Houston’s history of advocating for innovative death care options, including her instrumental role in the national growth of natural organic reduction, makes her a natural fit for the company’s mission. Crowe emphasized that her ability to act as an evangelist for the solidified remains category will be essential as Parting Stone continues to expand its reach across North America.
Houston’s background includes 2 years service as a funeral director and embalmer in England, followed by 12 years in U.S. funeral service and a successful tenure at the startup Return Home. In her new role, she will oversee social media strategy and relationship building, focusing on elevating the voices of families and funeral partners.
“I came to Parting Stone as a customer first — and that experience changed everything for me. Joining this team as Head of Relationships and Community isn’t just a career move, it’s a calling. I want every single person who has lost someone they love to have access to what Parting Stone makes possible. We’re just getting started.” — Katey Houston
In her leadership position, Houston will focus on:
● Supporting Funeral Homes on Both Sides of the Arrangement – Houston will serve as a dedicated resource for the funeral professionals who partner with Parting Stone and for the families those professionals refer. For funeral directors, that means a colleague who understands the arrangement room, a network of peers successfully offering solidified remains, and reliable support for families who want to explore a different kind of memorial experience.
● A Recognized Industry Voice for an Emerging Category – Houston has spent her career helping funeral professionals understand and offer meaningful alternatives to the families in their care. At Parting Stone, she will bring that same commitment to the solidified remains category — working alongside funeral home partners to deepen their understanding of the option, and helping families access a form of memorialization that keeps them connected to the people they’ve lost.
Funeral professionals interested in offering solidified remains, or looking to learn more about how Katey Houston can support their practice, can reach her at katey@partingstone.com.
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About Parting Stone
Parting Stone pioneered solidified remains, a new form of remains for families choosing cremation. Rather than returning ashes, Parting Stone provides families with a complete alternative: a collection of 40-80+ beautiful stones. Funeral home partners offer solidified remains during the arrangement, giving families a choice they have never had before by asking: “Would you like ashes or stones following the cremation?” Since 2019, the company has served more than 13,000 families, helping them stay connected to the people and pets they have lost through tangible memorial experiences that support the journey through grief. Parting Stone is headquartered in Santa Fe, NM.
To learn more about how solidified remains could fit your family’s memorialization wishes, visit Parting Stone.
