Emerald Care Team
Varg and Rachel Sutton
Varg graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 2012. Upon completion of his apprenticeship and being honorably discharged from the Army in 2013 he returned to his home state of Washington. Varg has excelled in every position within the industry. From being a caretaker of a cemetery, helping families to prepare for the future, to serving those during their time of need. Using his 10 years of experience and industry knowledge he set out in 2022 to establish his own funeral home with the simple goal of providing necessary arrangements at an affordable cost combined with unmatched attentiveness and simplicity.
In his free time, Varg enjoys all things motorsports and frequenting The Ridge in his ‘19 GT350 or EP3 Civic. When he’s not obsessing over cars you can find him in his garage tinkering with his remote control cars, adventuring across the state on his KTM 890R or going offroading in Rachel’s Raptor Bronco.
Rachel provides administrative and late night driving support to Emerald Cremation and Burial. Rachel graduated from Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Seattle in 2015. She works as an Esthetician at Sugar Suite in Olympia. Rachel was born in Federal Way and raised in Edmonds. Her favorite hobbies include tending to her hundreds of plants, taking care of her Ball Python “Butters” and riding her Honda Grom.
Shelbie MacFarlane
Shelbie joined Emerald in December 2024 to ensure safe and timely transportation of our families. She has already proven to be an irreplaceable and dependable member of the team, ensuring Emerald can personally and safely bring your loved one into our care from any location. In her free time, Shelbie enjoys spending time with her three children, gardening and photography. A Shelton native, she married her beloved husband Blaine in 2020. Above all else, she enjoys helping others.
Tater “Spud”
Tater was believed by neighbors to have been a stray for at least a year. He came to us with numerous skin problems and emaciated. After many Vet visits (and even a canine dermatologist) we can say he’s never been happier. He’s the sweetest boy you’ve ever met and will always greet you with a bone. His favorite activities include putting chew toys to the test and long walks in the neighborhood.
Our 2022 Toyota Sienna is the backbone of our company. Averaging over five thousand miles a month, this beautiful Green Metallic van handles bringing your loved one into our care and hand delivering their urn, among several other tasks required of a funeral home. If a hearse is not requested at a casket burial service this vehicle can handle transportation as well. Equipped with a 2.5l 4cyl engine paired with Toyota’s hybrid system the Sienna can average over 40mpg on the highway and 36 in the city. I’ve seen gas mileage as high as 51mpg during high traffic situations over long distances. This van is also equipped with 5% window tint to ensure privacy during transportation of your loved one.
“Ham and Eggs Benedict”
Ham is a local kitty from a generous family in the area. He’s very well behaved and has very distinct “high energy” times of the day. For the most part he’s pretty relaxed. His favorite activities include playing with his numerous toys, teaching Benny to wrestle, and napping with his big brother Tater. Ham was born in February 2023.
“Eggs Benedict” or “Benny” for short is our newest addition to the family in 2024. A local kitty from a friend needed a home and when we saw that sweet face we knew we had to have her! Benny is a very affectionate and attentive kitty. She will always look at you when you’re speaking to her and often gives you the impression she quite clearly understands you. Benny also loves snoot kisses and will hold her paws out to receive them. It only took about a week for Benny and Ham to become best friends. Benny was born in April 2024.