Meet our Team

Kristi Ah You

Managing Partner

Kristi Ah You is our Managing Partner of Franklin & Downs Funeral Homes. Kristi is married to Bart Ah You and together they have six adult children, and one son who passed away in 2021. 

To their delight they have five grandchildren. Bart and Kristi enjoy spending time with family and friends, and consider Modesto to be their home. 

Kristi enjoys serving families, and her team. But when she is not working she loves cooking, baking, and barbequing for family. Art, music and creativity are her hobbies (she recently started taking Harp lessons.)  

Kristi was elected to the Modesto City Council in 2015 and completed her term in 2021. Advocating for our citizens and participating in the democratic process was a meaningful opportunity and she is grateful to have served on council.

Kristi Ah You' s additional contributions to our community and participation include:  Past President of the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Employee Foundation; Past Board Member for the California State Coroners’ Association; Previous Member of the Stanislaus County Death Review Team; Project Coordinator of “Keeping Infants Sleeping Safe,” in partnership with Stanislaus County Department of Public Health; Past member of the Stanislaus County Child Abuse Prevention Council;  Salvation Army Advisory Board; and the Stanislaus County Office of Education Leadership Academy Board. She also served as a board member with Community Hospice.

One of her most memorable experiences was when she participated in a vocational and cultural exchange and traveled to Chennai, India as a participant in the Group Study Exchange through Rotary 5220, sponsored by Modesto Sunrise Rotary. Kristi Ah You, also served as Board member for several years with the California State Funeral Directors Association.

Kristi accepted the position as Managing Partner of Franklin & Downs Funeral Homes in November of 2011, after working with the Stanislaus County Sheriff-Coroner, Where she served as a Deputy Coroner, and was promoted to Chief Deputy Coroner from 1998-2011. One of her most memorable cases while working with the Coroner's Division involved creating a team of professionals to assist with, and ultimately identified a Jane Doe Homicide Case from 1971. 

Kristi graduated from the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science and received an Associate's degree in Mortuary Science in 1998. She obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management and has completed course work towards a Masters in Forensics.

She considers it an honor to be in a position of serving others, and providing quality servant leadership to her team and our community.

Telephone: 1-209-529-5723

Email: 

Bart Ah You

Advanced Planning Counselor

Photojournalist Bart Ah You has been capturing moments in the lives of people throughout California for more than a quarter century. His images became a staple of everyday life for Central Valley residents during his award-winning career at the Modesto Bee. His work has appeared on book covers and in magazines such as Time, Newsweek and People, as well as in newspapers throughout the country. He has also been the recipient of many accolades and awards for his work with McClatchy Press throughout the years.

Bart is a long-term and well-respected member of our community. This is why transitioning into working with our pre-arrangement families and making end-of-life decisions is a perfect fit for Bart, our community and Franklin & Downs Funeral Homes.

Bart Ah You is Married to Kristi Ah You and they have six adult children. They enjoy being of service to their community and consider it an honor. Bart likes to spend time with family. In his free time, he is a volunteer for the Boys & Girls Club and the Family Justice Center. He is a Rotarian and is the current Sergeant of Arms for Modesto Sunrise Rotary.
Employed by PRECOA, Representative of NGL Insurance Company

LeRoy Hart

Funeral Director/Embalmer

In 1957, during his junior year in high school, Leroy Hart began his funeral career in Sioux City, Iowa at Berkemier Funeral Home. His job duties included assisting with funeral services and the usual duties associated with funeral homes.
After graduating in 1959, Leroy voluntarily entered the U.S. Armed Services and served as a Third Class Yeoman in the U.S. Navy. He served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Bennington and made a Western Pacific Cruise. When Leroy was discharged, he returned to his hometown and married his high school sweetheart, Cecelia, on February 3rd, 1962.

After a short time, they relocated to Los Angeles, where they both were employed in the aerospace industry at Northrup Corporation. During that time, he attended Junior College and in April 1964, he enrolled in the California College of Mortuary Science, graduating in April 1965. By this time, a daughter was born, and it was time to begin his career in Funeral Service. This is when they made their home in Modesto and Leroy began working at Franklin & Downs Funeral Homes. Their son was born shortly after their move to Modesto, completing their family.
After seven years with Franklin & Downs, his career was interrupted, and for two years, LeRoy managed Dreyer’s Ice Parlor/Restaurant in Modesto. He then returned to Franklin & Downs as a part owner and joined Lew Franklin, Sr.,  Lew Franklin, Jr., and Saxon Downs, resuming his career path. He continued to serve our community as a corporate Vice-President and Funeral Director with the firm.

In 1972, Leroy became a Christian and has been a faithful and active member of CrossPoint Community Church. He is a member of the Modesto Rotary Club, where he has held several chairmanships over the years.

Leroy enjoys leisure time with his family and friends. He is currently retired but is available to work services from time to time.

Navaz Jasavala

Funeral Director/Embalmer

Navaz is a licensed funeral director and embalmer who joined us in June 2017.

She has been a lifelong resident of Modesto and is currently attending CSU Stanislaus. Navaz may have began her career in funeral service on a whim*, but quickly realized it was not an average "9 to 5;" she was truly touched by the relationships made assisting families in their first steps through grief and caring for their loved ones.

Navaz served her apprenticeship and began work at Turlock Memorial Park and Funeral Home in 2011 and Hillview Funeral Chapels in 2016. She is the secretary of the Valley Lode Funeral Directors' Association. In 2021, she received her Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Operations Management and a minor in music performance.

In her spare time, Navaz enjoys reading classic novels, flying stunt and power kites, various crafts, and playing double bass in local orchestras. 

*Navaz was inspired to work with a funeral home from her first car and daily driver, "Gomez," a green 1988 Buick LeSabre Estate Wagon hearse. It was purchased to haul around her upright bass, but she took a cue from the car, researched mortuary service, and began sending out applications. Regrettably, Gomez has since been sold but Navaz continues to keep an eye out for another special wagon. 

Email: 

Matthew Parrott

Site Safety Coordinator

Matthew Parrott was born and raised in Modesto graduating from Modesto High School.  He is responsible for security and safety regulations for the funeral home.  He is extremely diligent in assuring that all operations within the funeral home meet the high standards set forth by our mission statement. 

Matthew has worked for Franklin & Downs since March of 2018.  He looks forward to completing his college education and advancing within the company.

Brenda Gomez

Administrative Assistant

Brenda is one of our bilingual (English/Spanish) staff members who currently works full-time as an administrative assistant.  She works very diligently to make sure that every family member has proper permits and death certificates.  When the need arises, Brenda also meets with families as a funeral arranger.  Brenda was raised in Waterford, California, graduating high school from Waterford High School and currently resides in the Ceres area.

Brenda and her son are members of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church where they attend Sunday morning mass.  She is an avid Dodgers fan and enjoys cheering for her son’s many sports activities.  Brenda looks forward to continuing her education and following her dreams of being in law enforcement.      

Melissa Lawson

Associate

Melissa is a Funeral Planning Associate who joined our team in October 2020. Melissa has a phenomenal rapport working with the families we serve. She is engaging, compassionate, and extraordinary at planning detailed, organized, and meaningful services for all involved.

In case you noticed, we have two Lawsons on our team, yes, Melissa is married to Dave Lawson, and together they have three exceptional children. Melissa enjoys spending time with her family, and they are all committed to a healthy lifestyle, consistently go running, biking and maintaining a healthy diet.

Melissa and her family are active parishioners attending All Saints Catholic Church in Turlock. Both Melissa and her husband are part of the Vocations Ministry Team. They support and pray for those discerning their life's vocation within and outside religious orders. Melissa and her husband are also the Secretaries for the Turlock Pentecost Association. Serving Turlock and the surrounding communities within Stanislaus and Merced counties. 

Melissa has a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science with an emphasis in Community Health. She also has her Associate of Science degree in Dental Hygiene. Melissa was born in Southern California and raised in Clovis, CA. She graduated from Clovis High School, where she ran Varsity Cross-Country all four years. She then attended Fresno City College and graduated from California State University, Fresno.

Melissa is grateful to work with our client families and supporting them through their most difficult times. Her work is meaningful, and she enjoys using her creativity to assist families in organizing a meaningful tribute to honor their loved one's life.

Telephone: 1-209-529-5723

Email: 

David Lawson

Associate