Chastin Brinkley

Chastin Brinkley, CFSP, CCO

Chastin was born and raised in Amarillo, Texas. His best friend graduated high school a year earlier and started working at a local funeral home. It was during this time Chastin was first introduced to funeral service.  He was intrigued by his friend’s experiences. Hearing stories from his friend about working in the prep room caring for the deceased as well as visitations and funerals, he became interested in funeral service. His friend introduced him to the funeral home manager and was given valuable career advice. After graduating high school, Chastin and his friend moved to Dallas with the goal of attending mortuary school.  They graduated from Dallas Institute of Funeral Service with associate’s degrees in November 1991.

Chastin was very fortunate to serve his apprenticeship at one of largest funeral home/cemetery combinations in Texas where he worked with some of the best funeral directors and embalmers. After licensure, he was offered employment in his hometown while visiting his parents. Eventually, after two offers, he moved back to Dallas to work for the same firm where he served his apprenticeship. In 1998, a former co-worker called Chastin and told him about an opportunity in Washington State.  He accepted the offer and has been with Weeks’ Family Funeral Home ever since.  He has become a trusted point of contact for many of our Native Muckleshoot Tribal families.

Chastin was one of seventeen funeral directors and embalmers that was asked to be a part of the book Real Life Diaries: Through the Eyes of a Funeral Director.  Readers are invited into one of the most unusual jobs in the world and give honest answers to common questions. Confessing the bad with the good, the funny and the unusual, and revealing the true joys of their job as a funeral director, the collection of heartfelt stories reveals the importance of one of the oldest and most sacred caregiving professions in the world. He has also authored articles for the Director Magazine and the Director.edu both published by the National Funeral Directors Association.

In 2014, while attending an embalming seminar in Las Vegas, he met Vernie Fountain of Fountain National Academy. It was Vernie who demonstrated what was once thought to be impossible, possible. Two years later, Chastin traveled to Springfield, MO for specialized hands-on training for advanced reconstructive surgery. He eventually acquired over 130 hours of this one-of-a-kind training. During his time at FNA, Chastin has made friends with many of the top embalmers in the world.  One of the biggest highlights of his career was when he was awarded the Distinguished Professional Service medallion in 2022. It represents the highest honor that FNA can ever bestow upon anyone. It honors individuals for their dedication to the profession of embalming, reconstructive surgery and viewing of the deceased.

Chastin enjoys sharing what he has learned with his co-workers. He is a Lifetime member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice, National Funeral Directors Association and Washington State Funeral Directors Association and Washington Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association. He is also a certified crematory specialist. In his little spare time, he likes experimenting with new cosmetic formulas, searching for useful additions to his cosmetic tool chest and photography.