Anthony Crespo

Owner and Funeral Director

Anthony Crespo has dedicated his professional career to guiding those in need through some of life’s most difficult challenges. He graduated from Commonwealth College of Science and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Houston. Anthony was awarded the designation Certified Funeral Service Professional that recognizes his ongoing commitment to the fair, ethical, and professional practice of funeral service.

In 2001, Anthony and his wife, Madeleine, founded L.A. Crespo Funeral Directors and operated it as a team before adding Dave Jirrels as a partner in 2005 and forming Crespo & Jirrels Funeral and Cremation Services. Through the years, Anthony has served in numerous civic and professional leadership roles, including past president of the Houston Metropolitan Funeral Directors Association, past president of Southeast Texas Funeral Directors Association, past president of Kiwanis Club of Baytown, former member of the Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees, and as board member of the Baytown Family YMCA. For more than 30 years, he has been well regarded for his expertise in international funeral arrangements for visitors from other countries, and his many years of experience uniquely qualify him to provide each family with an exceptional tribute to the memory of their loved one.

Madeleine Crespo

Owner and Funeral Director

Madeleine Cavicchioni Crespo is a founding partner of Crespo & Jirrels Funeral and Cremation Services. A native of Tucson, Arizona, she began her funeral service career in 1978, earned her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Arizona, and graduated from the Institute of Funeral Service in Houston. As a licensed funeral director, she has devoted her time and talent to representing Texas funeral service in a multitude of capacities including corporate safety officer, national customer service trainer and industry marketing and public relations specialist. In July 2001, she and her husband, Anthony, established L.A. Crespo Funeral Directors to provide excellence in funeral care to the families of Baytown and surrounding areas. Madeleine has served the community on numerous boards and organizational committees over the years, including the Lee College Foundation, Sterling Municipal Library, Service League of Baytown, Rotary Club of Baytown, the Baytown unit of the American Cancer Society, and the Institutional Ethics Committee of Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center. Two of her special outreach projects sponsored through Crespo & Jirrels include the G.I.F.T. social support program for widowed members of the community, and serving as Partner in Education with the Peter E. Hyland Alternative Learning Program of Goose Creek CISD. Madeleine is an advocate of ongoing education and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree at Texas Women’s University

Dave Jirrels

Owner and Funeral Director

A native of Wichita, Kansas, Dave Jirrels graduated from Wichita State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. He later moved to Texas and made the decision to enter funeral service. He then earned an Associate Degree from Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service in Houston, and for the last fifteen years has served the families of Baytown as a dedicated funeral professional. In 2005, he joined Anthony and Madeleine Crespo of L.A. Crespo Funeral Directors and together formed their new partnership, Crespo & Jirrels Funeral and Cremation Services. Dave is active in a multitude of leadership roles in local civic organizations including board president of the Pregnancy Resource Center, board chairman of the Baytown Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Civil Service Commission, board president of the Bay Area Heritage Society, and past president of the Kiwanis Club of Baytown. He brings an unwavering passion for excellence, is committed to the families who have placed their trust and confidence in him, and welcomes the opportunity to continue serving his community as a knowledgeable and compassionate source of support for those who need it most.

Linda Kelly

Linda Kelly first joined Crespo & Jirrels as a part-time receptionist in August of 2005, after retiring in 2004 as a teacher and administrator at the Alternative Learning Program in Goose Creek CISD. Prior to joining Goose Creek, Linda was a teacher in Aldine ISD, Director of Extension Services for Sterling Municipal Library and Branch Librarian for Harris County Library in Crosby. A member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Baytown, Linda is married to Lee Kelly and is the mother of two daughters, Kristy and Amy, and grandmother of three grandsons and one granddaughter. Linda was born in San Antonio and raised in South Texas, and has a Bachelor of Arts in political science and speech from Houston Baptist University and a Masters of Science in Educational Management from University of Houston Clear Lake. Linda now works full-time at Crespo & Jirrels as Coordinator for Aftercare, among many other responsibilities, and is often the first voice heard and the first face seen when one calls or visits the funeral home. She enjoys helping others and has no plans to retire in the near future.

Alice Rodriguez

As Administrator of Funeral Operations, Alice handles contracts processing, insurance claims, and a multitude of other responsibilities for the families she assists at Crespo & Jirrels. A native Houstonian and former long-time resident of Dayton, Texas, she now makes her home in Crosby with her husband, Jesse, and is a member of St. Philip Catholic Church in Huffman. Alice was employed by Dayton ISD as a teacher’s aide and Windham ISD as a computer lab instructor while attending Lee College in Baytown. She later took a position with ExxonMobil as an administrative assistant before embarking on funeral service administration, and has been with Crespo & Jirrels since 2008. Alice enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, going to movies, music, and reading.

David Pryor

David Pryor has been an assistant funeral director with Crespo & Jirrels since 2005. A native of Goose Creek, David graduated from Robert E. Lee High School and studied business at Lee College. He had a long career in the garment industry and graduated from the National Institute of Dry Cleaners. From 1984 to 1987, he and Dorey, his wife of 27 years, owned Dorey’s Wedding Chapel and Florist. Although retired, he is a licensed non-denominational minister and often officiates at weddings and funerals. David and Dorey have ten children between them, including 23 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Mayra Garcia

Born and raised in Baytown, Mayra Garcia graduated from Robert E. Lee High School/Alternative Learning Program class of 2004, and started as a part-time visitation attendant with Crespo & Jirrels in 2007. Through the years, Mayra’s responsibilities have expanded to include front office receptionist and administrative duties, and she takes pride and great care in assisting those she serves. She and her husband, Benjamin, have two sons. Her future plans include attending Lee College to pursue a degree in cosmetology.

Charles Lester

Charles Lester has been a member of the Crespo & Jirrels family since he was a junior in high school, working evenings and weekends as a visitation attendant. He has since moved into assuming administrative responsibilities in addition to assisting the funeral directing staff. Charles graduated from Ross S. Sterling High School, is an International Politics & Relations major at Texas A & M University, and is concurrently pursuing a degree through Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service. Charles was born in Dallas and moved to Baytown at age 9 with his parents and younger brother. He has a host of volunteer opportunities to his credit, including the Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, San Jacinto Methodist Hospital, and the Children’s Assessment Center. He is also an advocate and volunteer for Uganda’s Invisible Children organization, and attends St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.

Connie Owens

Connie Owens has been a part-time receptionist and visitation attendant since joining the Crespo & Jirrels family in 2008. Born in Baytown, Connie spent her early years in Highlands and Baytown, and is a graduate of Ross S. Sterling High School. She and her teenage son, Dalton, are active members of Cedar Bayou Grace United Methodist Church where Connie serves on several committees including Faith & Outreach and Faith in Action ministries, as well as serving the youth choir and youth orchestra. For the past ten years, Connie has been actively involved as a committee member of Boy Scout Troop 93. A dedicated parent volunteer, she is also involved with the RSS band association, the RSS choir and RSS baseball booster clubs, in addition to 4-H programs of Cedar Bayou and Harris County.