Our Staff

Mike L. Leavitt

Owner/Funeral Director

Mike is a third-generation funeral director, following his father and grandfather. He began working in the cemetery at a young age and decided as a teenager to follow his predecessors.

He attended Ogden City Schools, graduating from Ogden High School and attending Weber State University. He graduated from Cypress College of Mortuary Science as a Funeral Director and Embalmer in 1987.

Mike returned to Utah and became President of Leavitt’s Mortuary in 1992.

In 2001, he acquired Perl Funeral Home & Siskiyou Memorial Park in Medford, Oregon.

Mike is currently on the Board of Directors for Preferred Funeral Directors International, serving as President for the 2015 – 2016 term. He is also serving on the Board of Directors for the Oregon National Funeral Trust Services, KeyBank Advocate Board, Board of Directors of the National Fiduciary Trust and on the Board of Governors for the Ogden Chamber of Commerce. Mike is an active member of the Ogden community and organizes a number of annual events.

Bret Hines C.F.S.P.

Manager/Funeral Director

Bret began his interest in the funeral business as a young child when his grandfather passed away in the early 60’s. Incidentally, funeral services were held at Leavitt’s Mortuary (Leavitt’s Chapel of Flowers), the “neighborhood” funeral home.

He attended Ogden City Schools, graduating from Ogden High School and attending Weber State University. Bret is married to his high school sweetheart, Debbie (Hamblin). They are proud parents of two daughters, one son, and seven grandchildren.

After college, Bret and Debbie had the opportunity to purchase Wasatch Floral, a local flower shop where Bret had worked since high school. They successfully ran the shop for 16 years establishing deep ties to the Ogden community.

Bret and Debbie sold the flower shop in the late 90’s, when Bret decided to fulfill his dream of becoming a funeral director. He graduated from The San Francisco College of Mortuary Science in 1997, receiving the Mu Sigma Award for outstanding academic proficiency from the National Association of Colleges of Mortuary Science.

While in San Francisco, Bret worked for Halsted N. Gray-Carew & English Funeral Directors. While there, he felt privileged to become educated with worldwide funeral customs. He continues his learning endeavors with his title of CFSP (Certified Funeral Service Practitioner) from the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice, and attends regular national seminars with Dodge Chemicals, CANA, and ICCFA organizations.

After returning to Utah, Bret was employed with Myers Mortuaries for 14 years.

Bret joined Leavitt’s Mortuary as manager in 2010. He is actively involved in serving families, updating the mortuary facilities, and designing and developing new properties in our cemetery, cremation gardens, and family estates areas.

Matthew J. Cope

Funeral Director

Matthew J. Cope was born in Ogden and raised in South Weber. He is the son of R.L. and Rebecca Cope.

Matthew graduated from Northridge High School, and served a LDS mission in London, England. He attended Weber State University and went to graduate from Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, Colorado where he made the Dean’s list in the field of Mortuary Science. He has been a licensed funeral director in the state of Utah since the fall of 2015 and has worked with Leavitt’s Mortuary since January 2014.

Matthew currently resides in Clinton with his beautiful wife Misty, and their two adopted children, Ashli and Kaden. Matthew and Misty have been certified with the Utah Foster care Foundation for approximately 5 years. During which the time they have fostered other children. He enjoys spending time with his family, camping, boating, and gardening.

Matthew also enjoys working for Leavitt’s Mortuary as a Funeral Director, and the opportunity to assist families at such a difficult and emotional time of their life.

Jace Clark

Apprentice Funeral Director

Jace Clark grew up in South Weber and Washington Terrace Utah. Jace is the son of Jan Ray and Curt Clark. Jace graduated from Bonneville High School in 2011. After high school he attended Weber State University taking courses to prepare for the Mortuary Science Program. He is currently enrolled at Arapahoe Community College studying to be a Licensed Funeral Director.

Jace works at Leavitt’s Mortuary as an Apprentice Funeral Director and has been employed since November 2014. Jace thoroughly enjoys working for Leavitt’s Mortuary and especially with his esteemed mentor Bret Hines. Jace has wanted to be a Funeral Director since the passing of his grandparents when he was just seven years old.

Jace loves to lend a helping hand to families when they experience the loss of a loved one. He loves to be active in the community and very much enjoys working funeral services at different churches in the valley and enjoys meeting new people.

Jace is an avid San Francisco 49ers fan and Utah Jazz fan. He enjoys sports and traveling in his spare time.