Drew Thurston's Story

Drew Thurston grew up in Lansing, Michigan, always drawn to a life of helping others—a calling shaped by his journey with retinitis pigmentosa, a visual impairment he was born with. Though his dream of becoming a police officer wasn’t possible, Drew found a deeply meaningful path as a 911 dispatcher for Ingham County, where he served from 2007 until his retirement in 2015. After leaving dispatch, Drew embraced life as a stay-at-home dad, cherishing every moment with his daughter, Arya. 

Meet The Owner & Visionary

Yet, as she grew, Drew felt a quiet, unfilled space in his heart, a need for purpose beyond himself.
In 2020, he took on a new challenge in taxidermy, creating White Cane Taxidermy, where he found himself meeting families who wanted to honor their pets in ways that went beyond words. But as his vision declined, taxidermy became difficult, and Drew began looking for another way to honor the bonds between families and their beloved pets. Around this time, he experienced his own profound loss when his dog, Bryce, passed away. Drew had grown up with pets, but Bryce was different—he was family. Losing Bryce reshaped Drew’s understanding of love, loss, and the enduring bond between pets and their people. In his grief, he wished for a gentler way to say goodbye, especially knowing how much Bryce loved water.
In August 2022, Drew set out to create Nature’s Way Pet Aquamation, a place where families could find the compassion and peace they need when parting with their cherished companions. With unwavering support from his family, friends, and the community—and a deep sense of faith—Drew opened Nature’s Way in November 2022. Since then, he has been honored to walk alongside families during their most tender moments, helping them say goodbye with dignity and love. Through Nature’s Way Pet Aquamation, Drew has found his purpose, offering not just a service but a heartfelt farewell, honoring the unbreakable bonds that pets and their families share.

AJ's Story

AJ grew up in Michigan, spending much of her childhood on her grandfather’s farm, where her love for animals and natural creativity blossomed. From an early age, she discovered that caring for others wasn’t just a skill but a true joy. Whether raising her daughters Hailey, Caitlin, Lailah, and son Michael, playing with her pet duck Wobbles, or serving patients during her 16-year career as a CNA, AJ has devoted much of her life to supporting and uplifting those around her.

Meet The Owner & Visionary

AJ and Drew first met in January 2023 on a date that reflected their shared commitment to helping others. When a family needed Drew’s assistance, AJ waited patiently with him, deepening their connection from the start. Since then, they’ve been grateful to work side by side, dedicating their lives to supporting families through loss and grief. For them, this work is more than a job—it’s a calling to make a meaningful difference. After years as a 911 dispatcher, Drew now finds hope in the love and kindness he sees in families honoring their pets, and together, AJ and Drew feel privileged to offer compassion and comfort.

The Nature’s Way family goes far beyond just AJ and Drew; it’s supported by a dedicated team of people who help make each farewell as peaceful and memorable as possible. The extended Nature’s Way family includes Dave, Killian, Ann, Bill, Mom, Dad, Grandpa, Grandma, Arya, Michael, Gracelyn, Lailah, Franze, Dr. Lisa, Bonnie, Lee, Montana and Cheyenne to name a few. Each one of them brings a huge heart and a shared commitment to the values that Nature’s Way stands for. Together, they help provide the compassionate and caring experience that Nature’s Way strives to offer every family in need.

Arya's Story

Arya grew up surrounded by animals and creativity, bringing warmth and imagination to her world. With her cat Pumpkin, hamster Fluffy, and dog Chase, she’s known for her collection of over 100 Squishmallows, each with a unique name. Arya loves aquamation for its gentle, water-based process, explaining that it’s not scary like fire. Though she sometimes misses her parents while they help others, she understands the importance of having kind support. Her favorite memorials are blown-glass keepsakes, where you can “see” the pet and choose special colors. Arya’s thoughtfulness and love for animals remind us of the compassion at the heart of Nature’s Way.

Meet Our Biggest Supporter

AJ grew up in Michigan, spending much of her childhood on her grandfather’s farm, where her love for animals and natural creativity blossomed. From an early age, she discovered that caring for others wasn’t just a skill but a true joy. Whether raising her daughters Hailey, Caitlin, Lailah, and son Michael, playing with her pet duck Wobbles, or serving patients during her 16-year career as a CNA, AJ has devoted much of her life to supporting and uplifting those around her.

Yet, as she grew, Drew felt a quiet, unfilled space in his heart, a need for purpose beyond himself.
In 2020, he took on a new challenge in taxidermy, creating White Cane Taxidermy, where he found himself meeting families who wanted to honor their pets in ways that went beyond words. But as his vision declined, taxidermy became difficult, and Drew began looking for another way to honor the bonds between families and their beloved pets. Around this time, he experienced his own profound loss when his dog, Bryce, passed away. Drew had grown up with pets, but Bryce was different—he was family. Losing Bryce reshaped Drew’s understanding of love, loss, and the enduring bond between pets and their people. In his grief, he wished for a gentler way to say goodbye, especially knowing how much Bryce loved water.
In August 2022, Drew set out to create Nature’s Way Pet Aquamation, a place where families could find the compassion and peace they need when parting with their cherished companions. With unwavering support from his family, friends, and the community—and a deep sense of faith—Drew opened Nature’s Way in November 2022. Since then, he has been honored to walk alongside families during their most tender moments, helping them say goodbye with dignity and love. Through Nature’s Way Pet Aquamation, Drew has found his purpose, offering not just a service but a heartfelt farewell, honoring the unbreakable bonds that pets and their families share.

Drew Thurston grew up in Lansing, Michigan, always drawn to a life of helping others—a calling shaped by his journey with retinitis pigmentosa, a visual impairment he was born with. Though his dream of becoming a police officer wasn’t possible, Drew found a deeply meaningful path as a 911 dispatcher for Ingham County, where he served from 2007 until his retirement in 2015. After leaving dispatch, Drew embraced life as a stay-at-home dad, cherishing every moment with his daughter, Arya. 

Arya grew up surrounded by animals and creativity, bringing warmth and imagination to her world. With her cat Pumpkin, hamster Fluffy, and dog Chase, she’s known for her collection of over 100 Squishmallows, each with a unique name. Arya loves aquamation for its gentle, water-based process, explaining that it’s not scary like fire. Though she sometimes misses her parents while they help others, she understands the importance of having kind support. Her favorite memorials are blown-glass keepsakes, where you can “see” the pet and choose special colors. Arya’s thoughtfulness and love for animals remind us of the compassion at the heart of Nature’s Way.