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Show ' 'Sacred Ground" V ( ' (A A A . ; i 1 ; 1 - - - other cities followed. Once a month, Kary updates the information on the computer so people doing research have the current information. The web site where you can find this data is called namesinstone.com. Let me just take a few lines to say thanks to. all who make Pleasant Grove, Lindon and Cedar Hills such lovely communities in which to live and raise a family. The other day I was fortunate enough to get a peek at one of the most beautiful yards in all of Pleasant Grove. I don't think there was a blade of grass out of place. Gale and Lyle Christiansen set the benchmark for everyone. They are to be congratulated and emulated! Today is the 74th birthday of a very special man in our community. Dr. Warren G. Eyre and his lovely wife, Gretha, have raised a lovely family on a portion of the old David Gourley property. For over four decades, Dr. Eyre has healed thousands and thousands of people. Now all three of the Eyre's sons are medical doctors and each day they continue to bless even more people. Both of their lovely visit with Kary Johanson, who oversees the Pleasant Grove cemetery. Kary has worked at the Pleasant Grove cemetery for some 15 years. He has been the sexton for the last five years. Dusty Boren has been the assistant sexton for the past five years.' Two other seasonal helpers assist Kary and Dusty during the summer months. In the early days people were buried in wooden coffins. Later bricks or blocks were put around the caskets without any mortar. Eventually cement vaults were used to protect the caskets and prevent the ground from caving in as nature took its course. Presently the mortal remains of about 8,100 people are buried in the cemetery. The 24 acre cemetery has the capacity for about 16,000 graves. Currently about 140 burials occur per year. That averages about a burial every two days. Even at the rate of 150 burials per year, the cemetery would not reach capacity for over fifty years. During the growing season, the crew mows every day: It usually takes about five days to mow the entire 24 acres. It takes over a month for two workers to trim around every headstone, if they trim several hours a day. Watering usually takes place during the night. Vandalism has not been a major problem but from time to time there are problems with people stealing items left on the graves or someone pushing over headstones. Just imagine the challenge these men have accommodating and serving the families and friends of more than 8,000 people, who come to visit and pay their respects to those who have passed on. Thousands come to remember and honor their loved ones each year. . Kary senses the sacred nature of his responsibilities. Just after Kary was put in charge, the cemetery records were computerized and put online so the average citizen could sit in the comfort of their home and do research. Pleasant Grove was one of the first to computerize their records and by Mark Bezzant The very year Pleasant Grove was settled in 1850 death came to the little band of pioneers. Sacred ground was set aside as the final resting place where others would follow. Much has been written recently about the impending shortage of burial plots in various city cemeteries. Nothing had been said about the situation in Pleasant Grove so I took the opportunity to daughters assist two of their doctor brothers. In some ways Dr. Eyre is a lot like Thomas S. Monson, who always wanted to be a cowboy. For over six years Dr. Eyre has battled cancer in a most heroic way. His sweet wife and companion, for almost 60 years, has been a model of n kindness and love as Dr. Eyre has fought on. Happy birthday and thank you, Dr. Eyre! In the coming days, weeks, months and years all of us would do well to be a little kinder and a little more thoughtful of others, "Bezzant" continued on Page 4 "Bezzant" continued from Page 2 regardless of what the Democrats or Republicans do in Washington DC. For in the end, when our mortal remains are placed in sacred ground, our measure of true greatness will have a lot more to do with love and kindness than with our assets, position or perceived power. I salute Calvin Walker and his wife for the vision and courage they had to start this newspaper. Calvin and his staff have performed an enormous service to this community. What a great country! May God continue to bless it in the days ahead ! |