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Show Frank Daly, sexton at Panguitch Cemetery, trims grass from side of headstone. After being on cemetery board Frank Daly Says Time To Retire From Sexton Duties Has Arrived After serving on the Panguitch t'emetery board as secretary and treasurer for the past 28 years and as sexton lor eight of those years, Erank R Daly, 74, Panguitch. said he feels it is time to retire. "Twelve months out of every year for the past eight years we have worked for the dead and now I think it is time to go fishing." he said He works in the cemetery during the summer and he and his wife. Von, work in the St Oeorgc LDS Temple per forming ordinances for the dead during the winter His wife has helped with the record keeping which consists of the date of J) birth, the death date, the reason for and sexton for 2X years. Daly says it's time he retired. dying, the name of the doctor, mother and father of the deceased and the block and lot number they were buried in Daly has been serving on the board the past few years with Art Crosby and Earl Roe Now that be is retiring, a new board member must be chosen from the Third District which includes people hvng between Main Street from the south end of Panguitch to First South, from Eirst South the boundary line runs straight east past the Panguitch City limits including the homes on the Roller Mill Hill The Panguitch Cemetery consists of 18 acres, 12 that are dcvleoped and must be watered every day during the summer. "It takes four days to mow the area, then it is time to start over There isn't a dull moment when you do this alone." Mr Daly said Nor is it all serious He recalls a time he was chairman of the Democratic party for Garfield County A state delegate called his home in connection with setting up a meeting and Mrs Daly answered saying. "I am sorry, Mr Daly isn't home right now. he is in the cemetery " The party on the other end of the line apologized, saying they hadn't heard and was there anything they could do for her After she explained he worked at the cemetery they both had a good laugh Since Daly started serving on the board in 1951 the cemetery has been enlarged, grounds of the existing cemetery have been leveled, the water system installed and grass planted At one time there was a small wooden shed in the center of the grounds that served as a storage shed It was so small many of the items had to be stored around the outside of the building Two years ago, a $10,000 cinderblock building was constructed on the north side big enough to hold all the equipment and still have room to repair them as well. The roads have all been graveled. Within the next two years roads inside the cemetery should be oiled, the fence fixed and a sprinkler system installed in the adjacent six acres, Daly said He has been saving towards this and said he feels there is almost enough money now The money to make these improvements comes from the cemetery district taxes, people buying !rts and contributions If a person wns a lot but doesn't live in the Panguitch Cemetery district he doesn't pay taxes and is urged to pay $150 perpetual care; a one time payment to aid in the improvement of the cemetery, he said "A sexton must be a plumber, carpenter, mower repairman, painter, monument repairman, landscape worker and livestock chaser and a good hand with a wheel barrow and shovel," he said There have been great sextons in the past and they have done a lot for the cemetery. Now Mr Daly turns to Ralph Veater for what help he needs. "The many, many hours of volunteer help Ralph has given has been ap predated," Daly said. Besides taking care of the Panguitch Cemetery, it has also been the responsibility of Mr Daly to help keep the Spry Cemetery as nice looking as possible with no water to maintain a lawn A chain link fence with metal posts has been put around the cemetery and gravel has been hauled in to slow the weed growth Because of the p'oblems caused by-livestock that stray onto the grounds, the board asked the support of those owning ground surrounding the cemetery to please assist by keeping an eye on their livestock. Mr. Daly is confident I cattle guard will be placed shortly on the road entering the cemetery. Although the winter care does not demand as much hard work and time as during the summer, other problems arise. Graves are much harder to dig because the ground is frozen. "We have dynamite caps and fuses to be used during the very coldest months for this purpose We drive an iron bar about one and one-half feet into the ground and blast out a place so the backhoe will have a place to start digging." Daly said Mr Daly is tired, and may be retiring, hut he still cares about the way the cemetery looks and urges people to vote in a board member that will have the beauty of the cemetery upmost in their minds "This isn't just any ordinary area, it is a sacred place," he said He said he would like to see regulations passed to help keep the equipment and cemetery in good shape Many people have expressed a desire to improve their individual lots. They are welcome to do so as long as it is okayed by the sexton or n board member first They must remember that large trees shouldn't be planted for the roots do a lot of damage to the graves Pine trees would look nice around the outside edges At one time the Forest Service presented the cemetery board with 200 pine trees but because of a lack of help and illness the necessary time was not spent with the tender young things and they didn't grow Small bushes or trees would help improve the place, and if okayed by the board, may be planted Those putting flowers on the graves are urged to keep them as close to the headstone as possible Don't put heavy iron posts into the ground to hold the flowers because when the flowers are removed and the posts aren't, it causes damage to the mower The cooperation of everyone involved is necessary in maintaining a beautiful, well cared for cemetery |
