Three years ago, the Lopez Union Cemetery Association, led by the late Dr. George Dengler, re-evaluated its grounds and burial plots. With a slim number of plots left and buildings in need of major maintenance, the board knew it would be a huge undertaking.

The result was a multi-faceted rejuvenation project that included scoping out new plots, building both an urn garden and a remembrance garden, repairing 750 feet of white picket fence, re-roofing Center Church and the workshop building, adding on to the carriage house, and buying new equipment to operate and maintain the cemetery grounds.

The entire project is nearly complete: the only task left is to finish re-roofing the workshop building, where all the wreaths are made for the annual Cemetery Wreath Sale. “We were only able to roof half of it because we ran out of money!” said board member Ed Sturdivant. Just a few weeks ago, the fence was finished being repaired and painted, with help from the Lopez Lions Club. The church’s new roof is the “best available. It will last a long, long time. It was a huge expenditure,” said Sturdivant.

The cemetery finished rebuilding the carriage house last fall and constructed a new building directly next to it. The new storage building matches the 1900s style of the original.

The urn garden was also completed last fall, and it has been “used significantly,” commented sexton Larry Clark. The remembrance garden, where ashes can be buried directly in the ground and names of the deceased are inscribed in a large granite marker, was just finished. Both of these “green” alternatives to traditional burial plots were the ideas of former sexton Dengler, who was the driving force behind most of the cemetery’s changes. “It was a big plan and I don’t think it would have happened without George and all the gifts from the community. We couldn’t have afforded to do it without donations,” said Sturdivant. Quite a few new burial plots have also been marked off, so that option is still available to people.

Funds for the Lopez Union Cemetery Association come from the annual wreath sale (all done by volunteers), the rental of Center Church, the sale of cemetery plots, and direct donations. A concert held last year in honor of Dr. Dengler raised $17,000 for the organization.

“Every penny of every gift goes right back into the cemetery. People really gave and it got these big jobs done. Please come and check it out! And now we’ve got options for the community: a remembrance garden, an urn garden, and more plots. A few years ago we had crumbling roofs and a falling down fence, and now it’s all repaired,” said Sturdivant.

“We really believe that if we keep doing a great job and keep improving the wreath-making process so it continues to grow, I don’t think we’ll get in a position where we’ll need to ask for $40,000 for roofing again,” he continued. “We’re also charging a more competitive rate for burial sites and rental uses. So we’re not going to be coming back to the community in five or 10 years saying ‘we screwed up, we need more money.’ We’re operating on a very sound basis, although we do still rely on yearly gifts, no matter how small the donation. It all adds up.”

Volunteers are always welcome, especially during wreath-making time, which starts in November. Call Judy Matalon (468-2037) or Lois Kipper (468-2805) to sign up. For burial questions, call sexton Larry Clark at 468-2602.

Lopez Union Cemetery is the only non-profit, non-tax supported, non-denominational cemetery in the state of Washington. It recently obtained 501(c)3 status, so all donations are tax deductible.