A MONUMENTAL DISCUSSION

Several years ago, Mike and I bought a plot at the Gilbert Cemetery adjacent to my Dobson grandparents as our “final resting place.” The cemetery board representative told us that up to six cremated remains can be buried in one plot. It would be just the two of us, we thought.

But when we suddenly had to make decisions regarding the ashes of our son, Milo Warnock, we decided to include him in our plot. Discussion ensued with the monument company, and they said that Milo’s monument would be set behind ours – at what I call the back of the plot – and must be flat. We accepted this, though we really wanted a better presentation for Milo. Ultimately, it won’t matter, but it matters to us now.

Milo's monument -- flat and out of line

I really think it’s best to set the monument after the burial, but we wanted it in place for our ceremony on May 25 so that our family could see it, and the monument company complied with our request. However, imagine our surprise when the monument was set at the front of the plot, flat to the ground, and a bit out of line with the existing monuments at that! I said it didn’t matter. I just wanted to be finished with this and move on. But a couple of us were vocally adamant that it should be right. And they have a point. It isn’t even set as the company representative told us it would be. And if Milo’s monument is to be in line with the existing ones, then we would like it to be raised, just as they are.

So, we talked to the monument company, and we talked to the cemetery board – and long story short, Milo gets to have this plot to himself with a raised monument that’s more in keeping with our wishes, and Mike and I bought the next plot over. Milo would be amused over all this. KW

 

[Milo Warnock, a DUI offender, was beaten to death in his cell at the Idaho State Correction Center in Kuna on Dec. 10, 2023. Our family has filed a tort claim (intent to sue) against the prison with regard to this wrongful death. Charges against his cellmate are pending with the Ada County Prosecutor.]