Roses and baby's breath adorn urns of the unclaimed dead at Claquato Cemetery.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
A handful of people joined staff from the Lewis County Coroner’s Office on a spread of browned lawn beneath towering evergreens to pay their respects to the unclaimed dead who were buried this week.
The short memorial service at Claquato Cemetery on Wednesday afternoon was held for 14 individuals who have died in Lewis County over the past 14 years with no relatives to take custody of their bodies.
A red rose lay atop each of the brown-paper wrapped containers holding their ashes as Chaplain Brian Carter offered a brief prayer.
“We lay to rest these forgotten souls knowing full well you have not forgotten them,” Carter said.
Sondra Peckinpaugh came from her home across the street from the cemetery, even though she didn’t know any of the dead.
“I was kind of hoping more would be here,” she said.
Peckinpaugh said she has sometimes in the 40 years she’s resided near the so-called county section of the memorial park “adopted” a grave of an un-named person.
She regularly decorated with flowers a burial spot of a “Jane Doe” found in a river in the 1980s, she said.
Claquato Cemetery Manager Lacie Jendryka said a decision has not been made yet as to exactly how the grave will be marked. It won’t include all the names; a list will kept in cemetery records though, she said.
Many of the plots in what sometimes has been known as the welfare section do have flat headstones.
The burial of multiple cremated remains together in a single concrete liner is the first of its kind in the park, according to Jendryka.
Not all the dead are truly forgotten, some have friends still in the area, just no family who could legally claim their bodies, according to the coroner’s office.
At the Twin City Senior Center in Chehalis during lunchtime announcements prior to the service, site leader Lou Morales passed around a list of those who were set to be buried.
Morales attended the ceremony with her parents, Lewis County Commissioner Ron Averill and his wife Jan Averill.
Three of the names were recognized by seniors, she said. Some there felt sure one of them, Mary Katherine Gibson, still had family in the area, she said.
“A lot of them would have liked to have come,” Morales said.
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For background including the list, read “The unclaimed dead of Lewis County” from Sunday July 29, 2012, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Seriously, some people really need to get a life.
Jan, I would like to correct your comment…….even though you did bring flowers there were some beautiful roses already arranged for these beloved people that were provided by the folks at the coroner’s office. I saw them putting them on each box when I arrived. The entire conversation about who is related to who takes away from the whole purpose of the event. It is important to remember that the point of this internment was to lay these souls to rest in a respectful, dignified manner.
I find it a shame that you have taken credit for something that was done well before you arrived. Instead you have turned this into a who did what……..what a shame.
Why all the fuss about a job that only pays $1,500 per month? Lou Averill Morales has a BS Degree in Recreation Administration from Fresno State University, specializing in Senior Services. She was the most quailfied person that applied for the position of Site Manager at Twin Cities Senior Center. It really doesn’t matter who she is related to, she exceeds the requirements for the job. Nepotism is not alive and well in Lewis County. I am ashamed of all of you that even brought the subject up in your comments. We attended the funeral of the cremains in Claquato and in Auburn last fall for the Veterans that were buried there. We did this as a family, I do not see how anyone can fault us for that. I find it very, very sad that in all of Lewis County, I was the only person that brought flowers for those neglected, forgotten people.
TommyOrr – if what you said is true, that’s a sad sad state of affairs. On the other hand, we hear of it happening all over the country as well. Too bad we can’t rise above that behavior and make Centralia a better place.
I tried to make a difference in Centralia and the Police pointed a Gun at me for picking up Garbage in the Community. Remember that guy that was picking up trash for about two weeks on Tower Avenue? I tried to make a difference but garbage is not worth getting killed over, so why try when the police are criminals.
TommyOrr – if what you said is true, that’s a sad sad state of affairs. On the other hand, we hear of it happening all over the country as well. Too bad we can’t rise above that behavior and make Centralia a better place.
Jobs with the the Lewis County Government are NOT jobs, they are GIFTS given to relatives and children of those already there!!
With 12% unemployment, what are the chances that a more qualified candidate not related to a commissioner couldn’t be found? Or was this a done deal before the job was posted?
@Realistic — so what is your point? What does the fact that Lou, Ron and Jan have good enough hearts to attend the memorial of 14 forgotten dead have ANYTHING to do with your thoughtless comment?
How is that a problem? This is a very small county.
Not to take away from this awesome event but anyone else wonder about Lou Marales being Ron Averills daughter??? Good old boy network alive and well in Lewis county STILL : (