Thank you all for your patience with us while we figured out the details, I realize it's been several days since the sad news was announced and I wish we had been better prepared... We had a very "bad juju" experience with the Sedona cemetery people, and even though at the end we could have still taken dad there, we felt the negative energy would detract from our experience, as well as create unrest in the essence of his spirit.
Dad's friend Rolley has a brother who works in a mortuary in Snowflake (Silver Creek, maybe?) and who has been handling the transportation from CA to AZ for us. Rolley's wonderful brother Justin gently took over after I called him in tears about the Sedona thing. Justin has been wonderful, and has found a spot for Dad at the Taylor cemetery which will allow for most of the things Dad wanted.
Services will be at the Reed Hatch Memorial Cemetery in Taylor, AZ, Saturday, August 22 at 1:00PM.
This is about 3 to 3 1/2 hours from Phoenix. Anyone who would like to attend is welcome, whether they knew Dad or not - as he welcomed all with open arms, so shall we. I can't find an actual address for the cemetery, but the information I found online is:
Reed S. Hatch Memorial Cemetery is located W of Hwy 77, S of Paper Mill Rd on W. Center St. GPS: Lat: 34.4644, Long: 110.0972
Tony, Robin, and I will be going up there tomorrow or Wednesday to see what options we have regarding trees, plants, benches, and such, since Dad didn't want a traditional headstone. Regardless of those factors though, this cemetery will allow for Dad to be buried in a biodegradabke casket, no embalming, and no vault - going "back to the earth" as he always wanted. In addition, we will be able to manually lower his casket and fill in the grave ourselves. Something we regard as highly desireable and theraputic. We will begin the filling in, but if anyone would like to help after we start, just please let us know and we will share our shovels or bring extra.
Upon our return to Avondale (my home), we will be burning a wonderul little "man" that my husband Nathan built. Any and all are welcome to join our mini burn. We plan a festive and joyful remeberance of Dad at this event. If you would like directions, please email me directly at (pandora at egeekbme.com).
More formal individual notes will be sent out later, but I want to quickly thank those who have contributed thus far (first with the intent of getting Dad to Burning Man, then to assist with burial costs):
- Andi Cuniberti
- Henri Carnal (+ Will) - Thank you also Henri for your help with "incidentals" and blinkies in CA, you are amazing!!
- Robyn Leveton
- Nick Seek
- Amber Moon Meadery
- Laura Berg
- Lori Duvall
- Rolley White
- Cynthia Jones
- Debra Armet
- Carel Struycken (for the beautiful scarf which we hung in Dad's room during his final days)
- Wayne Merchant (for your generosity and caring in Dad's final days)