Families outraged over Puyallup cemetery conditions. ‘It looked like hell’
When Michael Bathurst visited his mother’s grave at Woodbine Cemetery in Puyallup on Mother’s Day, he found an irrigation pipe laying on her grave marker.
Bathurst, a Covington resident, told The News Tribune he removed the pipe, and placed it among several other pipes that were sitting along her grave site. He said the grass in the area was overgrown, and at least 6 to 8 inches long.
His mother was buried at the cemetery in 1979, and Bathurst said the area had been well maintained up until two to three years ago.
“It was, to me, probably the most disrespectful thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life,” he said. “I actually took one off and laid it up against the tree, that was the one that was literally on top of my mom’s grave.”
Bathurst said he brought up his concerns in an email to city officials, and alleged they were in breach of contract for the unkempt conditions of the area. The city owns the cemetery and is in charge of its upkeep.
“I wrote to every city council member, I wrote to the city planner, city manager,” Bathurst said.
Bathurst said he went back to the cemetery a couple of days after Mother’s Day. He saw that the pipes were removed, and the grass was mowed. The area, he alleged, was still in a state of disarray.
“There was a dead tree branch laying by the tree where my mom’s site is. When they mowed the grass, the catcher didn’t catch all the grass and left grass all over my mom’s headstone,” he said.
City’s response
The budget for the cemetery is about $850,000 per year. Half of that budget goes toward personnel costs, such as staff salaries and benefits, city spokesperson Eric Johnson told The News Tribune via email.
“The other half funds operational expenses such as utilities, equipment, professional services, supplies, and resale items such as headstones and markers,” he wrote.
Johnson said Parks and Recreation Director Cody Geddes was made aware of the irrigation pipes temporarily placed near a grave site on Mother’s Day as part of a maintenance project, and that immediate action was taken to address the issue. Johnson said the 30-acre cemetery is maintained by two dedicated staff members.
“We recognize that situations like this are upsetting for families visiting loved ones and take those concerns seriously,” Johnson wrote. “As we enter the summer season, the demands of mowing, landscaping, irrigation, and general maintenance increase significantly, creating challenges in keeping pace with all maintenance needs. While balancing and allocating staffing and resources is a factor, we understand that residents expect the cemetery to be maintained with the care and respect it deserves.”
Johnson wrote the city is actively working to address maintenance concerns and prioritizing improvements. Additional parks staff and resources have been allocated to help with cemetery maintenance, landscaping and overall site upkeep, he said.
“These efforts are helping address maintenance needs and improve conditions throughout the property. While the Cemetery is currently operating with one vacant full-time position, the City has supplemented cemetery operations with Parks staff and resources to help maintain service levels and ensure the property continues to receive the care and attention it deserves,” he wrote.
The city anticipates returning to full staffing in the fall, according to Johnson.
“Our goal is to provide a dignified, well-maintained environment that honors those laid to rest there and supports the families and friends who visit them,” he wrote.
‘There is no excuse’
Bathurst is not the only one upset over the conditions at the cemetery, which is home to pivotal local figures, including Puyallup’s founder Ezra Meeker.
Lee Vanpevenage said in his public comments during the June 2 city council meeting that he went to the cemetery May 31 and “it looked like hell” with overgrown weeds. Vanpevenage said about 22 of his relatives are buried at the cemetery.
Vanpevenage said he spoke with a city parks official about his concerns over the cemetery. He said the official told him overtime is down and that they are not using as much water as they used to.
“If you haven’t been up there recently, go take a look. They keep the new part looking pretty good, but they’re not caring enough for the cemetery,” he said. “Again, I’ve been going there since I was four years old with my mom, and I’ve never seen it look this bad. Never.”
Vanpevenage offered photos for the mayor and city council to look at of the cemetery with dates on them. Mayor Ned Witting thanked him for the photos, and asked him to pass them along to city manager Steve Kirkelie.
Richard Casmier, another Puyallup resident, said he has relatives buried at Woodbine including his wife. He told the city council June 2 that the conditions at Woodbine are “a disgrace” and “somewhat disrespecting.”
“When a family chooses to bury a loved one at Woodbine or anywhere, there is an implied understanding or expectation the grounds will continuously be maintained,” he said.
Casmier noted that the parks are maintained, and said it was puzzling to him why the city’s Parks & Recreation department could not also take care of the cemetery.
Two council members shared their thoughts over the conditions at the cemetery toward the end of the meeting. Council member Lauren Adler said many generations of her family are buried there.
“There is no excuse, there’s no excuse, and we will do better,” she said. “And I want to thank folks for coming forward and sharing their perspective and experience at Woodbine with us despite how difficult it can be in remembering and talking about those who we loved, their final resting places.”
Council member Dennis King said he echoed some of Adler’s comments regarding the cemetery.
“I firmly believe we will do better there so I won’t go on any further about that. I know we will do better,” he said.
