Who We Are |
We are an all VOLUNTEER organization serving the community.
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Our History |
Our History
The cemetery land was given by Samuel C. Young and Laura J Young to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in January 18, 1937. In March 6, 1981 Pioneer Memorial Cemetery was incorporated as a nonprofit corporation. In those early years 1 grave cost $100 with $25 paid for opening and closing. Many times people would pay more to help out with cemetery expenses and sometimes the grave opening and closing were donated. The cemetery land was later given back to the community on March 5, 1986 by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In the mid nineties, the grave cost was still $100 but opening and closing cost was also $100. In 2000 the cost rose, a grave was $200 and closing cost was also $150. Sometime in 2008 or 2009, the grave price was raised to $400 and opening and closing to $200. August 25, 2009 – Board met agreed on the spending priorities of the $25,000 Grant Money as follows:
August 30, 2009 4:30 PM – Board met and set prices at:
The American Legion in Milan did a service project in 2009. In August 2016 the board was reorganized. In November the Rules and Regulations were updates by the board. In May 2017 the changes to the Rules and Regulation document was approved. These are found of the website under the "RULES" tab. Also we have pamphlets to pass out, to new purchasers and to families at the time of funerals. In 2017, we begin to raise money to purchase a casket lowering device. We estimate that we can purchase one for under $4000. Also with help of Stan Spencer we have to aluminum rails to it safer to lower caskets and vaults in graves. In 2018 January thru March we modified the board to replace Jim Elkins who had passed away. We also added some new board members. See the "CONTACT" tab on this web page for the current board. In September 2018 it was decided that more than one person can be buried in a grave if at least one is cremated:
In 2019 Scott Windhorst arranged for Grants Cemetery to donate an older lowering device they were not using. In 2019 the IRS granted us status as a nonprofit cemetery. Now if an entity donates money to the cemetery, they can count it off their taxes. On April 2021 the Northwest New Mexico Regional Solid Waste Authority (namely Billy Moore Executive Director) donated a back hoe to be shared with the Bluewater Village Water Department. In 2023 a large Conex was purchased. The lowering device and other things will be stored in it. Pierce Spencer arranged for a donation of new trash barrels. On February 2024 the Rules and Document with the “double interment” rules changed, was approved by the board. On February 2024 the following charges were agreed upon by the board:
On February 2024 the Bylaws that had been updated and simplified were approved by the board. In all its history, the Pioneer Memorial Cemetery has only worked with lots of donations of both time and money. |