By Paige Norman
Not all cemeteries are equal; some are fastidiously maintained acres of lawn and granite while others are tucked away on the ‘outskirts of town’ and mostly hidden amongst the weeds and earth. Every cemetery represents a story of the families remembered there and reflects the history of the town where its located.
Redmond is fortunate to have two cemeteries that embody the history and stories of Redmond families.
Last year on a sunny July day, local historian, Tom Hitzroth, hosted a tour of the Pioneer Cemetery. Strolling through the grounds, he presented information on monument styles, errors on grave markers and a bit of history on noteworthy people in the cemetery and their history in Redmond.
Some of our most well-known Redmondites buried at the Pioneer Cemetery include William “Bill” Brown, mayor of Redmond from 1919 to 1948, and William P Perrigo.
Many members of my husband’s family are buried in the Redmond Pioneer Cemetery including Clarence Warren Adams and Jessie Millicent Adams Norman who taught at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse.
Across the street lies the Cedar Lawns Cemetery, founded by Dan Conley in the 1950s.
Mr. Conley was active member of his community. He served on committees and board throughout the state, helped landscape city hall, sponsor a local soccer team and was a charter member of the rotary Club of Redmond.
The Redmond Pioneer Cemetery was transferred to the care of Cedar Lawns in 1994, and in 1996 SCI Shared Resources, LLC purchased both the Redmond Pioneer Cemetery and the Cedar Lawns Cemetery. The properties are now part of their Dignity Memorial network.
If you are interested in discovering more about the Redmond Pioneer Cemetery or our collection of obituaries from notable Redmond citizens, be sure to check out our website!
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