Headstones
Whether to mark a grave is a personal choice at Great River Natural Burial. Marking a grave is not required due to our location system and permanent cemetery records but can provide comfort and closure for family and friends, as well as serve as a way to honor the memory of the deceased.
Our grave markers balance signaling a special place while respecting the natural aesthetic of the land and meeting Green Burial Council Guidelines. To achieve this balance, all grave markers must be purchased and sourced from Great River Natural Burial.
- Are natural boulders, indigenous to the Columbia Gorge Region and sourced from the Great River property, chosen by you from our available selection
- Meet Green Burial Council guidelines to “limit the type and size of memorial markers so that they do not impair the ecological conditions and aesthetic of the natural cemetery landscape”
- Are installed by employees of Great River, 6 to 12 months after burial to allow for settling of the soil. Family participation in the installation is optional.
- Come in 2 size categories, the difference between the two sizes being the engravable surface area, to allow for multiple names in the case of companion size
- Single size has an engravable surface that is approximately 18″ wide
- Companion size has an engravable surface that is approximately 24″ wide
- Stones must “fit” the landscape and lay somewhat flat or be partially installed in the soil, with a profile no more than 8″ exposed above the ground. Installing into the soil helps to prevent movement of the stone.
- Stones may not be polished or machine cut to shape
- Your headstone may be selected and purchased at the time of your pre-need plot purchase and moved to your plot for safe keeping. Optionally, name and date of birth can be engraved at this time if one wishes.
- The content of marker engravings must be approved by Great River Natural Burial
Decisions to be made when ordering a natural stone headstone:
- Size: single or companion size stone
- Orientation: which face of the stone will be engraved, and are there any preferences for orientation of dedication text
- Text: your dedication to be engraved
- Font: which font(s) you would like your text to be engraved in.
- Paint: whether you wish the engraved text to be painted black or not. Paint will fade over time, and can be repainted for a fee.
Single headstone, Golden font, painted engraved text, “Dad” and “Grandpa” are signatures (above) and single headstone, Golden font, engraved text is not painted (below)
Our Log Headstones are crafted from trees on the Great River property, salvaged from the aftermath of wildfire or disease, transforming what was once lost into a symbol of life and purpose.
Log Headstones:
- Are personalized with name and year of birth and death
- Will be 24″ long, and cut in half lengthwise
- Will be treated with a natural oil, and allowed to degrade over time
