Every now and then I come across a memorial which is either intentionally or unintentionally funny. So now we have a new category: humor.
I know it’s wrong to make fun of a person’s name (and believe me, with a name that rhymes with “cow” and “sow” I’ve been on the receiving end of it too). Still I can’t help but find some of them amusing. Such as John Chicken. I can only imagine the level of teasing he must have gotten from both children and adults.
I found the Person family stone amusing. As in, “yes, there is a person buried here.”
Then there is the humor people choose for themselves.
I found a nice memorial plaque to a nice lady named Linda Kay Winebarger Purkeypyle on a walking path. It’s an unusual name, but I have yet to discover its origin. I hope the Purkeypyles—and there are many in the US—didn’t get teased too much while they were growing up.
Then there’s this mysterious tombstone symbol, which I think is a private family joke. (There’s a “Pankota Red” breed of cattle, but it’s from Hungary. Or it could stand for a person or “polled something.”) The stone remembers husband and wife ranchers who raised Angus cattle in Centerville WA. I’m sure this joke is funny to a select few!
Stump and Lamb explores personal growth and meaning via travels to pioneer cemeteries of the West. Posts may contain affiliate links.
This post was originally published at michellerau.com.
michelle rau 