Smyrna Cemetery

Smyrna Church was the beneficiary of an Eagle Scout project proposed and executed by church member Donald Hammock. The goal was for him to conceive of and manage a substantial undertaking.

Donald proposal led to the installation of a sign at the entrance to the cemetery which shows a mapping the grave sites. The grave plots were remapped using precise measurements. Grave stones were cleaned. Donald worked with an electrician to install lighting for our church sign.

We are so pleased with how it all turned out. On May 11, 2019, Smyrna hosted the Court of Honor ceremony where Donald was conferred the rank of Eagle Scout.

2016 marks the 125th year of Smyrna United Church of Christ. In January of 1891, ground was broken to build a church midway between the settlements of Needy and Yoder in the heavily timbered rural land in the Willamette Valley. The first service in the roughed-in building was held in April. A month before, the first burial in the cemetery was Catherine Yoder Lantz, a charter member, who with her husband Gideon and family was the first Yoder settler in the community. When her brother and nephews were casting about for new homes, she was the one writing to them in Missouri & Illinois to come west to the fertile lands of Oregon. By 1893, there were at least 65 Yoders within a 1 mile radius. Others buried at our historic cemetery before 1895 include Elizabeth Owen, two of Iddo & Hattie (Yoder) Hein’s babies, Lucy Smith, and John P. Yoder.

Each burial and cremation plot is reserved with a $150 fee for members of Smyrna UCC. The fee is $350 for all others. Contact Rick Gano, 503-651-2044 for available locations. At the time of burial a $100 deposit is required to insure that there will be a stone or that a current one is engraved with dates. The deposit will be refunded or applied to the cost of the stone once it is in place.

Two people can use one of the cremation plots. A vault or liner is required. A permanent marker is required within six months of burial, however, an extension will be granted if estate settlement delays purchase of the marker. The only restrictions on markers are no plastic or resin, and flat 12 x 24 in. granite must be used in the cremation garden.

Grave Markers may be ordered through the Cemetery Committee which is happy to be able to provide them at cost. Ordering through the funeral director is substantially more. All colors and styles are available. Joel Daniels has samples of granite and a book of print styles and designs.