FHE at the Church Cemetery

For most of my life, we have been involved with the Church Cemetery here in Tucson. My grandfather took care of the grounds and buried people by digging 6ft deep graves,
all by hand, for many years. He also provided work for grandsons during the summer learning about manual labor. He had a vested interest in it as almost all his family, extended family and many Binghamton Community members (the original Mormon community in Tucson) are buried here. As the Tucson Mormon Community grew so did the Cemetery for any members wishing to be buried here.
We often would go as a family and provide some service by doing clean - up usually for Family Home Evening.

When Grandpa became too old to handle much of the work, my Dad would help him out. Then when it got to the point where grandpa could do no more, Dad just kind of took over for the members in the Tucson area. It is kind of regarded as an extended mission call.
Under Dad's direction, the cemetery purchased a back-hoe and the work was made a little easier.
Dad can dig a grave with the absolute straightest sides you can imagine with the machine - he is the master!
On Monday we worked in the family area doing weeds to be cleaned up for Memorial Day. With Dad on the back-hoe, his parents marker was re-adjusted.


Young and older working together side by side.

This isn't your typical Cemetery as it is a natural desert facility with no grass. That concept attracts a lot of people. We may not personally have known these people when they were alive, but they are our heritage.

A couple of old markers had sunk in the ground so the men helped dig them up and reset them.

Stories get told along the way creating good memories. Bingham's are known for their gift to gab!

At the end of the evening, we usually tailgate our dinner.

This may be a strange thing to many people but this is something we grew up doing and continue with our children. It is a comfortable situation to all of us.