On Wednesday, May 22nd, from 4:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., the old Spanaway Pioneer Cemetery will have it’s annual cleanup project. Loretta Fulk of the LDS Church and Boojee Bowman of the Spanaway Historical Society are leading the project. In past years, the Parkland-Spanaway Kiwanis led the project.

For the past several years, the LDS Church Youth groups have used this cemetery as a service project. Several Wards are involved, divide up the task and the cleanup goes quickly. It is a wonderful sight to see.

There is no real ownership of the cemetery. No particular group is in charge of its maintenance, so these community members have made it part of their volunteer service to see that before every Memorial Day, the tall grass is cut, branches from winter storms are removed, and overgrown bushes are trimmed. The members begin and end with a prayer which is very welcome in this somber setting.

The cemetery consists of two parcels. The Spanaway Lutheran Cemetery and the Spanaway Cemetery which is a Catholic burial area. There are interesting stories of families split to be located according to their religious beliefs, Protestant or Catholic.

The Wards involved are Spanaway, Elk Plain, Eatonville, Graham, Rainier View, and Pioneer Valley. The location is 100 176^th St E, Spanaway, WA 98387, which is A Street and 176th Street.

All hands are welcome to assist. If you live in Spanaway and want to help, just show up with your gloves, sun hat, and your favorite garden tools (clippers, battery operated weed eater, lawn mower, etc.). It is doubtful you would be turned away.

Due to the increase in drug abuse around the area, we also have to be concerned to properly handle any stray needles found. Please use caution and make sure an adult is notified so those can be handled safely and put in sharps containers for disposal.

Wards will work in one of the four quadrants (see photo above). They will collect and cut down any lose branches/debris/trash and move it to the center of the cemetery at the “debris collection area”. We have arranged for the grass to be mowed beforehand. Each ward should bring the following equipment:

• Weed Eaters –  Three (3) to four (4) per ward (Trim around grave sites and areas where mowers can’t get to including along the fence line)
• Chain Saws – Two Total (Graham Ward and Elk Plain Ward)
• Pruning Shears/medium to large – Two (2) to three (3) per ward
• Hand Clippers – Six (6) per ward
• Tarps – Being provided by Boojee Bowman cemetery caretaker (To be used to help move debris from each section)
• Work Gloves – Each Participant
• Rakes – Six (6) per ward
• Wheelbarrow – Two (2) per ward
• Wisk or Hand Brooms – Six (6) per ward (Used to brush off markers and general sweeping)
• Hydration – Each ward is responsible for making sure drinking water is available for your group

“The Spanaway Cemetery (one acre) was owned by one brother; And the Spanaway Lutheran Cemetery was owned by the other. The trees along A St were planted for each of his children. Two children were buried before 1900. The blacksmith Tobe Wyatt was in 1900. These families help make where we make our homes today. You are welcome to come visit and keep this honorable resting place shine. Pull a weed or clean a headstone while you are here. Thank you in advance. Check out these 500 folks on findagrave.com and read about them.” – Boojee Bowman

Thank you in advance for all who turn out to spruce up the cemetery. It’s a labor of love and the community appreciates you!