Volunteer at the Olga cemetery | Letter

The last private cemetery on Orcas Island, the Olga Cemetery, was donated to the community by William Moore, first white settler on eastern Orcas Island, and his native wife, Sarah. The cemetery was platted by Richard Willis, another early homesteader, and saw its first interment in 1894. Since those early days of pioneer life, the Olga Cemetery has maintained a proud tradition of local, volunteer labor helping in times of need.

June 11, 2012 7:22 pm

The last private cemetery on Orcas Island, the Olga Cemetery, was donated to the community by William Moore, first white settler on eastern Orcas Island, and his native wife, Sarah. The cemetery was platted by Richard Willis, another early homesteader, and saw its first interment in 1894. Since those early days of pioneer life, the Olga Cemetery has maintained a proud tradition of local, volunteer labor helping in times of need.

Expanded, and now the Olga-Doe Bay Cemetery, shared with our neighbors in the Doe Bay community, the cemetery treasures the tradition of opening and closing graves by hand labor. Shunning machines and mechanical equipment, local community members faithfully come out to dig each grave, shovels and picks in hand. Often many show up, sometimes only a few- but a proper burial place, well-prepared for the sad ceremony, is always ready on time.

A volunteer committee manages the cemetery. The Sexton, Judy Slater, is responsible for legal graves registration, placement, and public relations, while the other members work on maintenance, repair, and improvements. Mowing, weedwhacking, and sweeping headstones is time-consuming work, and volunteers are eagerly welcomed. Larger projects are envisioned, but await the necessary funds and manpower.

Annual expenditures maintaining the cemetery vary, but are purposely kept at a minimum. There is no annual budget, and the annual income from the few fees and donations we receive is scarcely predictable. We use paid mowing services when necessary, but prefer volunteer help when it is available.

Whether you simply enjoy being out in the sunshine in a beautiful, scenic spot or you eagerly look forward to a rewarding workout with a mower or broom, the Olga-Doe Bay Cemetery just might be the place for you! Visit, help out, donate – whichever it is, we’ll appreciate it. Your assistance will help us continue to care for those who’ve gone before us, in the right way, and help keep the traditions of the past alive at the Olga-Doe Bay Cemetery.

Olga-Doe Bay Cemetery Committee

Judy Slater

Thurman Bond

Thomas Leonard

Tom Welch