Vashon Cemetery History

The Vashon Cemetery was incorporated April 3, 1888. The first two acres were purchased from Frank and Clara Miner (Sec. 1) -- members of the 'second wave' of white families to settle on Vashon in 1878 (one year after the first group). A second 1-1/2 acres was deeded from Charles O'Keefe. The first burial on the island was not in the cemetery but east of here about a mile along now Cemetery Road when Mrs. Julian Morehouse died in 1879. The first burial in the cemetery proper, though prior to the cemetery being incorporated, was L. Ross Carpenter (Sec. 2) who died in October 1886, son of L.R. and Charlotte. Next burial after incorporation, was Mary Gilman in 1891. 

The “Memorial Monument” central granite pillar was unveiled on Memorial Day 1921with a ceremony attended by over 1,000 people. The pillar was produced by Pacific Monument and Cut Stone Works of Tacoma for $415. Each of the four sides are dedicated to veterans of: the Civil, Spanish American, and World War 1914-1919, and the fourth to The Unknown Dead. 

The north rock wall and pillars with bronze tablet, fronting Cemetery Road, were built in 1929-1930 by A.D. Urqhart and partially funded by the local D.A.R. and dedicated on March 25, 1930.  

King County Cemetery District No.1 formed in 1976, provides cemetery operation and maintenance. An elected, three-member Board of Commissioners governs the district.  

A plaque near the gate honors three past cemetery district commissioners who passed away while in office: Yoneichi Matsudo and Thomas Garretson elected July 13, 1976 and George McCormick elected 1984.