McRill Memorial Cemetery
Kinder, Louisiana
Established 1899
"A Place of Community Pride"
Over 100 Years of Service to the Kinder Community
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Each headstone represents a story to be told, a past to be remembered.
They are not gone who live in the hearts of those they leave behind.
We understand death for the first time when He puts His hand on the one we love.
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal.
Death does not intervene in God's overall plan.
Death is the golden key that opens the palace of eternity.
Because He lives.... I can face tomorrow.
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O to be ready when death shall come!
O to be ready to hasten home!
And sweetly, gently, to pass away
From earth's dim twilight into day.
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In Loving Memory of Those Who Have Gone On Ahead in Year 2009
* Denotes Veteran
| Hazel Mae Gilley |
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Robert Clyde "Bob" Buck * |
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Ethelinda Jemison Andrus |
| Mary Ellen Nevils Williams |
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Dora Ortego Ferguson |
The Latest to Depart
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Dora Ortego Ferguson March 16, 1925 April 22, 2009
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Thanks be to God for their lives...
May their soul rest in eternal peace!
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The Kinder McRill Memorial Cemetery is honored to be the final resting place for the area's only Medal of Honor winner-- 1LT Douglas B. Fournet. 1LT Fournet, a native of nearby Lake Charles, heroically and gallantly gave his life to save his fellow man in the Republic of Vietnam on 4 May 1968. The MOH Citation of 1LT Fournet reads, "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty." Read the entire Citation and view a larger photo of 1LT Fournet on the "List of Veterans Page". |
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Avenue of Flags
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The Kinder Cemetery Association establishes its "Avenue of Flags" in the Kinder McRill Memorial Cemetery each Memorial and Veterans' Day. On these special occasions, 50 large casket flags are flown along the main driveways in the cemetery. These casket flags were earlier presented to family members "on behalf of a grateful Nation" at the time of their loved one's interment. The flags are proudly flown to honor the memory of those who served, sacrificed, suffered, bled, and, in some cases, died for their country. Additionally, a small American flag is displayed at the grave of each veteran buried in the cemetery. To all veterans, living and dead, this is our way of saying "Thank You" for what you have done for this country. May God help us to always remember. |

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The Kinder Cemetery Association held its 14th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony in the Kinder Kinder Bible Church at 9:30 AM on Monday, 25 May 2009. The ceremony was moved inside due to inclement weather conditions. Colonel Don Ladner, US Army Retired, delivered the Memorial Day address-- "Lest We Forget". The ceremony was held to honor and pay tribute to all those who made the supreme sacrifice in all of America's wars from the Revolutionary War up to the present time. A special tribute was paid to local deceased veterans Robert C. "Bob" Buck, William P. "Will" Buck, Jr., William P. "Bill" Buck, III, Robert G. "Bob" Cronan, Robert Wayne Johnson and Rollie G. "R. G." Mayfield II as members of their families presented their casket flag to be flown on the Avenue of Flags. A special thanks to everyone from the greater Kinder community for their support of, participation in, and attendance at our Annual Memorial Day Ceremony and Avenue of Flags. May God continue to bless this great Nation-- the land of the free and the home of the brave. |
Below are scenes from the Memorial Day 2009 Ceremony.
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Below are scenes from the Memorial Day 2008 Ceremony.
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The Kinder Cemetery Association held its 12th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony and Avenue of Flags in the Kinder McRill Memorial Cemetery on Monday, 28 May 2007. The ceremony was held to honor and pay tribute to all those who made the supreme sacrifice in all of America's wars from the Revolutionary War up to the present time. A special tribute was paid to deceased US Army veterans SSG Wayne Clemmons, Bryon "Gene" Williams and Fred Jemison as members of their families presented their casket flag to be flown on the Avenue of Flags. Colonel Don Ladner, US Army Retired, delivered the Memorial Day address-- "Remember Our Fallen Heroes". In the tradition of Civil War times, young flower girls from the community placed fresh flowers on a symbolic grave representing all those who gave their all in the cause of freedom. All veterans and surviving spouses of veterans in attendance were recognized. The US Naval Sea Cadets from Lake Charles performed as Color Guard and two distinguished veterans-- Lucius Joe Smith and Woodrow Duhon placed a wreath on a symbolic grave of “The Fallen". A Roll Call and Tolling of the Bell was conducted for the 130 veterans buried or memorialized in the Kinder Cemetery. The ceremony ended with a 21-gun salute by the Kinder Chapter 215, Vietnam Veterans of America acting as Honor Guard and the traditional playing of "Taps". |
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Below are scenes from the Memorial Day 2007 Ceremony.
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Below are scenes from the Memorial Day 2004 Ceremony.
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Below are scenes from the Memorial Day 2002 Ceremony.
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Annual Membership Drive/Annual Dues Collection Suspended
The Board of Directors has decided that those individuals who belonged to the Association in the year 2003 would be "grand fathered" in as future KCA Association members without further payment of annual member dues each year. Voluntary financial contributions, however, will still be accepted and will be applied to completing the wrought iron fence project.
Also, the Board
sought and was granted Tax Exempt Status from the IRS under Section 501
(c) (13) cemeteries which will help with the tax liabilities on any
income received. |
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Wrought Iron Fence Project Finally Completed
In 1996, a project was begun to change the appearance of the Kinder Cemetery. A brick entranceway would be built and as donations were received a wrought iron fence would be installed to replace the old chain link fence.
In 1999, one half of the wrought iron fence was constructed across the West side of the cemetery and in 2001 the fence was completed across the entire West side.
After twelve years, the wrought iron fence project
was finally completed in 2007 with the construction and erection of the fence
along the East side. Our thanks to all who had a hand in the completion
of this improvement project. |
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Members of the K
CA Board of Directors are shown below as they install
The completed
wrought iron fence along the North side of the cemetery.
The completed wrought iron fence along the South side of the cemetery.
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Road Paving Project Completed
In October 2007, work was undertaken to pave
the roadway into and out of the cemetery. Additionally, a concrete curb
was constructed around the flagpole to prevent anyone from driving over
the circle of concrete and damaging the flagpole. The paving project was
completed in early November 2007. |
Road Paving Project -- October/November 2007.
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Cemetery Maintenance
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Joe and Terry, the cemetery
groundskeepers, do an outstanding job
with the grounds maintenance. They mow and trim every two weeks.
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Links to other websites in this area which might be of interest to you.
Kinder Bible
Church
(Formerly First Congregational Church)
Kinder Elementary
(The Official Website of Kinder Elementary
School.)

Why We Read & Record Cemeteries
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Today we walked where others
walked Today our hearts were touched Today we saw where the
grandparents lay Today we wondered about an
unmarked spot; Today we saw where Mom and Dad
lay. Today we recorded for kith and
kin Cherish it, my friend; preserve
it, my friend,
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A talk delivered to the
SW Louisiana Historical Society by KCA Board Member Don Ladner. |
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Thanks for stopping by the Kinder Cemetery Website. We hope you enjoy your visit.
You are visitor number
since 1 November 2001
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Sign on an Irish cemetery fence:
"Be ye mon or be ye wumin,
Be ye gaun or be ye comin
Be ye early, be ye late,
Dinna fergit tae shut the gate!"
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E-mail and questions or comment to
Webmaster Don Ladner
Just click on the box below.
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Our mailing address:
Kinder Cemetery Association P. O. Box 955 Kinder, LA 70648
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Some material on this site may have been copied from the Public Domain,
and I would like to credit the original authors of any such material.
Thank you.
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Everyone dies, but not everyone lives.
So, live, love and walk in the
God's light!