A Nearly Accurate History of Sunrise Beach
By Dick Hart (deceased)
Written for the 25th Anniversary Celebration of the City in November of 1998
recovered and updated in 2005 and continued by others (I hope, hjs)
Page 15 of 19
"The following document was typed from a copy in the files of Paul Looney, an officer
in the Cemetery Association. Date of document is unknown"
HISTORY OF SANDY MOUNTAIN CEMETERY
When Sunrise Beach Addition was established in the latter part of
1950's a cemetery consisting of one acre was included in the purchase.
This plot was donated by the former owner to the sale and was to be
used by the area citizens. At that time there were approximately fifty
marked graves and several with head and foot stones recognizable.
There was very little consideration given as to where the graves were
located in the cemetery.
After the public began to purchase lots and build lake homes in the
addition, the cemetery was used more. In the latter part of 1969 Berl
F. Guyton, who moved to the Sunrise Beach Addition in 1964, decided
it would be much more attractive if the cemetery could be cleaned and
properly care for. He contacted the ranchers who lived in the
neighborhood if they would permit the Sunrise Beach citizens to assist
in putting the cemetery in order, also to permit the citizens to be
buried in it if they so desired. Permission was granted for policing and
burial purposes, but only for the families living in Sunrise Beach at the
time of a death or while living on the Beach.
In September 1969 Mr. Guyton asked for permission to prepare a
drawing of the cemetery, listing all the marked graves as well as other
unmarked graves identified by stones. Permission was granted and a
drawing was made by Mr. Guyton.
During 1974, after several additional burials, Mr. Guyton presented a
revision of the original drawing listing the total number of graves to
73.
Effective November 1, 1982 he again revised the drawing which
reflects a total of 107 graves.
This drawing or map consists of a character in the shape of a casket
which as a number beside it. A separate paper lists the number in
numerical order and name of each marked grave. On another sheet of
paper an alphabetically, naming the occupant of each grave, if known,
with the birth and death dates shown. Complete description of each
grave may be identified by using these references.
The drawing, together with the two attachments, is kept in the Sunrise
Beach Village City Hall, Phone 915-388-6438 for public observance,
also the Chairman of the Cemetery Board, Mr. Frank Poplin, Phone
915-388-6963 has a copy. Mr. Poplin should be contacted prior to any
burial.
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