Dad's stamped concrete headstone

greenmojo · Aug 29, 2016

What to do with my Dad's stamped concrete headstone?

I am replacing it with a memorial marker at the cemetery down in the valley, and want to keep the stamped concrete headstone that was put there when he passed. I asked for it today, and they said they'd make arrangements to retrieve it.

My original idea was something simple, to bring it up here to the property and set it in a nice location with a simple bench where we can sit, and enjoy our memories. He raised us in the valley that our property overlooks.

Our property is up on top of the breaks there.

Has anyone done anything similar or have any ideas? Not looking for anything superb or grande, but simple and tasteful.

Maybe even some stories.

Miss Dad.

~Moses

2LaneCruzer · Aug 30, 2016

Sorry, I have no experience here to share, but since reading your post yesterday I have thought of your question a bit. It's difficult for me to think of a really appropriate place that would give it the respect that it deserves. I thought about putting it in the flower bed or displaying near the patio as a stepping stone, but I'm not sure I would do that. I think if it were me, I would display it in a very private place, like my shop. I have some things that belonged to my Father and Grandfather that I have mounted on the wall there. I would probably build a nice Oak frame and make a wall hanging for my shop, maybe with some item that belonged to him, like a medal, etc.

Just a thought.

kevin37b · Aug 30, 2016

Make a nice frame and display vertical in your yard . 2 4x4 vertical and 2 4x4 horizontal to trap it in the frame . Again just thinking .

T_e_r_r_y · Aug 30, 2016

How thick is it? If under 2", do like the 2 posters above have said and combine their ideas. Make a sturdy frame for either a chair or small bench.
Use the stone as a back rest for a chair. Put the chair in your shop to use as a resting place. Or make a bench, with the stone centered in the back rest and place it in a nice spot, over looking the valley you love. When the family is out walking and you need a break.There is a bench to rest and remember the good time you had there.

T.J.

greenmojo · Aug 30, 2016

I appreciate the replies and the ideas, those are all great.

~Moses

arpt209 · Sep 3, 2016

My wife made a "Memory Garden" for her mother. Really just a fenced in flower bed with different types of butterflies and angels, both of which her mother loved. There are statues, carvings, etchings and paintings. We put it under some trees for shade, visible from the house. We added a bench so if she just needs to sit & cry with her mother she can. Now that her dad has also passed we added another bench dedicated to him. The potato patch in the garden is dedicated to him & we moved a swing on a lodgepole pine frame from another area of the yard to the memory garden for him since the bench she bought for him is too low for many people to sit on comfortably. Doesn't hurt that she can see the spot where her dad got to hear her shoot a deer about 8 years ago (he was basically blind). He was always real proud of his little girl (now a great grandmother) for her hunting and shooting prowess.

I like the idea of benches. Can be practical and great when you just need to go and visit with your dad or ask for advice or even just go tell him thanks and that you love him when you don't want anyone else to hear.

Dang! I need to call my dad.

MossRoad · Sep 3, 2016

I see an American flag there. Do you have a flagpole in your yard? It might be nice there. Or, as you suggested, a nice bench, perhaps under a shady tree, a place to sit and think.