Marla Bush, a longtime advocate of the Erath County Genealogy Society has announced The West End Cemetery in Stephenville is set to be dedicated as a designated Texas Historic Cemetery by the Texas Historical Commission.
The designation comes after Bush, with the assistance of several in the county, spent 100 hours writing a history of West End and documenting everything required by the THC.
“I never really dreamed it would take this long,” said Bush. “People don’t understand how much work goes into [getting recognized].”
West End includes more than 6,000 plots on a 30+ acre lot on the corner of West Washington and Lillian, framed by a major business district, neighborhoods and Tarleton State University.
The project traces the cemetery back to its earliest graves in the 1860s including the 1862 burial of Stephenville’s namesake, John M. Stephen.
The Field of Honor and all veterans, wars, pioneers, judges, historians, teachers and decades of loving families, women, men and children are documented in this project.
Also documented are styles and dates of tombstones, earliest and most recent burials, materials used in construction, heights and widths, benches, trees, grasses, fencing and rock walls.
“The [Texas Historical] Commission is very thorough,” said Bush, whose work also included taking photos of the cemetery from multiple angles.
Following her research, Bush wanted to offer her thanks to the city of Stephenville and its more than 100 years of ownership and perpetual care.
Of particular help were: Stephenville City Council member David Baskett who encouraged her in the endeavor; City Manager Jason King; Daron Trussell, Director of Parks and Leisure Services who oversees the cemeteries; Erath County Genealogy President Sheryl Reed Rascher; and County Clerk Gwinda Jones.
She also said the THC was very professional and helpful throughout the entire process.
The designation will be celebrated in a dedication ceremony at a later date.