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<DIV><FONT size=2>Thank goodness my ancestors who made it to the Oregon
Territory way back when don't have any such interesting inscriptions, but my
husband's gr-gr-grandfather buried in Pocahontas Co., IA has one very
similar: "Kind friends beware as you pass by As you are now,
so once was I As I am now, so you must be Beware, therefore, to
follow me". </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Darlene</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=cklooster@aol.com
href="mailto:cklooster@aol.com">cklooster@aol.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=or-roots@listsmart.osl.state.or.us
href="mailto:or-roots@listsmart.osl.state.or.us">or-roots@listsmart.osl.state.or.us</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, January 16, 2010 10:09
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [or-roots] Browsing Old
Cemeteries</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT color=black size=2 face=arial>
<DIV>Les...</DIV>
<DIV>In the 1960's my aunt had a slim little book called something like "Comic
Epitaphs" and I recognize some of these from that book. On the other
hand, my 3rd great grandfather, Joseph Whealdon, is buried in the pioneer
cemetery in Centralia, WA. On this Quaker's grave, the inscription
reads: "Stranger pause as you pass by; as you are now, so once was
I. As I am now; so you will be. Pause awhile and think of
me".</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I do believe that at least some of the inscriptions you quote are likely
to be true. We tend to think of epitaphs as something that survivors
conferred upon their loved ones, but in many cases, epitaphs were written (as
were obituaries) by the individual before they died. If there was a
sense of humor involved, I can easily see an atheist deciding that his
obituary should read "all dressed up with no place to go". </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Carla <BR><BR></DIV>
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