At Riverview Cemetery on West Kansas Avenue, the quiet hum of mowers and blowers signals the approach of Memorial Day. Cemetery Sexton Marcus Lynn has been putting in long hours to ensure the grounds are respectfully maintained in time for one of the year’s most meaningful holidays.
“There’s a lot that goes into maintaining the cemetery—weed control, stickers, headstone care, even dealing with vandalism and deer,” Lynn said. “I’ve seen headstones knocked over, and when I go to set them back up, there’s deer hair stuck to them. I think they’re rutting or fighting and run into the stones.”
The cemetery, home to more than 13,300 burials, is managed primarily by Lynn and one additional city staff member. While other city departments assist as time allows, Lynn handles the bulk of the maintenance work himself.
“I mow the cemetery every week, and it takes about three and a half to four days to get through the whole thing,” Lynn said. “If I can keep the stickers mowed before they bloom, we’ll have fewer of them in the long run—that’s been my plan.”
A major part of Memorial Day preparations involves clearing grass off the headstones—a job that’s both physically demanding and time-consuming.
“We’ve spent about 20 hours this week just blowing grass off headstones,” Lynn said. Some of the older graves present their own challenges.
“Many were buried before we required concrete vaults,” Lynn explained. “Over time, the caskets collapse, the ground settles, and the headstones lean—until they eventually fall over.”
Despite hot weather, limited staff, and budget constraints, Lynn remains committed to honoring those buried at Riverview. He has also made efforts to beautify certain areas, including the cemetery’s baby land section, and is mindful of the emotional importance of the site for families.
“Everyone wants it to look perfect by Memorial Day,” he said. “But few people see what it takes to make that happen week after week.”
Lynn encourages family members to contact him at (620) 441-4470 with any concerns they notice at the cemetery so he can address them promptly.
ABOVE PHOTO: City of Arkansas City employee Marcus Lynn mows the grounds at Riverview Cemetery, helping maintain the peaceful setting for visitors and families.
The above feature story was written by Shana Adkisson with the city of Ark City.