Memory Gardens is operated as a perpetual care cemetery that means that a perpetual care fund for its maintenance has been established in conformity with the State Banking Commission. Perpetual care means to maintain, repair, and care for the cemetery. This does not include the maintenance, repair or replacement of any marker.
Under the Perpetual Care System, proper care of the graves is assured without cost or trouble to lot owners. Individuals are requested to report any oversight promptly and to observe the following rules:
- The grave space of a loved one is precious and cherished. Parking therefore is restricted to pavement or gravel roads.
- All Services will be held at the Out-door Chapel, and conclude at the Chapel. This is not optional. No pallbearers or family are allowed at the gravesite.
- Only burial space(s) that are completely paid shall be allowed to have interments and markers set.
- All graves are kept level, seeded with grass, and its removal is prohibited. No raised mounds or trenches around the graves can be permitted.
- Memory Gardens Cemetery reserves the right to delay an opening or closing of a grave due to inclement weather.
- Only flat markers, with a maximum size of 62×18 (double) or 30×18 (single) are allowed. The setting fee for a marker not purchased from Memory Gardens is $90 per linear foot. **Note: upright and slant markers are allowed only in sections H and M, with a maximum of 62” X 18” base and height of 36” for a double; single is maximum of 30” X 18” and a height of 24”. Please understand that from time to time we do have to have the upright markers moved in order to dig other graves or do maintenance in the area, this is done to protect your maker while allowing access to others property.
- Military bronze markers are required to have a granite base added and the setting fee of $90.00 per linear foot applies to this also. All VA applications must be signed by the cemetery.
- Vases must be on the marker and fit into the above maximum areas. Vases are subject to damage when covered by snow, or by water freezing and causing the vase to crack. The cemetery is not responsible for these damages or damages by windstorm, frost, hail, thieves, vandals, or other causes not due to its own account.
- All markers are set my Memory Gardens staff or cemetery contracted labor. No marker delivery will be accepted unless setting fee is paid in advance or is delivered with the marker/monument. Setting fees are $90 per linear foot.
- As of February 1, 1995 Memory Gardens no longer allows foot markers.
- No objects may be placed upon a grave that will obstruct lawn mowers in the mowing season. Shell’s, trinkets, toys, or urns, boxes, pots, tin cans, images, glass jars, candles, knick-knacks, or other similar items are not permitted on the grave.
- Wire screens, arbors, or trellises, iron or wooden crosses or similar articles upon graves or lot are not permitted. Any items such as shepherd hooks and solar lights, and other items that interfere with safety and maintenance are NOT allowed and will be removed. As a general rule, such items will be removed as they are seen. The only exception to this is the flags placed during permitted times. Glass is easily broken in the cemetery and becomes a hazard; glass items are removed as soon as they are seen.
- Plants will not be held in storage, nor will the cemetery be held responsible. We, therefore, ask the families to pick them up, if they want to keep them.
- Artificial decorations may be placed upon graves during holidays, autumn and winter. Artificial wreaths, flowers, sprays, and blankets or Christmas greens may be placed after November 1st. Greens not removed by owners will be disposed of after January 30th or will be removed 30 days after the holiday or at the beginning and during mowing season. If such pieces are not removed by families by January 30, they will be discarded by the cemetery in connection with Spring Clean-up. Due to storage limitations, Items will be held in storage for approximately 30 days then properly disposed of. The cemetery will not be held responsible for items left on graves after the allowed time period. We, therefore, ask the families to pick them up, if they want to keep them.
- Any decorations on the graves during mowing season will be promptly removed. Any artificial decoration on monuments or gravesites including photographs, images, silk flowers, balloons, pinwheels, statues, or candles are prohibited. Wire in artificial flower stems is a hazard to power mowers and operators. Artificial floral tributes may only be placed vases.
- Fresh cut flowers may be placed on the graves throughout the year. Floral items, fresh and artificial, will be removed from graves as soon as they become faded and unsightly.
- FUNERAL FLOWERS AT GRAVE. These flowers usually will remain on the grave for three days, depending on the condition of the flowers due to the elements.
- FLAGS:Flags are permitted on the graves on Memorial Day only and should be removed thereafter. Flags next to or as close to a marker will be permitted but may be removed when they become unsightly.
- Memory Gardens assumes no responsibility for the loss or damage of such items.
- Picking flowers, breaking or injuring trees, plants, shrubs or any other property in cemetery is prohibited.
- Memory Garden’s management strictly prohibits the planting of trees or plants by anyone other than the cemetery personnel.
- The Corporation reserves the right to enter lots without notice to the owner, for the purpose of reseeding or to remove unauthorized plantings, or plantings that have become detrimental, diseased, overgrown, or unsightly.
- Memory Gardens will not be responsible for items on graves or markers that are damaged or stolen by outside person or persons. This includes pictures, flowers, vases, Etc. that are on graves; however, if person or persons are caught in the act of stealing, obliterating, vandalizing, or desecrating anything located within or without Memory Gardens, legal authorities will be notified and could charge offenders with a Class C Misdemeanor. The person found guilty of committing the offense shall provide restitution to Memory Gardens for the amount of any damages caused.
- Due to additional cemetery up-keep, the erecting of benches is prohibited.
- No fishing or swimming allowed in lake.
- Visitation of graves is not allowed after dark and is considered trespassing.
- Temporary Markers are temporary. The will be allowed on the grave site up to 30 days after a burial.
Experience has proven the adoption and enforcement of rules to be necessary to secure the proper mode of burial, to protect the interests of lot-owners, and to preserve the beauty of the Cemetery. All persons are therefore urgently and respectfully solicited to conform to these rules and regulations, and to assist the management in their enforcement.
09/12/2019
As a side note pertaining to cremated remains:
Texas law states that a person may scatter cremated remains over uninhabited public land, over a public waterway or sea, or on the private property of a consenting owner. Texas law also states that unless the container is biodegradable, the cremated remains must be removed from the container before being scattered.
Therefore, PLEASE DO NOT DUMP CREMATED REMAINS in our cemetery or lake, we would be happy to discuss options with you.
MASKS ARE REQUIRED DURING THE COVID19 PANDEMIC.
Complaints concerning perpetual care cemeteries should be directed to: Texas Department of Banking, 2601 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78705 1-877-276-5554 toll free http://www.dob.texas.gov
Memory Gardens of the Valley 