Jim and Mary Woodsides have been in charge of the custodial care at Tamaroa Cemetery for over 30 years

Marilyn Taylor, vice-president of the Tamaroa Cemetery Association, this week talked about the caring of families and board members of the cemetery--but she also talking about the work of cemetery custodians Jim and Mary Woodsides.

In recent months the cemetery board--through donations--was able to purchase a derelict property along Rt. 51 where a road crosses from the highway to the cemetery. Before, the association only benefited from an easement. Now, it owns the property.

A son of board president Herb Chapman, who lives in Florida, has donated a beautiful granite marker bearing the cemetery's name which can be seen from the highway.

Years ago, a storage building was constructed and zero turn front-mounted mowers are in use to groom the property.

This is all under the stewardship of board members Herb Chapman, president; Brian Cutler, treasurer; Jeffrey Brocaille, trustee; Cathy Youngman, secretary; Marilyn Taylor, vice-president and Diane Valentine, trustee.

But, moreover, the historic cemetery is beautiful because of the work of the Woodsides. Jim Woodsides said his work ethic goes back decades and part of it comes from now-retired Sunset Memorial Park sexton and cemetery caretaker Everett Adams of Tamaroa, now a resident of Fairview Nursing Center.

"I guess we've been doing this for over 30 years," Woodsides told this reporter while walking the perfectly manicured cemetery. There are no vacations for the Woodsides during the grass mowing season. He has an obvious relationship with his surroundings.

There's a hornet's nest on the north side of the cemetery and he says his mowing doesn't bother them. They are use to his mower going under the tree. "Every now and then one will land on the mower and ride with me."

Woodsides says he takes care of the property and wife Mary does some of the bookkeeping. "The board tells us what we can spend and we take care of it," he said, grateful for the work and the equipment. Their home is within sight of the cemetery. They welcome visitors and watch for intruders.

He and Taylor both say the support of board members and families is important. The income is better some years more than others, but dealing with that is part of the job.