- - - - HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH'S CEMETERY - - - -

OKLAHOMA COUNTY OK

Small purple irises mark a grave to the left of the entrance gate. At the time of our visit to this small cemetery little wild flowers were in bloom. The cemetery is approximately 100 feet by 290 feet. All of the markers are flat to the ground and not many markers remain. In the grove of cedar trees is an iron fence that is around part of a concrete form covered with leaves. There are only three stones that are readable and one concrete one about the same size with no identifiable words.

The whole area was part of the St. Joseph Orphanage, which included a farm where the Eldon Lyon Park is now. Father Kekeisen founded the children's home in 1912. Sisters of Mercy had charge of the orphanage during the years 1912-1930. The Carmelite Sisters operated it from 1933 to 1945. Missionary Sisters of the Most Blessed Trinity then operated it until it closed. The cemetery is now owned by The Catholic Diocese of Oklahoma and maintained by Resurrection Memorial Cemetery.

A chapel was built in 1936 and a school and gym were built in 1939 for first through 8th grades. The inside of the Prayer Tower is beautifully made of sparkling quartz. The buildings on top of the hill were part of the orphanage and now are the headquarters International Pentecostal Holiness Church. The people at the headquarters were very helpful in aiding us to get information on this cemetery.

David Wehling, one of the children, drowned in the stock tank. Sister Rosemary died of measles the next year. David Eugene Woodend died of rheumatic fever and was buried in the cemetery. There were orphans, priests, and nuns buried in this cemetery. Originally, a single brick marked each child's grave on the north side of the entrance. Most adults were buried to the south.

A canvass was made of the cemetery by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Ward #1, Oklahoma State on July 4, 1964 listing only six stones.

{Information obtained from OK County Cemetery Index - compiled by OK County HCE Genealogy Group, page 97.}