Royal Oak Cemetery

I've been wanting to go explore this cemetery for a while.  I always thought it was so cool when we drove by it as a kid.  This one is located about 2 1/2 miles from the house I grew up in (and Mom still lives in).

It's unique in that it is a triangle shape.....

image from FindaGrave

 The entrance gate is along 12 Mile Road (along the short side of the triangle)

These are on the wrong sides, but I was happy to get them next to each other!  

They used to be 2 cemeteries that combined.  Each has a historical marker. 

  

There is a huge variety of stones - going all the way back to the 1820s and some very recent.  I also found it interesting that you could go to a local hardware store and get a walking tour map of the cemetery!  Or you could just find it online.  I assume the names they point out on the map are of the notable Royal Oak pioneers. 

 

I had to make a second trip back to get this - I didn't see it the first visit. 

It's made out of 4x4 inch wood beams. 

 

 This is adorable! 

The detail on this log is amazing!  

Mary was originally at St. Mary's high school 

but was moved to the cemetery in 1992. 

She has her foot on a snake and 

someone wrapped a beautiful rosary around her hands.  

 I've seen lambs before, but never with a tree stump. 

This is not THE Henry Ford. 

 It's buried by grass, but along the bottom it says "Killed in Action on Mission"

He was 22.

 This is the one that grabbed my attention.  12 & 14 year old sisters.  I couldn't find an obit, but I did find this article talking about particularly nasty road conditions where at least 11 people died in car accidents - including these girls. 

December in Michigan isn't always the most pleasant! 

I was really surprised they weren't listed on FindaGrave.  But they are now!  I uploaded about 35 names / stones to this cemetery on the website this evening. 

This is the only mausoleum here.