The History of McCord Cemetery

By Jeanne M. Johnson

Back to

the

Intro-duction

Chapter

21st Century

(2000-present)

The cemetery parcels of land are listed as "cemetery" and tax-exempt from real estate taxes on the property tax rolls of Montgomery County, Illinois. Copies of two modern-day surveys have been obtained. See Surveys for more information. The legal owner of the cemetery is the McCord Cemetery Association.

The last burial in McCord Cemetery as of April 2010 is that of Antonio "Tony" Munos who died June 2, 2006, bringing the total number of interments to 261. He was 91 years old at the time of his death and is interred next to his wife with whom he shares a common marker. They were married in 1934. She died in 1985 at the age of 66. Emma was the daughter of Morrison and Lillian (Parry) Greene who are also interred here at McCord Cemetery.

All 29 burials in the past 60 years represent family members of other individuals previously buried at the cemetery. There is no record of pre-paid lot purchases for future interments.

As family members of those interred at the cemetery grew older and/or moved from the area, the cemetery began to decline with no one to coordinate its care. A few remaining family members in the area used to haul their lawnmowers in their vehicles to the cemetery to mow, but this effort eventually became too daunting.

The front portion of the cemetery with no gravesites has been regularly mowed by a kind neighbor, but the rear portion with many grave markers has proven to be a challenge due to the time-consuming and difficult task of mowing around each monument. The Montgomery County board minutes dated October 14, 2003, report that the Probation Office’s community service workers recently “cleaned up McCord cemetery in rural Irving.” In the spring of 2009, two individuals that drove from out-of-town to visit an ancestor's gravesite returned to work at the site clearing brush after seeing the poor condition of the cemetery grounds. Although these efforts are appreciated, they had been sporadic and not nearly often enough to keep the gravesites from being overrun by briars each year. Little attention was given to the grave markers toppled over on their sides, broken, or propped up at the base of nearby trees. Visitors to the cemetery could only access their ancestor's gravesites in the early spring before the thorny vegetation grew back and climbed over the cemetery markers, hiding many from view and hastening their deterioration.

During the summer of 2009, a small group of volunteers began organizing to accomplish projects to restore, preserve, and protect the cemetery. A Restore McCord not-for-profit group, formed under the auspices of the Irving Area Historical Museum, met for the first time November 7, 2009, in Irving Village to discuss goals. A second meeting and combined fundraiser was held April 17, 2010, to reactivate the McCord Cemetery Association and raise funds and awareness for McCord Cemetery projects.

Residents of the local community have begun to pitch in and help save McCord Cemetery through a combination of offers to work at the cemetery, coordinate repairs and restoration, attend fundraisers, donate items and other efforts. Dale and Keith Walcher have cleared brush from the cemetery grounds and the cemetery markers can now be viewed. Grave marker photographs were contributed by local residents Linda Barricklow-Collins and Lemar Hartman (Director of the Irving Area Historical Museum). Mr. Hartman also located obituaries, association records, and other historic items that will be posted on this website. Mrs. & Mrs. Galen Stain have kindly donated a new cemetery sign.

Irving Village, the Irving Area Historical Museum, and generous individuals have donated funds to help offset necessary costs to fund repairs and pay for restoration services, but more will be needed. Donations can be made easily on the Internet or by mailing a check. See Support for more information.

There are plenty of opportunities to help. The creator of this website has compiled an Interment list and posted it on the Internet where photographs accompany many of the records. Visit the website Find-A-Grave to view. There are many other activities planned that need volunteers, both on-site and off-site. The survival of McCord Cemetery and the preservation of the local area's history depend upon the support of volunteers willing to open their hearts and get involved. See Support for more information. This place is worth saving.