 George Ivan Ferdinand, a man
loved by his family and many friends, went to his demise on October 19, 2004.
Typical Monuments Provide The Name, & Dates of Birth & Death Only
We wanted to memorialize George, and not merely build a monument for him. The typical
monument would have stated:
George Ivan Ferdinand
July 8, 1964
Oct. 19, 2004
We Focus On Memorialization Over Monument Building
Consistent with our long-standing practice, and progressive advocacy, we asked the family
to inform us of the qualities that made George a truly unique human being. From what we
learned, George Ferdinand was a remarkable man, loved by many, and an honor to his
community.
George’s sister, Wilma, told the tale of how her younger brother would hand fish.
“He loved to hand fish.” Wilma told about how George would wade in the water and
run his hand down the creek bank until he found a deep hole, and then he would reach in
and pull out a catfish. “If there was a turtle, he left it.”
One tale was that once he pulled his arm out from the bank with scratches over his entire
forearm up past his elbow to his biceps as a result of an entanglement with a large
flat-head catfish. George often pulled out catfish with his bare hands that weighed 30 to
70 pounds. This is either bravery, or foolishness, perhaps both, and beyond my capacity to
ever do myself; however, this was who George Ferdinand was.
Etchings Provide Symbolism
To capture the essence of George’s life, we constructed an etching on the face of the
memorial that portrayed a wildlife scene with a deer and mountains. George loved nature
and he was an avid outdoorsman.
On the reverse, we placed a large oak tree to symbolize not only George’s tree
business during fourteen years of his life, but also his strong character. The oak is one
of the strongest and most enduring of all trees, representing strength and endurance
throughout the world.
Jet Black granite was used as it is an excellent medium for etching due to its reflective
surface; the etching against the surface reflects extremely well.
The reverse of the memorial was used to tell George’s story in an abbreviated manner.
We took the client’s ideas, and then we made suggestions, and our professional
editorial staff edited the living epitaph that will be a lasting testament and memorial to
the life of George Ferdinand.
Throughout the process, we made gentle suggestions, always giving the clients objective
guidance. Our task was to deal with the emotions that were understandably tender.
“The Living Epitaph” SM
George’s Greatest Love Was
Lacy Marie and Tara Rene His Daughters.
Son of Eugene and Eunice Ferdinand.
Brother of Arthur, Lee, Wilma, and Faye.
George Owned and Operated Kansas Tree
Service For 16 Years And Then Was An
Independent Truck Driver. He Enjoyed
Hunting, Fishing And Spending Time With
His Many Friends.
Now, we think this is a beautiful and meaningful epitaph that speaks volumes about the
love this great family has for their brother and father. The epitaph identifies
George’s immediate genealogical relationships to his parents, siblings, and children,
as well as his occupation and hobbies.
Monument Dimensions
The dimensions of the memorial were 3-0 x 0-8 x 3-6 (3 feet long, 8 inches wide and 3
feet, 6 inches high).
A sub-base was used that was one foot longer and 6 inches wider 4-0 x 1-2 x 0-6 (4 feet
long, 14 inches wide, and 6 inches high) to allow 6 inches on each end of the sub-base,
and 3 inches in the front and back of the tablet. This provides proper proportions for a
very attractive memorial.
The base was 5-0 x 1-8 x 0-8 (5 feet long, 20 inches wide, and 8 inches high) with a
polished flat top and a polished margin around the sides of the base with balance rock
pitch. The base dimensions allowed the base to be 6 inches longer and 3 inches wider on
each end and side of the sub-base.
Thus, the total height of the memorial was a respectable 4 feet, 8 inches. The 8-inch
width for the tablet is considerably more pleasing than a 6-inch tablet.
Initially, the clients were only going to have a tablet and a base; however, upon
reflection, a sub-base was selected and the measurements of the monument were adjusted
accordingly as shown above. Obviously, the more features a monument has, the greater the
cost to the family.
To increase the impressive qualities, an upright monument with a sub-base and base were
used. A sub-base is an often overlooked memorial presentation that adds significantly to
the appearance of any memorial. Monuments may have one, two, three, or more bases.
Three inches in the front and three in the rear provided a width for the memorial that was
more aesthetically pleasing than what a two- inch front and back presentation would have
provided. Knowledge of such factors is what distinguishes the professional memorialist
from the lay purchaser. It is the responsibility of the monument builder or memorialist to
have a vision and to communicate a compelling vision to the clients.
The clients decided against the use of a vase, and the dimensions that were ultimately
selected do not allow room for a vase on either end if the base and upright monument were
to be centered. It has been our practice to discourage the use of vases on monuments. When
immediate family passes, the vases are often left empty, and it almost seems disrespectful
to have a vase and to allow it to remain empty. Future generations are less likely to
incur the expense of flowers for relatives they never knew. Thus, we feel we are saving
the clients money by discouraging the use of a vase. As in all purchases, however, it is
the clients who have the final say.
A Proper Foundation Is Essential
Since this memorial was installed in Kansas, an area known for harsh freezing weather, a
proper foundation was dug with a sufficient depth to be below the frost line. The life of
a memorial is measured by the life of the foundation upon which it is placed.
The memorial was installed according to local “tradition” where the monument
faces the road rather than the grave. I felt that the back of the memorial was so
compelling that visitors to the cemetery would have been beckoned to leave the comfort of
their vehicles to pay homage to George Ferdinand and his parents who expired previously. I
still feel that the wonderful scene and family history on the reverse of the memorial will
be less visible and will go unnoticed to many who pay their respects at the cemetery.
Should the family ever change their minds, the tablet can be reversed.
Decades from now, family and friends will have passed away, and the only lasting memory of
Mr. Ferdinand will be the written history recorded in family diaries, that do not always
survive perpetuity. The monument is a lasting memorial to George’s fascinating life.
Without the living epitaph, future generations would not have an appreciation for
George’s life that we hoped to convey. While we did not tell the reader of
George’s love for hand fishing, his essence was captured for genealogists and
historians alike who will be thankful for the extra care that was taken by the Ferdinand
family.
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