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 Preneed Decision Making Provides For Better Decision Making;
Select A Cemetery That Is Consistent With Your Values
Preneed decision making is essential, and the honorable, loving thing to do. After burial, the only options are to either accept the rules, or to incur the expense and anguish of disinterment and relocation to either a different part of the cemetery, or to a new cemetery all together.
This widow from a long-term happy marriage was devastated when her husband passed away suddenly of heart problems. Mr. Raney was a pastor for more than 25 years. He flew small airplanes as a hobby. On more than one occasion, families have contacted us with disappointment over the decisions they made at the time of burial.
If memorialization is important to your family, and increasingly it is, then you need to give thought to the type of memorialization you desire. Cemeteries with flat markers will not allow you to violate their numerous rules, so know what you are getting into at the time you purchase the family plots.
Creativity Can Be Achieved Even With Flat Memorial Markers
Our solution for memorialization, limited as it was by the mandated restrictions of the cemetery, was to use symbols to communicate the virtuous Christian life of Mrs. Raney’s beloved husband. We recommended a small porcelain photograph, and also a porcelain that would contain the family history; both insert flush with the face of the granite marker as a solution. The porcelain could easily hold a large quantity of words that would be clearly readable to future generations who might wish to honor the family with a graveside visit. Certainly, both larger and smaller porcelain plaques are available for purchase.
Symbols of the church and a plane were other options for consideration, but edited words offer the clarity that will speak volumes to future generations. Families can speak to future generations through carefully crafted memorialization instructions on such topics as family history, the life lived, and moral tenets recommended for living a good and honorable life.
The Life Story Was Memorialized Using A Porcelain Plaque
Everyone has a life story that should be memorialized in some manner, and that life story should be permanently attached to the memorial, perhaps through porcelain as one possible solution.
Our final product, produced after numerous edits, may be found below. I am confident that you will agree with me that this gives future generations a great deal of information to appreciate how this family dedicated their lives to Christ, founded a church at great personal sacrifice, and left a legacy that truly deserves to be memorialized as we have successfully done.
Kenneth & Myrna Smith Raney
Kenneth and Myrna Smith Raney were married on July 20, 1966 in Terre Haute, Indiana. We are of the apostolic faith and we were baptized in Jesus’ Name, according to Acts 2:38.
Kenneth was pastor in Linton, and he also worked for New York Life Insurance. He was a top salesman and won many trips for us to beautiful places.
We raised a family and 16 foster children on 40 acres in Linton, Indiana. Our children, Linda, Larry, Danny, and Kimberly, preceded us in death. Our living children are: Sherry, Rusty, Randy, Lana, Joseph and Stephen. In 1978, we resigned from the church in Indiana and moved to Valdosta with the intentions of starting a new church.
In 1979 we designed, built and founded the Jesus Name Apostolic Church on Highway 41 North in Valdosta. As pastor and pastor’s wife, there was hard work, sacrifice, and struggles to founding a new church.
To support and sponsor the church, we worked together in upholstery for 15 years, and Kenneth also worked for Life and Casualty Insurance. We were missionaries to the Philippines in 1977, 1993, and 2003.
Kenneth became a licensed private pilot. Flying together in our twin-engine Cessna was a passion fulfilled. Kenneth was a strong courageous man and a lover of the word of God. Kenneth held his profession of faith without wavering.
I attended Valdosta Tech and received a diploma in 1999, in Printing and Graphic Arts, graduating with honors. I enjoy oil painting, photography, and designing websites.
We had many happy times together. We were meant for each other and God put us together.
Myrna Smith Raney
September 2005
 Life Story Creativity
We used the “Poor Richard” font as it allowed for more type in a smaller space than Times New Roman. Plus, it offered a different look that allowed us to be more creative. We used a 14 point font, as this was more readable than smaller fonts.
By my count, we used 277 words. This is a glorious example that will give comfort to not only Mrs. Raney, but also her children and relatives who will visit the memorial in the future.
We worked tirelessly with our editorial staff, with numerous drafts, to get the text just right for ultimate client satisfaction. After all, that is our job. When it was finalized, Mrs. Raney gave us a great compliment by stating, “Thank you for your patience in working with me to create a fine memorial that includes our family history.”
As you can see from the picture of the memorial, we produced a monument that is personal, informative, and a true memorial that competently tells the family story. You should settle for nothing less.
Click here to view our Memorial Accessories.
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