Mesa County, Colorado Cemeteries [Preliminary]
This document was last modified:
Highlighted text are items that could be addressed during a cemetery project.
In conjunction with the Museum of the West Loyd Files Research Library, the Mesa County Genealogical Society is compiling a comprehensive view of Mesa County cemeteries. This page is a "work-in-progress" and all preliminary information is on one page. In the future each cemetery will have its own page. A search option will then be created.
Link to Cemetery Alphabetical List
We would like to thank, in particular, Museum of the West Loyd Files researcher Marie Tipping for her ongoing discussions over the last several years about the local cemeteries and burials so that there was a starting point to get this project up and running.
History of Mesa County and its cemeteries...
There are several Mesa County cemetery histories published in various locations. A review of these histories and a Mesa County compiled cemetery history would be a great addition to this website.
Example: Miscellaneous cemetery history notes: From the 'Journal of the Western Slope, Vol 6, No 1, Winter 1991.
"Pg 41: Cemeteries of the Lower Valley: Elmwood Cemetery, Catholic Cemetery 1 mile north of Fruita. 1881, Fruita had a designated burial ground. 1897, Grounds plotted and designated as cemeteries of the Lower Valley. 200 +/- servicemen graves in Elmwood. William Pabor - Fruita Founder buried in South Section of cemetery. Marble was from canyon north of Palisade.. Pg 42: Details of the annual cemetery clean-up.
Small cemeteries at: Appleton, Loma, Rhone and on the Highline. Many families buried their very small children on their own property, usually in an area by the side of a rosebush or just outside the parents bedroom.
Most cemeteries were uncared for plots of ground and each family was responsible for family grave care."
Many researchers have been involved with the research into the history of cemeteries and burials of Mesa County, Colorado. Since the 1970's The Museum of the West, Mesa County Genealogical Society members, local community members, local historians, and various community groups have worked to research and catalog the history and burials in Mesa County. These pages will help pull together all the research over the years into one central location. A separate page within this project could detail the efforts of some of these individuals.
Some of the MCGS Members who have worked in the past on previous cemetery projects include: Alice Devine, Phyllis George, Betty Jane Grosskopf, Wynona Hennessey, Dennis Jenkins, Dorothy Inscho, Pat & Linda Geary, Ron Halsey, Carolyn Howard, Margo Lurvey, Jay Cayton. Verna Seal, Dorothy Roper [more names to be added].
Town Company Notice, GJ News, 04 Nov 1882, Sat, pg 3
Kathy Jordan a Grand Junction historian who, unfortunately, passed away in 2013 completed much Mesa County Cemetery research. Links to some of her columns are listed below:
- 'Unearthed Headstone Leads Columnist on Trail of History Mystery'
- 'Ross Cemetery'
- 'Early-Day Cemeteries Proved Profitable to Growing Town'
- 'OM Cemetery Centerpiece of Remembrance'
- 'Potter's Field'
First Recorded Death in Mesa County
Garland - Infant of Mr. & Mrs. Garland, died in December 1881 and may have been buried in Potters' Field.
Garland Infant Obituary, GJ News, 04 Nov 1882, Sat, pg 3
Mesa County Oral History Project related to cemeteries [are there more? Can we easily link to them?]
Interviews with Craig B. Aupperle.
Colorado Historic Cemetery Association
"Purpose": To promote the preservation, interpretation and sustainability of historic cemeteries..." You can view their website here.
Cemeteries: Alphabetical List
As more details are added, each cemetery is moved to a separate webpage.
** In conjunction with the 'Colorado Cemetery Names Project' [2004], MCGS member Dennis R. Jenkins collected location data and photos of the Mesa County, Colorado cemeteries. These cemetery photographs have the following citation: 'Photo Credit: DRJ 2004'. The original project notebook can be found in the Mesa County Genealogical Society Library and includes detailed location including GPS details and Topographic map printouts.
Miscellaneous Mesa County, Colorado Online Cemetery Information
Mesa County Genealogical Society Cemetery Database (pdf file)
Interment.net Limited burial information.
USGenWeb Archives
Find a Grave
Mesa County Colorado Genweb Colorado Gravestones
Billion Graves
Cemeteries: Chronological List
Fairview (Abandoned)
1887 - ???? (history?)
Find a Grave lists "Fairview Cemetery" as Mesa-Molina. This is not the same cemetery.
There are/were two 'Fairview' cemeteries. The ownership history of this cemetery needs to be researched
Warranty Deed #8538, 19 Dec. 1889, Burroughs R Hall, County of Arapaho, Co and Alvina D Kenney of Weber Co, UT. $2,500. S 1/2 of the NW 1/4 and Lot Three (3) and the SW 1/4 of the SE 1/4. Section One (1) Township One (1)S, Range 1(1)W, Ute principal Meridian ???? fifteen (15) acres now enclosed and known a Fairview Cemetery.
Last deed for this property 1895
Ariel Biglow - age 43 - 24 Aug 1887 Buried Mr. Hall's Fairview Cemetery
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
Fair View (City of Grand Junction)
1907 - Present
Original Land Patentee, Marcus A Wheelock, 09 Feb 1891
Fairview Cemetery **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find a Grave - Fairview Cemetery
34 burials are listed on Find A Grave.
Gate Location Address: Canon St. (26 1/4 Rd), Status: Active
Directions: Take Highway 50 South from downtown Post Office to Canon St. (26 1/4 Rd) go about 1/4 mile South; Cemetery is on the left (East) side of the road.
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
Ohr Shalom Cemetery (City of Grand Junction)
???? (history?)
Ohr Shalom Cemetery **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find a Grave - Ohr Shalom Cemetery
21 burials are listed on Find A Grave as of 31 May 2022.
Gate Location Address:SE Corner of Municipal Cemetery; Also on west side of Canon St (26 1/4 Rd)
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
Orchard Mesa (Grand Junction)
1887/88 - Present
Orchard Mesa Cemetery **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find a Grave - Orchard Mesa Cemetery
Gate Location Address: 263 26 1/4 Rd
Deeds for the Orchard Mesa Cemetery are being input to a database and will be available on this website in the future. They include the name of the purchaser, date purchased, along with the Lot and Row within the cemetery.
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery (Fruita)
????
Sacred Heart - Calvary Cemetery **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Gate Location Address:17 1/2 Road about 1/2 mile North of K Road, Fruita
Directions;From roundabout in Fruita (Aspen Ave & Mesa St.) go East on Aspen about 1/4 mile to 17 1/2 Rd. Turn Left and go North about 0.9 miles. The Cemetery is on the left (West) side of the road.
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
Calvary (City of Grand Junction)
???? (need a history)
Calvary **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find a Grave - Calvary Cemetery
Gate Location Address: 280 26 1/4 Rd
Directions:Take Highway 50 South to Canon St (26 1/4 Rd). Turn South and go .04. The Entrance to the cemetery is on the left (East) side of the road.
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
Cedar Crest (Collbran)
????-???? (need a history)
Cedar Crest Cemetery and Access Road - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
You can search for burials and tombstone photographs at Find a Grave.
Some burials not listed in Find a Grave are located at Billion Graves.
Gate Location Address: About 15716 - 58.85 Rd, Collbran
Directions: Take Hwy 330 East to 59.5 Rd; go about 0.4 miles South on 59.5 Rd to 58.85 Rd; Turn East and go North up the hill for about 0.15 miles to the cemetery.
Row lists have been provided by former MCGS member Margo Lurvey. Will be reconciled with Find a Grave database. Cemetery plot map would be helpful.
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
Clover (Collbran)
???? (need a history)
Clover Cemetery - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find a Grave - Clover Cemetery
You can search for burials and tombstone photographs at Find a Grave.
Gate Location Address:60571 Clover Lane, Collbran
Directions:From Collbran Post Office go North across Plateau Creek Bridge,; Turn right (East) and take Peninsula Rd to cemetery at Clover Lane. (About 2.5 miles from P.O. to cemetery).
Row lists have been provided by former MCGS member Margo Lurvey. Will be reconciled with Find a Grave database. Cemetery plot map would be helpful.
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
Crown Point Veterans (Appleton)
1896
Crown Point Veterans Cemetery - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find a Grave - Crown Point Cemetery.
Additional information on this cemetery can be found here including individuals buried, tombstone photographs and an article on the cemetery history.
Gate Location Address: Intersection of I.5 Rd and 23.5 Rd
Directions: From exit 24 on I-70 take 24 Rd North about 2 miles to I.5 Rd, then go West 0.5 miles to the cemetery.
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
De Beque
????-???? (need a history)
De Beque Cemetery - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find a Grave - DeBeque Cemetery.
Gate Location Address: 9th St next to 45 Rd and W.5 Rd, De Beque
Directions: From De Beque PO go North on Minter Ave about 0.3 miles to 45 Rd. Cemetery is just to NE with 45 Rd on the west side & W.5 Rd on the South side of the cemetery.
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
Elmwood (Fruita)
1895/96 - ????
Elmwood - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find A Grave - Elmwood Cemetery.
Gate Location Address: 17 1/4 Rd (just south of K 3/4 Rd), Fruita
Directions: From City of Fruita round-a-bout at Aspen Ave and Mesa St. go North on N. Mesa St (17 3/4 Rd) for about 1 Miles. Cemetery is on left (West) side of the street.
From The Fruita Times, Volume 65, Number 40 - Thursday, October 15, 1959
"Elmwood Cemetery - People had been settling in Fruita and the Valley around it since at least 1884, but it did not have, ten years later, a burying ground. Mr. Merriell started working on this and the Elmwood Cemetery Association was formed, incorporated and in 1895 bought 40 acres out Mesa Avenue, a mile north of town. This was an ideal site, on a low mesa, high enough to be well drained, with soil better than the river bottom land, and today has the making of a beautiful cemetery and in it can be read the record of early Fruita families."
There is a brief mention of the Elmwood Cemetery in this article by Kathy Jordan (The Daily Sentinel, 21 May 2010).
Elmwood Cemetery History continued from above article.
Loyd Files Research Library also holds a few newspaper articles about the Elmwood Cemetery and they will be added here in the near future.
Mesa County Public Library Regional History Room holds the following volume: 'Gravestone Inscriptions of Western Colorado, Elmwood by John William Lynn. The catalog listing can be found here. This volume gives the Section/Row number for each burial up to the publication date.
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
Gateway (La Fair ?)
???? (need additional details)
Is this where the graves are located in Gateway???
Written by Jean Moores, 1998: "Records indicate there are five to seven graves in a graveyard on top of the hill across West Creek from the Gateway School. This cemetery was only used a few times in the early 1900's. It is located on private property now owned by Jack and Rosemary Casto. The first person known to be buried was in 1900, the last in 1940. The Museum of Western Colorado kindly shared this information."
Current Status: Inactive
**need more information on this cemetery.Directions: At Whitewater on Highway 50 turn South on Highway 141 to Gateway.
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
Glade Park
???? (need history)
Glade Park Cemetery - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find A Grave - Glade Park Cemetery.
Gate Location Address: Cemetery Lane off 16 1/2 Rd. North of Glade Park Store
Directions: Use Little Park Road or Monument Road to Glade Park Store. At DS Road or 16 1/2 Rd go North on from store about 1 mile to Cemetery Lane (also called 'Private Road' but is accessible). Turn right and head East about 0.1 mile. Cemetery is on Right (South) side of road.
Possible burials from 'A Glade Park History Remembered' by Albert Ozbun, published: 1883, 1889, 1995.
There are 145 burials listed on Find a Grave for this cemetery, however many of the burials on this list do not appear.
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
I.O.O.F. (City of Grand Junction I.O.O.F.)
???? (need history)
I.O.O.F. Cemetery (Grand Junction) **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find A Grave - I.O.O.F. Cemetery.
Gate Location Address: B 3/4 Rd just West of the Masonic Cemetery
Directions: From Highway 50 South of Grand Junction P.O. turn South on Canon Road (26 1/4 Rd). Go South about 0.4 miles to B 3/4 Rd. Go West past Masonic Cemetery about 0.1 mile. IOOF Cemetery is on the left (South) side of road.
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
Isolated Graves
Need far more information!
On City of Grand Junction Property
There are two above ground vaults enclosed by stone masonry wall & located on Hillside.
Massey Cemetery?
Two miles northeast of Gateway on private ground there may be a grave of twin boys who died at birth in the 1920, on the old Massey home-place. Buried under a tree. Inactive. **Note included with 'Colorado Cemetery Names Project' "Possible Oscar Massey has information on these graves" 2004
Gateway Area
George Crawford Grave Site
George Crawford grave site - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Founder of Grand Junction, Colorado
Find A Grave Although Find A Grave includes a link to a short biography of George Addison Crawford the link is no longer valid, however you can find the biography at the Internet Archives here.
Grave site location: SE corner of Orchard Mesa Cemetery at 26 1/4 Rd
Directions: From Highway 50, go South on Canon St (26 1/4 Rd) to SE comer of Orchard Mesa Cemetery. A short hike up hillside to grave site.
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
Little Park Cemetery
Little Park Cemetery - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find a Grave - Little Park Cemetery.
3 burials are listed on Find a Grave.
- Charles James Redd
- George Wesley Yates
- and Henrietta Imogene Lawrence Yates.
Gate Location Address:CS Road (about 7.9 miles SW of CS Rd and Redlands Rd.
Directions: Access is through private property. From Highway 340 take D Rd. onto Redlands Rd, about 1 mile to CS Rd. (Little Park Rd.), turn right (West) and go about 7.9 miles to Cedar fence around small enclosed cemetery on left (South) side of the road.
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
Masonic (Grand Junction Masonic)
1891...????
Masonic Cemetery- **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find a Grave - Masonic Cemetery.
Gate Location Address: 269 26 1/4 Rd
Directions: From Highway 50 turn South on Canon Street (26 1/4 Rd) about 0.14 miles to intersection of Canon St. and B 3/4 Rd. The cemetery is on the right on the SW corner of the intersection,
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
Memorial Gardens (Grand Junction)
????
Memorial Garden Cemetery - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find a Grave - Memorial Gardens.
Gate Location Address 2970 North Ave.
Directions: From Grand Junction PO go East to 5th St., then go North about 0.6 miles to North Ave. Turn Right (East) and go about 3.5 miles (past 29 1/2 Rd) to 2970 North Ave. The cemetery is on the North side of North Ave.
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
Mesa Cemetery (Mesa)
1912 - ????
Mesa Cemetery - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Gate Location Address: 50050 KE Road, Mesa
Directions: From Mesa, Co Post Office t Highway 65 & KE Road go East on KE Road about 1.1 mile to cemetery (entrance on East side of cemetery.
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
Molina (Vega)
1894 - Present
Molina Cemetery - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Gate Location Address: 53044 KE Rd, Molina
Directions: From Molina P.O. go about 0.1 miles west on KE Rd to cemetery which is located on right (North) side of the road across from the Molina Baptist Church.
Notes from former MCGS Member Margo Lurvey: [These names are not included in Find A Grave or Billion Graves]:
- Mrs. Bear (Row 4) - dates gone
- Mrs. Henry Hall 1894 - ????, (east of cemetery outside of fence)
- Leo B Hassle, 01 Sep 1895 - 1954 (Row 3)
- Mary Wallace (Row 3) dates missing
- Mr. D. Walker died 1896 (Row 3) - Martin's Mortuary [tombstone photo on Find a Grave lists Mr. Walker]
A plot map of this cemetery would be helpful. The location and photographs of the tombstones for the above burials could be added to Find a Grave as part of the cemetery project.
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
Municipal (Grand Junction) Includes: Cremation Gardens and Memorial Forest
????
Municipal Cemetery and Cremation Gardens - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find a Grave - Municipal Cemetery.
Gate Location Address: 291 26 1/4 Rd
Directions: Take Highway 50 South to Canon St (26 1/4 Rd). Turn South and go a short distance. The Entrance to the cemetery is on the right side (North) of the road.
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
Palisade Municipal
????
Palisade Cemetery- **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find a Grave - Palisade Cemetery.
Gate Location Address: About 3529 Highway 6
Directions: From Palisade P.O. go South 0.3 miles to US Highway 6 and turn right (West). Go about 2.5 miles to the cemetery which is on the South side of the road.
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
Veterans' Cemetery (Grand Junction)
????
Veterans Cemetery- **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find a Grave - Veterans Cemetery
Gate Location Address: B 3/4 Rd
Directions: From Highway 50 South of Grand Junction P.O. turn South on Canon Road (26 1/4 Rd). Go West past IOOF Cemetery about 0.2 mile. Cemetery is on the left (South) side of road.
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
Veterans' Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado (Federal)
????
Veterans Cemetery- **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Gate Location: 2830 D Road.
Directions: From Grand Junction Post Office go South to Atkin Ave, East to 9th St, South to D Road, then East on D Road about 1.8 miles to Cemetery. Cemetery is located on left (North) side of the road.
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
Whitewater
1887/88 - ?????
Whitewater Cemetery - **Photo Credit: DRJ 2004
Find a Grave - Whitewater Cemetery
Gate Location Address: Cemetery Road of Reeder Rd., Whitewater
Directions:From 1st St & Highway 50 in Whitewater for about 1/4 mile South on Highway 50 to Reeder Rd. Go 0.3 miles East on Reeder Rd to Cemetery Rd. Turn South and go about 0.55 miles to cemetery gate.
Back to Cemetery Alphabetical List
Mesa County Genealogical Society is a member of the Colorado Council of Genealogical Societies (CCGS) and the National Genealogical Society (NGS). The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) was merged with the NGS in the summer of 2019.
