[Zion United Methodist Church Cemetery ]
Dedication Page
TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS
ZION UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CEMETERY
GORDONVILLE, MISSOURI
TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS
ZION UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CEMETERY
GORDONVILLE, MISSOURI
Read and compiled by
John F. Rasche
1821 Burning Tree Drive
Decatur, Illinois 62521
Inscriptions originally read
October 10, 1981
Updated to
August 15, 2002
DEDICATION
- The following dedication was used in the Centennial
Anniversary booklet celebrating the founding of Zion Methodist
Church, Gordonville, Missouri. This was celebrated on Sunday,
August 15, 1948. The words also appear appropriate for this
booklet.
- As mutual interests bind together those of like vocation in
life so the great cause of Christ binds together those of His
family whether they be of the family in heaven or of that part
still courageously bearing the cross of Christ, formerly borne
by those who now enjoy that heavenly relationship.
- In loving memory we humbly dedicate this booklet to the
memory of those who labored long and hard that we might enter
into this inheritance of today. They labored together with God
and finished their course in the faith. Their mantle now rests
upon our shoulders. May we bear it with equal distinction as
they did. "For we are laborers together with God."
FOREWORD
- This booklet contains information from tombstone
inscriptions in the Zion United Methodist Church Cemetery near
Gordonville, Missouri. The tombstones were originally read in
the period ending October 10, 1981. This booklet updates the
inscriptions through August 15, 2002. Some stones have been
replaced and when the inscriptions differed from the original,
both have been included. Some of the stones that were read in
1981 are no longer legible, but the original interpretation of
the inscriptions has been retained. Some inscriptions which were
difficult to read accurately have been corrected to reflect new
information from various sources when rechecking the inscription
indicated a change was more likely correct. All personal
information from the stones has been included, however
scriptures and verses have not been copied.
- The cemetery book kept by the cemetery committee shows the
name and location of each person buried in the cemetery. This
was used in several cases as noted to obtain a name that was not
legible. The location of each stone is shown using the
cemetery's designation. Rows are designated from A to T, with
row A being closest to the church. Following the letter is a
number, which shows the location in the row. The numbers in rows
A through R increase from 1 to about 47, from north to south
(right to left as the cemetery is faced from the church). Rows S
and T are longer than the earlier rows and are numbered from the
right edge (north edge) of the original cemetery both directions
(north and south). For example, T8N is row T and eight plots to
the north of the original northern edge of the cemetery. T8S is
also in row T, but is the eighth plot to the south of the
northern edge of the cemetery. Page numbers have not been used
since the information can readily be located using the location
designation in the index.
- All names inscribed on the tombstones have been indexed.
This includes parents' names, husband's name, maiden name (when
inscribed), and a person now living whose spouse is deceased
when both names are shown on the stone. An attempt was made to
make the index as useful as possible by cross-indexing. A
complete description of the method used precedes the index.
Information not included in the index of relationships is that
implied in double and triple tombstones. Brackets have indicated
these stones so that readers can draw their own conclusions. In
most cases these stones were used for husband and wife, and
occasionally for parents and child. Exceptions are usually
obvious in the case of brothers or sisters by the information
listed in the "Other" column. Some recent stones list the names
of children (usually only the first names) on the back of the
stone. These names of children were not included in the index,
but will be found in the "Other" column of the
inscriptions.
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