Durrett Parten, 67, a longtime resident of Killeen, was anxiously awaiting to be buried next to his family members in Killeen City Cemetery when he finally passes. When he recently called to buy a plot next to his parents, however, he was surprised to learn that the cemetery had no more plots to sell.
“I had always planned to be buried in Killeen City Cemetery. Both of my parents are there and many of my relatives are buried there,” Parten said on Wednesday. “I was trying to plan my will and funeral expenses ahead of time so my kids wouldn’t have to do so much. Once I made that call, I was like ‘whoa, this is a roadblock,’” he said.
The city confirmed Monday that all plots available at Killeen City Cemetery, 2408, avenue E. Rancierhave been sold.
According to city officials, Killeen City Cemetery sits on 51 acres of land. Only 29 acres are used for the 10,000 plot burial grounds. The other 22 acres of land are used for roads and walkways, a funeral pavilion, a maintenance building and the main office.
According to the town’s website, the cemetery originally began as a family cemetery in 1856. The town of Killeen took over the cemetery in 1950. The cemetery serves as the final resting place for approximately 10,000 people, and the 500 remaining plots have been sold, according to the city.
City officials said there are other cemeteries in Killeen, which are not owned by the city, that residents can use.
“Within the city limits of Killeen is the Central Texas Veterans Cemetery or Killeen Memorial Park. Residents can purchase any available cemetery plots as they see fit,” city spokeswoman Janell Ford said.
Spaces for trees and plaques under the city’s Living Tree Program are still available at the city cemetery as well as other locations around the city.
Killeen Memorial Park, at 3516 Lake Rd., is operated by Heritage Funeral Home. Heritage and Killeen Memorial Park are owned by the same parent company, Letum, according to Heritage employees.
Parten is still looking for his final resting place, and one thing he said he is also considering is price.
The city cemetery plots cost about $1,000 each for resident adults, but Partem said he had trouble finding other plots at that price.
