Submitted by Thurston County REALTORS Association
Members of the Thurston County REALTORS Association (TCRA) were recognized for their work to restore and preserve the Mima Prairie Pioneer Cemetery at the Thurston County Board of Commissioners weekly meeting on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 in Olympia, Wash. The Commissioners presented a plaque of appreciation to Realtors on behalf of the Thurston County Public Works/Parks and Trails division.
The Realtors have made their care of the historic cemetery an annual project for the last six years, with scores of Association members volunteering their personal equipment, time and muscle in the old orchard where some of the area’s first settlers are buried.
“This group comes out in force and works to clear brush and downed trees, mow the tall grass and even clean the headstones,” Thurston County Parks and Maintenance Manager Kerry Hibdon described at the Commissioners’ meeting. “Although the sight doesn’t see thousands of visitors each year, the people who do visit to respect and honor their loved ones really feel this is important work and, so do we. They do a fantastic job and we would like to thank them.”
Thurston County Realtors Association President Rae Anne Toth represented the Realtors at the Board of Commissioners meeting.
“We greatly appreciate the recognition for our effort,” said Rae Anne. “Ed Kunkel, Jr. was our ‘Community Days’ chair this year and organized more than a hundred volunteers. Some members worked at the Mima cemetery and others cleaned up the outside of local seniors’ homes who have a hard time taking care of it all themselves. In the past, Realtors have also painted over graffiti in downtown Olympia. We are happy each year to do our part in the community that we feel offers a quality of life that you don’t see everywhere.”
The Mima Prairie Pioneer Cemetery is located in the middle of Weyerhaeuser land in southwest Thurston County. In 1869, John and Polly Laws deeded the property to Thurston County for the expressed purpose of a cemetery. Some of the area’s earliest pioneers are buried there including “Uncle Billie” Packwood, a local legend whose name is on many locations and landmarks in the area, including the Lewis County town of Packwood.
Thurston County REALTORS Association with its more than 600 REALTOR members provides professional real estate services to buyers and sellers and has been committed to protecting property rights and preserving the quality of life in Thurston County for more than 90 years.
