Memorial Stones

Better Headstones was created to allow online ordering of high quality, yet
affordable, hand crafted flat grave markers. Larger grave markers such as base and
dyes, slants, and beveled formats, as well as monuaments of all types and business
signs, are featured on our company website (PioneerRock.com).

Our Story
Pioneer Rock and Monument is a family business specializing in custom designed
headstones and grave markers. "We take pride in fine art designs, affordable prices
and caring service." We make each stone one at a time, with love. Dealing with the
passing of a loved one is always hard. We just hope that we can help a little by
making the process of marking a grave a little easier by treating customers with
love, respect and friendliness.
Pioneer Rock and Monument has been in business since 1985. We opened the
business out of our garage, and saw a steady stream of orders. In 2002 the business
moved into a new 2000 square foot shop, better able to handle the increasing
business. In 2004 our son Ben joined the team. In 2007 we began selling stones
through the Internet. Since then we've shipped headstones to three countries and
forty-eight states. In 2011 our grandson Nick began learning the trade, making
Pioneer Rock and Monument a family business consisting of three generations.
Most monument shops are retailers, and do not manufacture the stones
themselves. At Pioneer Rock and Monument, on the other hand, we make each
stone in our own shop.
Our shop is located in Goldendale, Washington, about 2 hours east of Portland,
Oregon. We have had customers drive from as far north as Alaska, as far east as
South Dakota and as far south as Las Vegas in order to purchase a stone from us.

Selecting Headstones: Shapes and Sizes
Headstones range in types and sizes from simple, flat markers (sometimes called
grass markers) up through large monuments. There are several common shapes and
each shape comes in a variety of sizes and colors.
Flat Markers are designed so the top surface of the stone is installed flat with the grass.
These markers come in various sizes ranging from 8 inches by 16 inches up through
12 inches by 48 inches. The 3rd dimension listed on these markers is the thickness,
usually 3 or 4 inches thick. So: 8x16x4 means 8 inches tall, 16 inches wide, 4 inches
thick.
Beveled Markers have a slanted face making them easier to read and usually sit on top
of a stone base. The bevel can also just be set on a cement pad.
Slanted Markers stand up, with a polished sloping front face. The back is vertical and
unpolished, though can be polished at additional cost. The formal inscription is placed
on the polished sloping face. It is also common to put a limited inscription, say a last
name, on the back of the stone at additional cost. Because the stone is sloped, it sheds
water better and needs less long-term maintenance. These markers have an optional
matched stone base. When a stone base is not used, concrete is used instead.
Monuments stand vertical and also come with matched stone bases. Inscriptions can
be placed on both sides of a monument. Typically there is a front with a detailed
design and then the back is more limited with at least a last name.

Colors
The precise color and grain of the stone is determined by the quarry where the stone
originates. Most common colors are available from different quarries, and so they are
given common names like gray. Specific inventory includes an additional name, like
Georgia Gray, Morning Rose, Imperial Red, and Nero Black as shown here, though
these colors are generally substituted. More exotic colors like Cat's Eye, Tropical
Green and Blue Perl come from limited quarries and identify a narrowly available
stone.
There is always slight variation in specific stones because of variation in the natural
grain of the stone. Black is a particularly interesting color because when polished it
becomes highly reflective, giving a stunning final presentation. This effect is
particularly noticeable on larger stones. On dark stones like black, blue, green and
red, designs are often frosted to provide a light background for black lettering or, at
times, all the lettering is done in white.

Understanding Basic Designs
Headstones used to be carved by hand using a chisel and mallet. In those days it took
time to carve each letter, so headstone carvers billed per letter, so customers wanted
the fewest possible letters. This caused many headstones to be carved with a name
and dates and nothing else. Of course these days all the lettering is done at once, so it
does not matter how many letters make up the design. This history, though, leads to a
popular headstone with 4 lines of inscription. In our catalog this basic 4 line design is
called Plain Jane. Variations on this theme form our "Classic" series of designs. As
carving became easier the basic names and dates designs were augmented with catchy
phrases. Those phrases themselves have a name and are called "Epithets." "In Loving
Memory" and "Rest In Peace" are examples of common epithets. Most standard
headstone designs now include room for epithets at the top and bottom of the stone,
bringing the total number of inscription lines to six.

For more information please visit
http://www.betterheadstones.com