Cemetery Improvement Association Elmwood
The Morrilton Cemetery Association formed in 1919 when it purchased the cemetery from the Knights of Honor. This original Association sold lots and worked to maintain roads only. Individual plot owners were supposed to maintain their own plots or lots, as was the custom in the old days.
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The Morrilton Cemetery Improvement Association, Inc. was formed in 1980, as a separate, non-profit, association when many people ceased maintaining their plots and the cemetery was in bad shape. Mayor Gerald Laux assigned city workers to maintain the cemetery, but it was deemed not improper since the land did not belong to the city.
He sought a solution by forming a group of interested citizens, including Bob Harris (of the Morrilton Cemetery Association), Mary Laux, Jean Peck, and Billie Jean and John Henry Scroggin to form the Improvement Association The purpose was to maintain the cemetery by mowing and trimming shrubs and bushes.
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To relieve confusion and streamline the work, the two associations merged in 2019, with two Divisions: 1) Maintenance & Fundraising 2) Lot Sales/Grave location project.
All who own plots in the cemetery, as well as other family or friends are members of the Association and are encouraged to support the maintenance efforts. A mailing goes out each year in March/April to 1,350 friends and family requesting donations. The mailing raises enough to support about 10 mowings per year. Funds from an endowment account and leased land provide support for "extra" projects.
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Under the merged associations, much has been achieved: the Historic West End and Community Mausoleum both were named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2019; new roof, doors and window coverings were added to the mausoleum; two annual events have taken place for the several years, the Veterans Flag Placing event and the Mother’s Day decoration and clean-up; many of the main roads have been paved; a new sign has been placed; many of the historic markers have been repaired and cleaned; printed directories to graves have been produced; a Facebook site keeps members informed about the Cemetery.