BRAD HORN/Nevada Appeal Sexton Dave Stultz sprays an anti-seeding chemical on the grounds of the Lone Mountain Cemetery on Wednesday. Schultz plans on retiring in July.
For Dave Stultz, being sexton of Lone Mountain Cemetery is more than just a maintenance job; he feels he is truly caring for the community's families.
"This job, to me, was more of helping someone at the worst time of their life," Stultz said. "It was kind of an honor."
Stultz, 51, who has been sexton of the cemetery for the past 16 years, recently announced his retirement.
Prior to being sexton of the cemetery, he had worked for the Carson City Parks and Recreation Department for 12 years. The cemetery is a division of the parks and rec department.
There are a lot of duties involved with Stultz's job at 1044 Beverly Drive. They include maintenance of the 42-acre grounds, including weeding, mowing and fertilizing, mapping and layout of new sections, selling plots to families, burials and lots of paperwork.
"This year we were given parks north of the cemetery to take care of," Stultz said. "We also take care of the Carson City Senior Citizens Center and the health and wellness buildings just south of the senior center.
"But the foremost of these has been working with families who are mourning. I have enjoyed helping them."
Some people might find working in a cemetery spooky or creepy, Stultz is not one of them.
"We did have people who were like ghost hunters come through here recently and say there were ghosts," he said. "But the pictures they showed (with apparitions) looked to me like a drop of water on the camera lens.
"I'm not going to believe there's a ghost until I actually see a ghost."
Some of his most memorable moments at the cemetery include the special events held there, like the Memorial Day service and rededication of the Civil War statue, which was recently refurbished.
"And, getting the cemetery off the 'eyesore' list," Stultz added. "That was the biggest thing."
He credits Ken Fraser, Betty Denison, Tim Glancy and Cindy Southerland for their work, as well as his wife, Dina.
Stultz's last day on the job will be July 1. He said he has received an offer for a seasonal job at Thunder Canyon Golf Club in Washoe Valley, but priorities lie with his family.
Stultz also plans on doing other things he enjoys, like fishing, hunting, riding his Harley-Davidson and golfing.
He'll also spend time with his family - his wife of 23 years, Dina, and sons Jason, 21, and Sean, 17.
"The people, the families I've served, I'll remember. And the mayor and the supervisors - they've made sure we've had the money to take care of the cemetery. They've been very generous.
"It's been a great job and good experience."
• Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.