It’s A Matter Of Grave Concern Misplaced Tombstone Baffles Cops

Francis Pearl Eyman was only 16 years old when she died in 1903.

The question is: Where was she buried?

Coeur d’Alene police would like to know. They’ve had her tombstone for the past two years.

“It would be nice to return it,” said Dale Loper, the Police Department’s property officer.

The stone reads:

Francis Pearl (daughter) of G.M. & Alpha Eyman

Born Oct. 14, 1886

Died Mar. 27, 1903

She has gone from us forever

Longer here she might not stay

She has reached a fairer region

Far away far away

The wayward grave marker’s original resting place has become a mystery.

The white marble headstone, with its age-cracked surface and finely carved roses, was turned in to police in July 1995 after it turned up in an abandoned house on Best Avenue.

This is not the first time police have seen tombstone vandalism.

“Generally they just tip them over in the graveyard,” Loper said. “But we haven’t ever had one brought in.”

After all, this death stone weighs about 100 pounds.

When the grave marker first turned up, Loper called several local cemeteries and even tried looking up people with the same last name. No luck.

The headstone since has sat in the police department’s evidence room along with hundreds of other items turned in or confiscated by police.

Loper recently came upon the marble marker as he was preparing for this year’s auction. Items not claimed by the public are auctioned off annually.

But the tombstone “isn’t something we would auction off.”

Instead, Loper hopes that a little publicity might catch the eye of someone who recognizes the name of a long-dead relative.

Anyone with information on the lost tombstone should call (208) 769-2260.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo