A Visit to Glen Haven Memorial Park

We've spent the last few days relaxing in the High Sierras. It was especially good to get away this particular year and spend time in the great outdoors.

I hope to post some photos from the trip soon, including an interesting visit to a key location from John Wayne's NORTH TO ALASKA (1960).

First, though, I'd like to share photos from a detour we made on the way home to Glen Haven Memorial Park in Sylmar, California. We followed a winding three-and-a-half-mile road to visit this relatively isolated cemetery, seen above.

We were particularly inspired to visit due to last week's centennial of a favorite actress, Ella Raines. During our trip I read a very interesting interview with Raines' daughter Christina. It was moving to be able to pay our respects. I love the trees on this marker, which are perhaps a reminder of Raines' outdoorsy childhood in Washington State.

It was also especially moving for me to visit the final resting place of dancer Vera-Ellen, a longtime favorite in many musicals, most especially WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954). Her daughter Victoria, who died in infancy, is buried next to her in an unmarked grave.

Jeffrey Hunter is another very special actor; I've liked him in many things, including PRINCESS OF THE NILE (1954), A KISS BEFORE DYING (1956), SERGEANT RUTLEDGE (1960), and THE LONGEST DAY (1962), but for me his key film is the great American classic THE SEARCHERS (1956).

Jeffrey Hunter left us far too soon, just a few weeks after marrying Emily McLaughlin, beloved to fans of GENERAL HOSPITAL for her long-running role as Nurse Jessie Brewer. She is buried next to her husband.

Oscar-nominated composer-arranger Jerry Fielding is also at Glen Haven:

Rose Marie from THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW is there as well, next to her husband. I was fortunate to see her at a celebration of the series at the Egyptian Theatre in 2011.

Harry Cording was a busy working bit player in many movies, especially adventure films and Westerns, including playing Dickon in THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938).

As can be gleaned from the photos, this cemetery is unfortunately in poorly maintained condition. We were glad we had GPS assistance for some of the sites, as many of the lot markers were too faded to read.

Hopefully there will be better days ahead for this location in the future. It was an honor to be able to visit and pay our respects to several people whose work has given us enormous joy.

Additional photo posts on the final resting places of historic Hollywood figures: A Visit to Forest Lawn Glendale, Part 1, A Visit to Forest Lawn Glendale, Part 2, A Visit to the Forest Lawn Museum, A Visit to Hollywood Forever Cemetery (2014), A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - The Musicians, A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - The Comedians, A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - The Actors, A Visit to Westwood Village Memorial Park - Writers, Directors, and More, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 1, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 2, A Visit to Holy Cross Cemetery, Part 3, A Visit to Desert Memorial Park, Los Angeles National Cemetery, A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 1, A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 2, A Visit to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Part 3, A Visit to Forest Lawn Cathedral City, A Visit to Oakwood Memorial Park, A Visit to Hillside Memorial Park, Part 1, A Visit to Hillside Memorial Park, Part 2, A Visit to Hollywood Forever Cemetery (2019), A Visit to Woodlawn Cemetery, A Visit to Valley Oaks Memorial Park, A Visit to Valhalla Cemetery, and A Visit to Pacific View Memorial Park.