West Hills Memorial Park — Local services in Ahtanum

My parents purchased their burial plots in the 1980's or 1990's at West Hills Memorial Park in Yakima because of its beauty, the fact that my father’s parents were buried there, and my parents grew up near there. After my father passed away earlier this year my mother and I met with the West Hills Memorial Park family service counselor Brandon Homer in approximately the beginning of April. After making arrangements to purchase an urn and a containment box for the urn we were shown different styles of headstones. Brandon also took us up to show us where mom and dad’s burial plots were located. When we arrived at the site I noticed that dads plot had someone else's headstone on it. My mother was very upset. Brandon said that it was just probably in the wrong location and it would be moved. I would hope that West Hills would call that persons family before moving the headstone.

Brandon then laid out an example of what style of headstone my mother would prefer using her input. Upon giving us a price quote of $6300.00 for the headstone my mother decided she wanting to think about it and was not going to purchase the headstone on that day. Brandon replied "I don't understand I'm giving you everything you asked for". My mother repeatedly told him she was not making the headstone purchase that day. She then proceeded to ask Brandon if she could purchase a headstone elsewhere to place at West Hills. Brandon said we could do that and pay West Hills a setting or installation fee. A short time after this my mother’s sister had visited Lower Valley Memorial Gardens in Sunnyside to go to my mother and her sister’s parent’s gravesite. She then stopped and talked to Tim Morris at the Service building and he said that he takes orders and delivers headstones to several cemeteries in the area.

We then met with Tim Morris in approximately late June and looked at his selections and mom decided to purchase the headstone through him. Tim also called West Hills and got a quote of approximately 57 cents per square inch to set the headstone. On October 5th 2017 Tim Morris called Brandon at West Hills to deliver the finished headstone. Brandon told him you are not bringing that piece of junk here until the Calahan's pay the setting fee. Brandon called and left me a voice message about needing to talk to me about the setting fee that same day. I returned his call and he needed to know the size of the headstone. I told him the size but he said that Tim Morris had told him a slightly different size. So Brandon then told me he would call Tim after our call and get the actual size and then call me back immediately. Since then Mr. Homer has not answered or returned calls to the headstone manufacturer or the family of Mr. Everett Calahan who was buried at West Hills in April 2017. We could never understand how a Cemetery employee could treat any family in this manner. Let alone leaving disparaging remarks on the headstone manufacturers Facebook page. Beautiful Cemetery but a very poor Family Service Counselor. Our Families deserve...

Hi, earlier this year my mother passed away. Fortunately my mom had made prearrangement's with West Hills Memorial Park. After my sister and I set down with Keith n Keith our next stop was West Hills. We were greeted by Victoria. Victoria was very kind and caring in explaining the prearrangement's that my mom had selected a long time ago. We realized that when my mom had set things up, with inflation now, there would be additional costs. These cost were not as much as I had figured they would be. I learned that requesting a grave side service/ceremony on a weekend (Sat.) meant staff would have to come in and work overtime. To the staff that did so, thank you very much. If anyone has been to West Hills they would know that the wind blows often across the grounds out there. My mom's grave site is 150' from the paved road on the grounds. My dad would need a wheelchair (plus others that had mobility issues) to get clear over to the grave site. I asked Victoria if it would be possible to set up in front of the Wall that is up higher and along the road on the south side. (seeing as how this might be a special request that doesn't get asked to often) This wall has a paved walkway to it from the driveway and would make wheelchair access much easier, not to mention those that were using a cane or walker to attend. Victoria told me that she needed to check with staff and the grounds crew to see if this would be possible. I was pleased to learn that we were given permission to be set up in front of that Wall. To the staff and grounds crew thank you very much for allowing this. It was a sunny but chilly (with some wind) Feb day when we had the ceremony for my mom. The Wall did help to shield us from most of the wind! Once again I appreciate Victoria and the staff for considering my request and granting it. Thank you, Ron

Oct, 9th 2023, I called the West Hills office and Monica answered the phone. I explained the situation concerning an issue. Monica said she would go and take a look and get back to me. In less than an hour I heard back from her. Monica had resolved the issue and texted me a picture showing the resolution. Monica, I appreciate the quick response and fix. Thank you for the customer service that day...

In March of 2016 the love of my life passed very young. We grew up in west valley so it was nice that the family decided to have his urn placed at west hills. There was some differences in the family between myself and them however Brandon was amazing. He was so good to me. I met with Brandon several times and he spent many hours talking to me and he had other things to do I’m sure. I purchased the rights to the plot next to my partners after the family decided they didn’t want it. Since Brandon has left and the new family coordinator I have met with him as well he is extremely kind. They have all been super kind to me in the winter when the snow was really deep I went and asked if they would make sure I could get to the niche wall even if I needed to shovel it out as long as the tractor didn’t plow the snow in front of the sidewalk. He plowed the whole area for me so I could walk right to where his niche is they have been very good to me and I am very thankful for them. I would recommend them to anyone they have treated me very well through some extremely hard times. Thank you west hills for all you have...