History

Woodlawn Cemetery ledger was started in 1891, making Woodlawn the oldest operating cemetery in Snohomish.  Many famous Snohomish Families are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery including one of the first families to pass during the diphtheria epidemic of 1876.  The epidemic traveled up the Snohomish River taking all 5 children of Samuel and Katherine Howe, a family that helped make Snohomish what it is today.

In 1896, Woodlawn Cemetery had it’s 1st official plat map of cemetery spaces;  throughout the years, different families and organizations owned and/or operated Woodlawn Cemetery, carving the cemetery into the 10+ acres of beautiful rolling hills you see today. 

The IOOF - Independent Order of Odd Fellows added our center drive in 1910 naming it “Fraternal Drive” in honor of the brotherhood and kindness showed to those the cemetery served. 

The Mleziva family donated our current front sign to the Cemetery and the Bauer family owned and sold the Cemetery to Norma Chapman.

Norma had 5 children and to keep them busy she would take them out to the local cemeteries to help clean headstones, mow, weed eat anything that needed to be done.  She did such a great job that cemeteries were just given to her.  In it’s hay day, the Chapman family owned, operated or maintained in upwards of 50 cemeteries.

   In 1963 The Chapman Family took over the daily care, maintenance and day to day operations of  Woodlawn Cemetery... Norma Chapman was responsible for clearing much of the property of brush, shrubs and overgrowth. 

From 1987 - 2006 Richard Chapman, youngest son of Norma, contributed the center flag poles and Memorial to those who Serve as well as the 2 Columbaria.

Today the cemetery is being run by Joseph, a 3rd Generation Chapman Family Sexton.  He was lap sitting a riding lawn mower at the age of 1, mowing the open fields on his own by age 3 and helping hand dig graves by the age of 5.  He is very skilled in his knowledge of land, soil, slope, equipment and the overall well being of a fully functional and operational cemetery.

  The Chapman Family still upholds the Congenial attitude of helping those in need as has always been believed.