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Page A16
JANUARY 2015
FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS
S ec t i on A
East County Mortuary
Holds Viking Send-Off
Viking ships, along with the Lyons family and decided to order
a Basic Identification Box from Matthews Caskets. Stout told
the family that they could gather for a Sunday afternoon and
spend several hours constructing their Viking ship, making this
a reality. They would then be able to spend time viewing and
saying their goodbyes to their son. After spending several days
digesting what Stout had told them in regards to viewing their
son, they realized the family needed to do this.
Milissa and Gene were so glad they had taken their time
making these decisions allowing them to have the events
happen the way they wanted them to. “Thanks to Brian
Stout for allowing us the time to make it possible and never
rushing us,” Milissa tearfully remembers, “That Sunday was
cathartic and very therapeutic. It was an avenue to honor
our son Zac in a way he would have truly appreciated. Each
family member was able to design their own shield for the
sides of the ship, with a dragons head for the front and a
tail for the back of the ship. We even created waves to make
it look like the ship was sailing on the ocean. Each family
member was able to express their unique appreciation and
love they had for Zac. The whole process was exceptional.”
On Monday, the family witnessed the cremation process and
watched their Viking ship, with son, Zac aboard, sail out to
the ocean. The arrow was shot into the air when father, Gene,
pushed the button on the retort and started the cremation.
Family members came to Stout afterwards and thanked
him for suggesting the viewing. They were so glad they did
and felt better that they were able to say goodbyes.
Brian Stout embraced and assisted the Lyons family in
making this Viking funeral a reality by truly caring and hon-
oring their wishes. Stout honored their loved one by honor-
ing them, embraced unconventional and untraditional ideas
that the family had brought with them. Expression through
creativity helped the Lyons family and continues to help
them with the re
While 5 star re
ials on the fu-
neral home webs
all initiated the
family’s contact with the firm it was Stout’s firm belief that
every family deserves the opportunity to memorialize their
loved ones that brought comfort to this family. Owner of
East County Mortuary,
Robert Zakar,
maintains his firm’s
philosophy,” whatever the family wants, if it’s legal and we
can do it, we will do it for the family.”