Yesterday was the first day in 2010 that I got out to the cemeteries to do some grave hunting. The weather was in the mid 50s,  it was sunny, and no clouds seen for miles on end.

The first goal for yesterday was to cruise over to Detroit Memorial Park East on 13 Mile Road about two blocks east of Ryan Rd. I didn’t do any hunting there being that I planned on going to White Chapel later in the day. What I did do at Detroit Memorial Park was to get the locations of six African-American notables which primarily consisted of R&B singers/musicians from the Motown era, and an inventor.

One thing I’d like to mention about Detroit Memorial Park East was that I really enjoyed my visit to the office. I had a very enjoyable experience dealing with the office staff. This one woman (I never got her name) was a delight to deal with as  she was very friendly, and a joy to talk with.

She seemed interested in what I was researching. Being that a lot of the names I was inquiring about to get plot locations. Were fairly well-known. So I briefly talk about that it was a pass time of mine to track down the grave sites of notables because it has to do with history.  So I’ll be going back later this week or next week to do some hunting.

Next on yesterdays docket was to trek over to White Chapel cemetery on Long Lake Rd/18 Mile Rd.  The graves I found in the cemetery were spread out in a circular formation through the cemetery. So I was able to find one after the other bada bing bada boom.

The first grave I found. Located in Sec: G-2 Lot/grave: 4775 was John DeLorean. He was the creator of the DeLoren DMC-12 automobile. This vehicle made famous for being the vehicle used in the “Back To The Future” film series starring Michael J. Fox.

After getting some video footage and taking some photos which included several artistic shots of the DeLorean marker. I cruised over to The Garden of Prayer area of the cemetery. Located in Sec: C Grave: 275  are the cremains of Mauri Rose. He was a three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 in 1941, 1947, & 1948.

Heading back towards the cemetery entrance. In Sec: B lot/grave: 1207 Space: 2 several yards from the WWI Polar bear monument I found Brace Beemer. Brace was the third radio actor to portray The Lone Ranger character on “The Long Ranger” radio show.

Closing out the day in Sec: E Lot/grave: 607  I found the grave site of local radio personality Joseph Priestly “J.P.” McCarthy. Winner of many awards, and named radio personality of the year over four times, not to mention one of the most recognizable voices on the radio in the Great Lakes died tragically from a rare blood disease.