This run-down fence at the Kilbride Cemetery, also known as Willow Creek Cemetery, on private property in Ritter was replaced by Faith Burnette and her family for Faith's senior project.

Faith Burnette may be new to Long Creek School — transferring from Imbler High School — but she was born just up the road on her family’s ranch near Ritter.

Burnette seized the opportunity to spruce up a small cemetery and spend time with family in Grant County for her senior project, learning some history along the way.

When she began looking for a project, her uncle, who is a Ritter Cemetery caretaker, suggested fixing up the Kilbride Cemetery.

Kilbride is located on Burnette’s great-grandmother’s ranch, about a mile east of Highway 395, the cemetery approximately three miles farther.

“I thought it was a great way to preserve history and keep the history of the cemetery going,” said 18-year-old Burnette.

Known as Willow Creek Cemetery by Burnette and her family, the 3/4-acre plot includes the marked graves of 15 people and four unmarked graves.

It’s also the final resting place of a well-known Long Creek racehorse named Pin Ears, who died in 1902 and was owned by Sherm Keeney.

Most of the people buried on the grounds died in the late 1800s or early 1900s. Her great-grandfather Fred Burnette, who died in 2012, is also buried there.

Faith Burnette said she noticed the fencing around the cemetery’s perimeter, which was likely untouched for 70 years, was run down and wasn’t withstanding the wildlife and cows roaming the ranch.

Last fall, she and 14 family members gathered for a work day, building a taller fence and topping it with barbed wire to deter deer.

“My family and I tore out the old fence. Then we put in the new one,” she said. “It stayed pretty much along the old lines, but we had to adjust it just a little bit.”

A couple gravestones that had fallen over were uprighted.

Faith Burnette said she learned the Kilbride Cemetery, established in the 1870s, was named by Margaret Hamilton (1861-1934), who was postmistress of the nearby Kilbride Post Office along the Middle Fork John Day River. “Kilbride” originates from Hamilton’s birthplace in Kilbride, Scotland.

Those buried at the Kilbride Cemetery include: Fred Burnette, William Casey, Adah Childress, William Howard, Felix Johnson Jr., Alvin Kinder, James Kinder, Martha Kinder, Francis Livingston, Henry Miller, Irene Reich, Sammie Reynolds and Jennie Reynolds.

Jacqueline Burnette said she was pleased with her great-granddaughter’s work.

“She did a great job,” Jacqueline Burnette said.

Faith Burnette said she was born near the cemetery, and plans to be buried there as well one day.

“I was glad that I was able to help,” she said. “This was a way to help my community and spend time with family.”

Kilbride is a county cemetery, on private land. To visit the cemetery or for more information, call cemetery board chairwoman Jacqueline Burnette at 541-421-3840.