History of Mt. Calvary
Catholic Cemetery

The original location of Mount Calvary Cemetery was on Biehn Street where it intersects with Lakeport Blvd. The parcel of land is currently occupied by the Klamath Eye Center. The actual established date of the cemetery is unknown; however, the earliest known burial was in 1916. The diagram to the right displays that location.

  • November 1932 - first two plots at the new cemetery were sold.

  • 1945 - the Mt. Calvary Cemetery Association sold approximately 60 acres just east of the current cemetery boundary to Mr. A.R. Campbell. 57 acres remain at the current location.

  • January 1950 - the Mt. Calvary Cemetery Association stated to exhume approximately 157 sets of remains from the old cemetery location for reburial at the new cemetery. The final set of remains were removed in March 1960.

  • 1961 - first Memorial Day Mass was celebrated and continued to this day.

  • January 21, 1970 - after many difficult years to obtain a clear title, the land on Biehn Street was finally sold.

  • February 2007 - work began on the Mt. Calvary Oratory. Expected completion was 2017. A major accomplishment of the Oratory was zero debt at its completion. Contributions and fundraisers were the source of the funds.

  • November 28, 2017 - Certificate of Occupancy issued for Oratory.

The Mount Calvary Cemetery Association was incorporated in the State of Oregon on January 25, 1932. Reverend Felix Leo Geis, the Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish was the first president of the association. Reverend Geis passed away on February 13, 1959, and is buried at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Section E, which is reserved for clergy.

The initial trustees of the association were: Rev. F.L. Gies, Andrew James Santamaw, J.F. Maguire, Dan Colwell, Leon F. Crawford, Edward James Murray, and David R. Vandenberg.

On August 31, 1932, the association purchased a tract of land in the Pine Grove area, known as the Mary Shepard Estate for $1,135.00. This land shown to the right became the current location of Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery. A contributing factor to the need of a new location was the development of Highway 97.

Fr. Ildefonce Mapara, OSB, sprinkling holy water on the Niches.

November 18, 2017, Fr. Rogatian S. Urassa, Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish blessed the Oratory.