EVANSTON — The BEAR Memorial Tree Grove held its annual recognition ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 14.  Board secretary Patricia Arnold hosted the event.

“The Memorial Grove was created in 2000 to recognize the lives of individuals who have enjoyed nature, the outdoors and our Evanston community,” Arnold said.  “As of today, 251 names have been added.”

She explained that the program was established to celebrate the lives of loved ones who are no longer with us and serves as a place for families and friends to continue honoring those they have lost.

Arnold acknowledged the Evanston Parks and Recreation District, along with the BEAR Project, for providing the trees, irrigation, landscaping and stone markers.

“The grove is an example of partnership between the City of Evanston, the BEAR Project board, local businesses and concerned citizens.”

Dave Staley led a memorial prayer, which was followed by an original musical composition “These Woods” by Chris Weiss. Weiss explained the song was inspired by his family’s cabin and time spent with his beloved late father.

“I remember when these trees were very small here...” said Joy Bell, before reading a Clare Harner poem called “Immortality.”

BEAR Project board president Alex Moscinski read the names of those honored, at which point family and friends were invited to place a rose on the stone marker.

The names on this year’s memorial stone are: Robyn Lamb, Gene Lamb, Jeromy Lamb, Ryan Chad Mathson, Brittany Leigh Mathson, Janet Dean, Lee W. Henderson, Marjorie McEntire Smith, Gerri P. Wagstaff, Diane M. Gardner, Vernon E. Carter, Wanda Yvonne Stewart and Charles Lee Cue.

Lexi Lamb was joined by daughters, Lina Smith and Rachael Lamb, in addition to supportive friends, as she laid a rose for each of her three family members’ names on the stone.

Lamb lost her husband, Jeromy, unexpectedly in April. His name is joined by his parents’ names: mother, Robyn and father, Gene, who passed away in 2013 and 2022, respectively. Jeromy was an only child.

“These are my people,” Lexi Lamb said. “This is my family.

“My husband, Jeromy, and his parents are memorialized together. We love them and miss them every day. I appreciate this organization for giving us a place to put them together forever,” Lamb later told the Herald.

Newest board member Brenda Richins closed the ceremony with a reading of “When I Am Among the Trees,” a selection by poet Mary Oliver.

A small reception was held immediately afterward. Refreshments were served and provided by the family of Myron and Edie Bell.