IOOF Cemetery in Tumwater
3802 Cleveland Ave.
Tumwater, Thurston County, Washington 98501
360-352-8601
Also known as Odd Fellows Memorial Park/Mausoleum and IOOF Memorial Park.
The Odd Fellows Cemetery in Tumwater was established in 1869 by members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Olympia Lodge #1, in part due to the fact it is a part of the oath of the order and a way of establishing connections in the community and helping the local area.
Tumwater IOOF Cemetery in Thurston County was founded in 1883 and handed to the City of Tumwater in 1915.
The Tumwater IOOF Cemetery’s management was under the City of Tumwater until 1940, when the Tumwater IOOF Cemetery Association took over after its formation. The association took over the administration until 2005, when the cemetery land was deeded again to the City of Tumwater.
The Tumwater IOOF Cemetery has incorporated several graves from the local cemeteries. One notable relocation was done by Tumwater Catholic Cemetery in 1995. After the relocation, a memorial with a list of the names of the deceased whose graves were moved was erected.
Tumwater IOOF Cemetery in Tumwater ranks number 1st out of the two cemeteries in Tumwater City in terms of popularity. Further, it ranks 10th out of 20 cemeteries in Thurston County, 31st out of the 219 cemeteries in Washington State, and 2874th in the United States.
About Us
To Improve and Elevate the Character of Man
In 17th-century England, it was odd to find people organized to give aid to those in need and pursue projects for the benefit of all mankind. Those who belonged to such an organization were called "Odd Fellows." Odd Fellows are also known as "The Three Link Fraternity," which stands for Friendship, Love, and Truth.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows was founded on the North American Continent in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 26, 1819 when Thomas Wildey and four members of the Order from England instituted Washington Lodge No. 1. This lodge received its charter from Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows in England.
Odd Fellowship became the first national fraternity to include both men and women when it adopted the beautiful Rebekah Degree on September 20, 1851. This degree is based on the teachings found in the Holy Bible and was written by the Honorable Schuyler Colfax, who was Vice President of the United States from 1868 to 1873. Odd Fellows and Rebekahs were also the first fraternal organization to establish homes for our senior members and orphaned children.
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