Edward Gorey’s Grave

Born in Chicago in 1925, Edward St. John Gorey was an American artist, author, and set designer known for his irreverent, dark humor and macabre settings. His standout pen-and-ink illustrations filled hundreds of his own books, alongside dozens of works by other authors including John Bellairs, Charles Dickens, Franz Kafka, T.S. Eliot, Bram Stoker, and William Shakespeare. He lived the majority of his life in Cape Cod until his death in 2000.

His most celebrated works include The Gashlycrumb Tinies, The Evil Garden, the 1977 stage production of Dracula, and the somber animated title sequence of the PBS show Mystery!, the opening credits of which made a lasting impression on thousands of viewers. These works are only a fraction of Gorey’s contributions, but were enough to solidify him as an eccentric, gothic role model for fellow artists and countless admirers.

But why does his unmarked grave lie 13 hours away from his home in a small Ohio city? It’s a matter of family. Edward’s mother, Helen Garvey Gorey, and her kin considered the area their ancestral home. It’s actually with her and Edward’s aunt, Isabel Garvey, that his cremated remains were interred in 2000, two months after his passing. 

This information was confirmed by The Ironton Tribune in 2019 when reporter Heath Harrison contacted the office at Woodland Cemetery. The staff shared documentation proving that, per Edward's request, his remains were placed with his mother. It was once believed that his all remains had been scattered, but only a small portion of them had been cast to nature. Other members of his family also rest in Section 7 of the cemetery.