ECTOR COUNTY, Texas — If you were to lose a loved one and wanted to bury them in Ector County, the sad truth is you couldn’t — there aren’t any plots available. However, that will be changing soon.
On Tuesday, the Ector County Commissioners' Court approved a request for qualifications on a cemetery design.
It will be located off of Crane Avenue, south of I-20, providing more space and giving families peace of mind.
“This is one of the most frequently asked-about topics I’ve had as county judge — having additional locations for folks to bury their loved ones in Ector County,” said Ector County Judge Dustin Fawcett.
The Ector County Cemetery off of Business 20 currently has no available plots, and county commissioners have heard the community’s outcry.
Fawcett mentioned that previous courts often said, “We’re not in the cemetery business,” but he respectfully disagrees.
“I think it is a good public service to utilize. We’ve had many constituents reach out about the cemetery, so this is the next step in building a new one,” Fawcett said.
The project won’t cost the public a penny. The county and the cemetery now have an agreement that the remaining $300,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act will go toward the project.
“Whether that’s for the actual brick-and-mortar construction of the new cemetery site, the engineering plans, or anything else, it’s about obligating the remaining $300,000 toward our cemetery,” Fawcett said.
He described the situation as reaching a crisis level. With no available plots — even with other cemeteries nearby — more land is exactly what the community needs.
“We’re seeing folks having to cremate their loved ones when they would really prefer to bury them. The community has a need for more burial space, and we’re answering that call,” Fawcett said.
With the new cemetery plans in motion, families in Ector County will soon have more options to lay their loved ones to rest. The county is responding to the need, ensuring future generations won’t face the same challenges.