West Hills Man Fulfills Dream Creating Artistic Graveyard Markers In Family Cemetery

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A 90-year-old man has recently taken his artistic talent to a new level with the creation of graveyard markers for his family's cemetery.

KCAL9's Art Barron spoke with Ernie Marquez on Thursday, who is fulfilling his dream by looking for small items in his West Hills backyard to mold and shape into artwork.

"Call me an artist," said Marquez. "I love to create. I have a creative mind."

He searches for pieces of tile, small rocks, seashells, hors shoes and even pieces of wind chimes to create handmade grave markers in the shape of crosses.

Marquez is a descendant of Mexican settlers who established the sacred area about 170 years ago.

The cemetery sits on Old Rancho Land, which was established in the 1840s in Santa Monica Canyon.

"Our cemetery is probably the oldest and only one descending from one of the Ranchos in Los Angeles," said Marquez.

Marquez explained nearly 30 people are buried in the cemetery, including his grandfather and grandmother. Others buried there had reportedly died of botulism after eating canned peaches at a New Years Eve party in 1909.

"It's like a secret garden," said Marquez. "I feel a connection to the past."

Although he is in no rush to move his grave markers to the cemetery, Marquez said he will continue to enjoy creating them and will place them when he feels the moment is appropriate at the end of this year or sometime next year.