Gary Waggoner’s fascination with cemeteries began two decades ago. His 40-year career as an inspector of petrochemical process equipment has required him to travel. Once on a business trip to Philadelphia, Penn., he found he had some time to kill. He came upon an old cemetery, got out and walked around and was captivated by the peacefulness and beauty that surrounded him. That cemetery visit was followed up by many others. Waggoner began bringing his camera along, photographing things that caught his eye.

His new book, “Historical Cemeteries of Imperial Calcasieu” is a collection of photographs from area cemeteries in Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jeff Davis parishes.

Waggoner visited 184 area cemeteries. Photos from 154 of them made it into the book.

One thing this book is not is a chronicling of the various cemeteries. Waggoner takes a more aesthetic, artistic approach. The things he photographs are things that caught his fancy: A row of obelisks against a bare tree in winter (see photo at far right). A crow sitting atop a headstone. Bottles of beer and a cigarette left for a deceased friend atop another. A child’s grave covered with toys. Angels with broken wings.

Waggoner finds beauty in cracked and weathered statues, and in the simple ways Southwest Louisiana people honor the deceased.

The book’s “chapters” are divided into topics such as headstones and markers, crosses, angels, curiosities and mishaps of nature, and more.

Sorting and cataloguing the thousands of images for final selection was the most tedious and difficult work,” he writes in the book’s introduction.

When asked if he had a favorite area cemetery, Waggoner said it would have to be a toss up between Orange Grove Cemetery in Lake Charles and Farquhar Cemetery in Sulphur.

“Those two have the most diversity,” he said. “And both of them have large, old oak trees and old stones.”

“Historical Cemeteries of Imperial Calcasieu” is a coffee table-type book of beautiful black and white and color images on thick, glossy pages.

For more information on the book, phone the author at 337-287-2860 or email him at impcalbook2@gmail.com.

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“Historical Cemeteries of Imperial Calcasieu” is published by Wise Publications Printing. Cost is $36. Books can be ordered by sending a $40 check or money order ($36 for the book and $4 for shipping) to P.O. Box 1316, Sulphur, LA 70664.

A caption under a photograph on page 49 of “Historical Cemeteries of Imperial Calcasieu” reads: “Four obelisks in front of a dormant tree on a winter day.”

Special to the American Press

“Historical Cemeteries of Imperial Calcasieu” by Gary Waggoner is published by Wise Publications Printing.

Special to the American Press