I was just wondering what everyone thinks about posting obituaries on here. The Star doesn't update their site very often. And Stevenson's website is good, but there are other local deaths that do not go through Stevensons. There are lots of people who no longer live in Miles City who are members on this site also. I know it sounds morbid but I would rather know someone has died than walk up and ask about them, not knowing they had passed on. Any thoughts or ideas as to how to deal with this difficult subject would be welcome.

Kacey,

As someone who no longer lives in Miles and has only occasional access to the Star, I'd welcome the chance to read those obituaries that are not posted by Stevenson & Sons.

But, two things came to mind when I read your suggestion.

1). Could this somehow be troubling / unsettling to the families of those whose obituaries would be posted here?

2). Would the occasion arise when someone would post an inappropriate comment in response to an obituary? As you know, once in while we see comments posted here that don't seem to have involved a great deal of forethought or sensitivity.

Given those two concerns, I wouldn't post them here . . . but I'm certainly not saying that (you or others) shouldn't.

I think it could be a posting place without commentary allowed. I just know I have felt bad hearing of someone I cared about passing long after the fact. And I'm not suggesting a complete obituary, just a short paragraph or so to let people know with perhaps an address to send condolences.

sounds like a good question for the webmaster in regards to protocol and feasibility with the groundrules. i also feel in some ways it may be a family's call in regards to having the obituary reproduced here. Family's pay for the publishing to newspapers and in a round about way on stevensons website, thus probably have a bit of control over where it ends up. Occasionally you can pull up obituaries on the newspapers online editions and archives. just my 3 cents worth.

Just about every Obit is in the Gazette. I think posting them here creates all sorts of issue.

The Star DOES NOT charge for obituaries or wedding/engagement announcements. The Gazette and most other papers in the state do not charge for a death notice but do charge by the inch for anything beyond that and charge for wedding and engagement. If you want a picture with the obituary or something really huge, then you do have to pay at the Star.
Amorette

aaaaaaah...a subject to which I feel qualified to respond to!

I think that this is a wonderful idea. Larry has always done a great job, in removing {post haste} any inapropriate remarks, on any subject, so even if there is a big enough jerk out there, that they would try and post something improper, it can be removed.

I personally don't think it should be called obituaries, or death notices, but maybe something like "In Rememberance" would be gentler.

I very much appreciated the letters of condolance, that were sent to me via my mail box link. Many of them showed a great deal of class on the part of the sender.

I know that I didn't post the notice of my father's passing, as a way of gleaning sympathy. It was only a notice of his death, in another form. but with the same intentions that we had when we posted the obits in the papers. There were people that wanted to know.

Cast my vote in favor.

Nathan KELLY

I wonder if there's a feed of multiple sources that could be pulled in? That way it would be automated and less chance of someone abusing the information as a manually posted announcement?

I visit Stevensons web site, The Star's website has a long way to go still. But, I agree that there's more announcements that might be relevant for the community.