The city of Kirkland is making changes to its documentation process for the Kirkland Cemetery after a mixup in paperwork caused the man’s remains to be placed in the wrong spot.

According to Kirkland Customer Accounts Supervisor, Jay Gewin, the matter was brought to their attention after the family of the deceased complained that their father’s urn was in the wrong spot. Gewin said that somehow the records from 2013 had him in the incorrect location, so when the deceased man’s wife passed away and the family wanted her in the same location. They ended up moving her remains to where the husband’s were, but it was still in the wrong section.

“We thought the incorrect location was the correct location… and then when we found out that wasn’t the case we moved them back to where he had been and then placed his wife at the same location.”

As a result of the error, he said they have increased documentation and improved communication and operation protocol to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

The cemetery is located at Northeast 80th Street and 120th Avenue, where most full size burial lots are sold out, many of them containing the city’s early settlers. Gewin said that occasionally they can become available, but mostly they have spaces for urns.

The city has a Cemetery Committee but it is made up of city employees and only meets when there are changes in city policies or long term operation rates or plans.