Relatives of more than 200 people entombed at Fairview Mausoleum in Shawnee say they still cannot visit their loved ones, with the privately owned building sealed and steadily falling apart. Visitors describe boarded-up windows, shattered glass and chains on the doors, and families say the structure keeps deteriorating while the long-promised relocation of remains goes nowhere. A court signed off last year on a plan to move those entombed, but legal and procurement holdups have left the dead inside and the living increasingly angry, as reported by KOCO.
Families Still Waiting
Kim Hood, who drove in from North Little Rock to pay respects, told KOCO the mausoleum was “chained, locked” when she arrived and that she could not reach her grandparents’ crypt. According to KOCO, families were once again told that the city plans to put out a request for qualifications to hire a funeral director to oversee removals. Many relatives note they heard the same promise back in January 2025 and say they have seen no visible movement since.
Court Order Gave The City Authority
On Aug. 29, 2024, a judge approved the city’s mitigation plan and made the City of Shawnee the commissioner in charge of abatement, according to the City of Shawnee. The city reported that its attorney is reviewing transferred records to help track down next of kin, and that a court hearing will decide how to use whatever perpetual-care funds remain with the Fairview Mausoleum Association.
What’s Blocking A Fix
Officials say the mausoleum’s private ownership and the Fairview Mausoleum Association’s lack of money for repairs have left the building stuck in limbo. A 2024 report estimated roughly 220 people are entombed there and noted the structure had been labeled a health risk years ago. The court has authorized disinterment and reinterment of those remains, but families say that work still has not begun, according to KOCO.
What Officials Say And The Next Steps
The City Commission signed off on the next step in January 2025, authorizing a Request for Qualifications to secure a licensed funeral director to handle removals, according to a news release from the City of Shawnee. The city said the RFQ would be brought forward for consideration and, if approved, posted for applicants. The release also emphasized that no disinterments will happen without consent from next of kin and that the city can arrange at no cost for earthen burials at Fairview Cemetery if relatives cannot be located.
Legal Status
The judge’s order gives the city the legal green light, but the real-world checklist is still long: identify and contact families, get procurement and permits wrapped up, and hire a licensed director to manage the careful removal of remains. For relatives watching the mausoleum crumble, the demand now is straightforward: a firm timeline and a clear, single point of contact while officials work through the remaining legal and logistical knots.
