1. Type of Marker. The first step in selecting a monument or marker is to determine which type of memorial you will need such as an individual, companion, or family stone. An individual marker marks the grave of one person and can be a flat stone, a flat bronze, or some type of upright marker that stands tall above the ground. Likewise, the choices for a companion stone are similar, but are usually constructed larger to incorporate the additional name and inscription. A family stone is typically a large upright stone bearing only the family name. Flat markers are generally placed at the head or the foot of the deceased and contain the full name and inscription.

2. Regulated and Non-regulated Cemeteries. Generally speaking, regulated cemeteries are usually "for profit" cemeteries that have restrictions and covenants as to what size, type, and material composition that each memorial can have. Regulated cemeteries will sometimes share the premises with a funeral home, almost always charge some type of "setting fee" which is usually included in any memorial purchased from Clark Memorials. Non- regulated cemeteries usually do not have any guidelines or charge "setting fees." Most often these cemeteries will be associated with a church, synagogue, or community, or will be a private family plot.

3. Design. Selecting a design for a memorial can be an overwhelming experience. Our staff is trained extensively to help you create a suitable memorial for your family. Since a memorial is a permanent fixture, we make the extra effort to assure you that what you have selected fits your budget and that your descendants will be proud to visit the family plot for generations to come.

4. Stone and stone quality. The most common stone used in manufacturing memorials is gray granite. However, there are several other types of beautiful stone colors available that are mined all over the U.S. and worldwide. Your Clark Memorials professional will review your stone choices, explain the composition differences, and make recommendations accordingly. Please view all of our galleries on this site to see some of the options available.

5. Price. The price of a memorial can vary greatly depending on material, size, carvings, amount of lettering, finishes and moldings. From our experience an expensive price doesn't always mean a better product but a cheap price usually means a cheap product. Our goal is to offer you the very best value for your money on all our products.