In a Contact 17 news investigation, Kevin Cline-Lester contacted 17 News because he could not get a local funeral home to release the cremated remains of his father.
Cline-Lester lost his father a week ago. He says Davis Rose Funeral Home and Crematorium is adding to his grief. He says it was recommended to him by his father's hospice caretakers.
His father asked his son to place his ashes in a vault overlooking his late mother.
"His wishes were, my Grandma Cline is buried in Wasco's cemetery, and he wanted to be buried near my grandma so he could overlook her while he is at his time of rest. And, I was trying to fulfill that with everything I could." said Kevin Cline-Lester.
He paid $900 for the cremation and a special urn, but when he went to pick up the cremains, the owner said "no."
"The family wanted to take the cremains home with them, and I can't do that because I have a permit to bury only at Wasco," said business owner Michael Davis.
Cline-Lester said Davis wanted another $250 to ship the ashes.
We contacted the State Cemetery and Funeral Bureau and they told 17 News there are no laws, regulations, or rules that would apply.
We returned to Davis Rose and the owner said he also spoke with the Bureau and decided to release the cremains.
The owner, Michael Davis told us, "they can have the cremains. They can. All they have to sign is a release form saying that they are going to liable for those cremains."
We contacted the family to tell them the news and 30 minutes later they arrived to pick up their father's ashes.
