It was just part of being a good neighbor. He died that same year after being gored by a bull on his ranch. The cemetery meant so much to him that he didn't want somebody building a road through the middle of it. They rooted out trees and brush, put up a perimeter fence to keep the deer and cattle from trampling everything and built a dirt road wide enough for a hearse. Now the 60-member group meets once a year, on the Saturday before Memorial Day, to conduct its annual cleanup.
Members come from points around Arizona and states beyond.
The first of them begin showing up in the coolness of the desert dawn. Some unfold lawn chairs and talk, while the heartiest tug down on their cowboy hats and break out the shovels and hoes. Afterward they go to Brunner's house for a cup of cider and maybe some tamales and homemade pie. His father was born there and his grandfather was a constable and miner. My father never talked about it much and this really brings the town to life for me.