Helping Preserve Family Legacy Since 1956

At Riley-Gardner Memorial we carry the highest quality granite and marble in the industry. All of the monuments that we carry have proven to withstand the outdoor elements and therefore meet our one-of-a-kind guarantee. At each location and funeral home that we serve, there are educated sales representatives who will guide you through the process of memorializing your loved one.

Choosing and Personalizing Your Memorial

When you walk into one of our locations, you can expect a heartfelt greeting from one of our friendly representatives. Time will be spent listening to you tell them about your loved one and finding out how to best serve your memorial needs. Once all options have been discussed, our representatives are trained to assist you in creating a one-of-a-kind monument. Each of our outlet locations are equipped to produce a computer generated proof of your headstone. This proof will be a scaled version of your custom memorial and is key in our mistake proof guarantee. Our representatives and artists specialize in creating all different types of monuments; from general sandblast designs, to laser etchings, to fully sculpted headstones.

Producing Your Memorial

Once these processes are complete, the stone is rolled out into the main production area where a thin layer of glue is applied to the freshly frosted areas. The stencil panels are placed back in the frosted areas from which they were earlier removed, and all of the lines and lettering will then be pulled to leave behind the design which will be cut deeply into the stone. The stone will next be sent through one of our two automated sandblasts. Once this final sandblasting is complete, the stone is pushed into the paint and wash room, where the newly sandblasted lettering and design will be painted. After being painted, the stencil is removed, the stone is washed and pushed out onto the drying rack.

Riley-Gardner Memorial takes pride in producing quality monuments. The production procedures discussed above are known as double processing. Double processing produces the sharpest and longest lasting lettering possible. Not all memorial companies produce this way, and it is very important to know that a single processed stone will fade and flake at a much faster rate.

Sandblast

After you have been presented with the custom design work you have requested and approve the rendering of your memorial we will begin the production phase. Your monument is brought into our manufacturing facility. A special template is cut out of a rubber mat which we call a stencil. The stencil matches the size and shape of the headstone you have selected and will be centered and laid out on the stone. All exposed polished areas that do not receive lettering or design will be covered with patching in order to protect them during the sandblasting process. All of the stencil that makes up the panels around the lettering, emblems, or design work will then be removed and laid aside for later use. At this point, the stone will go into our frosting sandblast where the polish is removed, leaving a bright panel to bring out the lettering and design work. If there are flowers in the design, the stone will then go into our special carving sandblast machine. This sandblast is designed for the artist to shape the flowers with a handheld sandblasting tool.

Riley-Gardner Memorial takes pride in producing quality monuments. The production procedures discussed above are known as double processing. Double processing produces the sharpest and longest lasting lettering possible. Not all memorial companies produce this way, and it is very important to know that a single processed stone will fade and flake at a much faster rate.

Laser Design

Riley-Gardner Memorial has been producing our own laser designed monuments since 2004. Before a lasered monument is created, an image must be input or designed in our computer program. This is a very tedious and time intensive process; however, once our artists have created an image, we can duplicate it as many times as needed. The most common color used for laser etching is Premium Black. Premium Black produces the cleanest laser photos and designs one can find. Other colors, such as Catseye Red and Dark Cloud, have proven to work well with laser; those colors show laser artwork very nicely but are not recommended for laser photos. Laser monuments are becoming more and more common in cemeteries. One question often asked is, “How long will the laser design last?” Laser, like sandblast, puts a break in the polish and exposes the raw stone beneath. The laser heats the stone and removes the polish where sandblast cuts into the stone therefore removing the polish. Unless the monument loses its polish or is re-polished the laser design will last for many years to come.

Installation

Once the above preparations are complete, the final stone product is ready for the installation process. We have crews stationed throughout Texas and Oklahoma so that we know that your newly crafted memorial will be guided safely to it final resting place.

What People Say About Us

Client Testimonials

barbara frank
2022-09-11
Mr. and Mrs. Adams were very kind. patient. and professional when helping me with the selection of a headstone for my deceased husband and myself. I am very pleased with the completion of placing the headstone at the gravesite and I would highly recommend Riley-Gardner Memorial to other families when selecting a headstone for your loved one.
Travis Viator
2021-09-07
Buyer beware, they don't do anything but take your order and money. And for a very high price and they don't use stand size stones or bases. Try to sale us smaller size stones and base then what we had already out there. Also it was 2 1/4 days after the order was place. And when we canceled they try to get 20% of the total price from us that's like $840 for doing nothing. Luckily they didn't have anything in writing. But, I bet they do now! You can order the same stones on the internet for way less with shipping. Or do like we did and go to High Cross Monument. This company has no concerns about the low quality of there products only how much they can get out of you. We save $ by using High Cross and everything is done in house even the install is by them and got much better stones. Also I was the one that got my brother to cancel the order because of the the high price for cheap size stones with nothing on them but letters.
Deborah Cavallini
2020-05-29
The marker on my grandfather's grave was a concrete cross placed in 1954. It was starting to deteriorate from the bottom and the information on it was hard to make out. My siblings and I agreed to have a new marker put on the grave as soon as possible. We all live 200 plus miles from the grave. Bill Adams was recommended to us. Bill and Debbie Adams did so much to help us get the new memorial marker on Grandad's grave with patience, phone calls and email. They emailed me much appreciated photos after it was set at the cemetery. We also had them put a memorial marker on one of our unmarked aunt's grave in the same cemetery. We would not have been able to get our ancestors graves marked without the help we received from Southeast Texas Monuments.
Kevin Kibodeaux
2020-03-16
Some of the most caring people I've ever met their whole focus is to make sure that you are happy with their work you will not be disappointed in using them
Geneva Hewell
2020-03-13
I ordered a Marker from them for some dear friends that lost their son. And I loved what they did. I will use them again. MRS Adam's was very patient with me in the design and it turned out gorgeous.
Eric McGibney
2020-01-28
I used Riley-Gardner for my father's marker several months ago and they made it simple. I waited to do this review so I could give details of the entire process. They designed the marker and gave me digital copies of it so I could make sure it was exactly what I wanted. I placed the order and they stayed in contact with me the entire time letting me know every step of the way where the marker was in it's process. The marker was delivered on time if not a little early and they set the marker at my fathers grave perfectly and also moved an existing marker to the foot of the grave with no extra charge. They had to remove a few plants that was planted but you could tell and see the level of care that was given to such a sensitive thing. On top of that, I ordered it from the Beaumont location and my dad's grave is in Cleveland TX once again no extra charge for the extra miles. Truly the best people for the job if you ask me. Thank you for a job well done...
Kristi Burgess
2020-01-06
I cannot brag enough on our experience with Riley-Gardner Memorials! Mrs. Adams was so kind and helpful throughout the process of designing a memorial marker for my dad. We had been to other companies and were not met with a fraction of the degree of kindness and sincerity that she demonstrated. She walked us through the entire process and truly made us feel like her heart was in our build. We are forever thankful for her sweet spirit, her genuine compassion, and her exemplary customer service during this difficult time. The marker is beautiful! The customer service is unmatched! I would recommend them to anyone!
Matthew Leblanc
2019-08-11
Very reasonable prices very fast service thank yall so much
Molly B Hebert
2019-04-03
I trusted Riley Gardner to create the memorial for both of my parents. My father had used them before to do a memorial for my brother, which turned out perfectly. I can’t begin to tell you the level of professionalism, the prompt service and the fantastic quality of their work. At the time, most of us are under duress...not sure what to do, they guide and help you through the process, patiently sending revisions electronically until you are satisfied! They do what they say they will do, when they will do it and lived up to their promise. Not so much as a blip, during the time we needed compassion and professionalism, I just can’t recommend them enough! Reminder to self.....get my own done so my kids don’t have to worry when the time comes.