Tom Morey wrote his burials wishes in 2016. Moon and Sol, mentioned below, are Morey's sons.

I wish to be buried in strict accordance with Baha'i Teachings.

Most certainly NOT CREMATED, a shock to the soul. Specifically, not 

 soul, regarded as though it were an appendage (like say a gizzard). Rather THE soul as in the all-pervasive omnipotent ME which developed in part as the character you knew as Tom Morey.

I am ever-present, night and day, beyond physical limitation, regardless of what limited senses can smell, feel, hear, touch or see.

A melting iceberg exists as water before it is frozen. Imagine me and I exist for you.

Imagine, for example, Donald Duck, sitting uncomfortably at the Thanksgiving dinner, squirming and sweating while host Goofy is carving up a turkey, brow furrowed, tip of tongue touching tip of olive-black nose, knife and fork held awkwardly, scraps of skin and meat scattered on the table, some still airborne, beads of sweat coming off Goofy while seated guests on look. Some incredulously. Others, sleepily, the nephew preoccupied with something else.

Guests include : Daisy, Huey, Dewey and Louie; Uncle Scrooge McDuck; Gladstone Gander; Clarabell Cow; Mickey and Mini Mouse; Gyroll Gearloos; Walt himself and artist Carl Barks . . .

. . . then you can certainly imagine me. And thus I will EXIST for you.


In brief, Bahá’í law for the burial of the dead states that it is forbidden to carry the body for more than one hour's journey from the place of death (my comment: probably to prevent spoilage. Penned before the ability to refrigerate or freeze something the size of a body).

The body should be wrapped in a shroud of silk or cotton. I choose cotton. A few beach towels bungied, duck-taped or masking taped on will be preferable—the least expensive and most expedient being the preferred criterion.

On its finger should be placed a ring bearing the inscription "I came forth from God, and return unto Him, detached from all save Him, holding fast to His Name, the Merciful, the Compassionate."

"The coffin should be of crystal, stone or hard fine wood." I choose plywood, made by family members; Moon, being the most versed these days and having a few woodworking tools, could lead the activity. But whoever, fine.

"A specific Prayer for the Dead is ordained, to be said before interment." This prayer along with others can be easily found on the web.


A. No law requires a casket for burial. You may build your own casket. You should check with the cemetery; it may have rules requiring a certain type of container.

B. Federal law requires funeral homes to accept caskets that consumers have purchased from another source, such as an online retailer.

If arranging for a burial site without buying an expensive casket becomes a problem, please handle it.

I'd settle for roadside burial along the highway, maybe in Mexico.

I want the nature of my casket to make a public statement by virtue of its simplicity. Namely, to show that making a big deal of this damn thing with thousands of dollars spent on a casket is lunacy; a totally unnecessary burden on the family.

I'd like it to be just as simple as can be. As follows, unless you guys figure out something simpler:

Moon or Sol could easily build it. Whoever. 1/8" or 5/16" plywood. Classic coffin shape is good enough.

Don't waste time miter-cutting the joints. Just butt together the inside edges. Use dabs of hot-melt glue to tack the thing together for positioning. Then beads of Gorilla glue and spray with enough water to fill in the gaps. Then use epoxy or polyester and 2"- or 3"-wide burlap strips to join the wood pieces on the inside. And maybe the outside. Maybe use sun-cure polyester resin.

No handles. Pallbearers can figure it out.

A few nails and Gorilla glue to seal the lid.

Shape: classic seven-piece coffin shape. No curves. Flat bottom. ZERO showie craftsmanship.

Any writing on casket to be hand-burned in with a soldering iron.

Again, the point is, use any prestige I might have gained to move the thinking of those who follow towards keeping it simple, lightweight, and above all INEXPENSIVE.

It is just a box bearing a moldering carcass. I will still be centered in but be progressively exiting this point of reference.

Mummy wrap my naked body in cotton gauze. Impregnate one surface with light layer of sun-cure polyester resin. Move from shade, allow 5-20 minutes for partial cure. Rotate, do additional surface, repeat, etc. Then add a thicker coat for re-enforcement. Then a thick gloss coat.

Modify these instructions, if necessary, to allow for swelling of decaying body.

TOM MOREY'S BURIAL WISHES: "IMAGINE ME AND I EXIST FOR YOU"

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