Ear Hustle

Ohio Man Buried On His Motorcyle; Told Family He Wanted To Ride Harley Into Heaven

rides bike in death

MECHANICSBURG, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio man’s family is fulfilling his dying wish — to be buried astride his beloved Harley-Davidson motorcycle encased in a see-through casket.

But it hasn’t been easy. The project required an extra-large cemetery plot to accommodate a Plexiglas casket for Billy Standley and his hulking custom-painted 1967 Electra Glide cruiser. Five embalmers worked to prepare his body with a metal back brace and straps to ensure he’ll never lose his seat.

Standley’s family said he’d been talking about it for years and liked to take people to the garage to show off the unusual casket his two sons had built for him. He told people he didn’t just want to ride off to heaven, he wanted the world to see him do it in the big see-through box.

The Dayton Daily News reported that Standley of Mechanicsburg, west of Columbus, died of lung cancer Sunday at age 82. He was to be buried Friday.

A newspaper photo of the prepared casket shows Standley with his eyes closed astride the big bike. He’s dressed in black leathers, a white helmet and glasses, his gloved hands grasping the handlebars.

bike funeral

Standley told his family his motorcycle helped him retain his sense of adventure after he settled down to raise four children, which was quite a compromise for the man who made his start at 13 as ranch hand and rodeo rider.

He started the project himself, buying three extra burial plots next to his wife, Lorna. His sons, Pete and Roy, fashioned the casket out of Plexiglas, reinforcing the bottom with wood and steel rods to handle the extra weight.

Enlisting the help of Vernon Funeral Homes, Standley ensured his funeral would be held outside, so all his biker friends could watch his final ride.

His family agreed the processional to the cemetery might be a little bizarre, even shocking.

Source: Huffington Post

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