I can't say this has never crossed my mind....

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Billie Leo Standley died last weekend from lung cancer, but before he died, the 82-year-old wished for the world to know he was going to ride off to heaven. To accomplish this wish, Standley and his family made arrangements for him to buried in a Plexiglas casket riding his 1967 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide.


Standley had long told people he wanted to be buried on his bike, and he began making arrangements several years ago, long before he was diagnosed with lung cancer this past Christmas. The first step was to purchase three burial plots next to where his late wife Lorna was interred. The space was necessary for the 9 foot by 11 foot casket he needed to hold his Harley.
Keeping it a family affair, Standley's sons Pete and Roy constructed the Plexiglas casket from a septic tank, reinforcing the bottom with wood and steel rods. The casket was completed about five years ago, and it sat in Standley's garage where he was eager to show it to visitors.

"If you stopped by his house, he showed you his casket," Roy Standley tells the Daytona Daily News. "He was proud of it."



After he passed away, Standley's body was prepared by Vernon Funeral Homes Inc. It took five embalmers to prepare Standley's body and secure him with straps and a metal brace to keep him sitting upright on the Electra Glide's seat. Standley was dressed in full leather riding gear including a helmet, and placed into the casket with several trophies. Motorcyclists were invited to join in Standley's final ride from the funeral home to his final resting place at Skillman, McDonald & Vernon Funeral Home in Mechanicsburg, Ohio.

[eric in md]

come on joe you wont look that good.  can we put you on a harley to bury you sure dont want to waste a good bike for that.. come on buddy

[Patrick]

Now thats the way to go !  I'm surprised that that would be allowed though.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

come on joe you wont look that good.  can we put you on a harley to bury you sure dont want to waste a good bike for that.. come on buddy

With all that $$$$$$$ you got Little Buddy hook me up with the one below. I'll only ride it " every now and then " so it might last 47 years like Mr.Standley's did... If you bought me that and the bike and me both lasted 47 more years .... That would just be AWESOME ....

Hook A Brother Up 

[Valker]

"Man, that's livin'"

If I wasn't going to be cremated, I'd like that idea!

[hairyteeth]

He's gonna need a solar powered battery tender...HT

[Valkorado]

He's gonna need a solar powered battery tender...HT

[RainMaker]

That is just creepy as heck.

So is this. (Guess he didn't need the helmet at this point).



If that were my dad, he could have the funeral with the bike but it would never make it into the grave.  

[Willow]

You can't ride asleep and you can't ride dead.  What a dumb idea.

As sort of related observation, do what you want with this body when I'm gone.  I won't be in it.  Put nothing of value with my body into the ground.  Feel free to make use of what I leave behind.   

[The emperor has no clothes]

You can't ride asleep and you can't ride dead.  What a dumb idea.

As sort of related observation, do what you want with this body when I'm gone.  I won't be in it.  Put nothing of value with my body into the ground.  Feel free to make use of what I leave behind.   

Gotta agree

[Pepmyster]

Interesting but creepy at the same time. I guess, your wish should always come true, but, taking material with you when you pass away? Why not give your possessions to some who would honestly appreciate them? Then again, who am I to weigh in on other peoples dreams and wishes.....

[Hoser]

You can't ride asleep and you can't ride dead.  What a dumb idea.

As sort of related observation, do what you want with this body when I'm gone.  I won't be in it.  Put nothing of value with my body into the ground.  Feel free to make use of what I leave behind.   

Can I have your Interstate?  Hoser 

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

You can't ride asleep and you can't ride dead.  What a dumb idea.

As sort of related observation, do what you want with this body when I'm gone.  I won't be in it.  Put nothing of value with my body into the ground.  Feel free to make use of what I leave behind.   

Can I have your Interstate?  Hoser 

Awesome idea John .... Dibs on the Standard 

[RainMaker]

Mechanicsburg man buried astride his beloved Harley
By Jill DruryUpdated: Friday, January 31, 2014, 5:45 pmPublished: Friday, January 31, 2014, 5:15 pm



MECHANICSBURG, Ohio (WDTN) – A life well lived deserves a grand tribute at the end.

A Mechanicsburg family is paying tribute to their loved one in an unusual way they want to share.

Billie Standley, 82, died January 26. He was an avid motorcyclist and horseback rider.

The family wanted to grant his dying wish to be buried on his beloved Harley Davidson.

His family says Standley was planning his funeral for years. They say he didn't just want to ride off to heaven, but wanted the world to see him do it.

His sons constructed the plexiglass casket. The Skillman, McDonald & Vernon Funeral Home prepared his body with a protective brace to make sure he never falls off his 1967 Electra Glide cruiser.

Mr. Standley was buried Friday morning at Fairview Cemetery.






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My comments -

1) it could have been worse - he might have wanted to be buried on his horse.

2) It seems appropriate that the last ride of that Harley was on a trailer.

3) Still creepy as he77 to me.

Here's an article with more pictures from the funeral.  http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2014/02/ohio_biker_bill_standley_buried_on_motorcycle_inside_plexiglas_case_photos.html

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

What a time capsule that bike will be in......imagine if it is ever dug up in the distant future.....

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

What a time capsule that bike will be in......imagine if it is ever dug up in the distant future.....

Its going down in a 9X11 septic tank so it should be well preserved and water-tight 

[RainMaker]

What a time capsule that bike will be in......imagine if it is ever dug up in the distant future.....

You gotta' think that Mr. Standley's body won't remain in it's current state for a long time, so any fluids will end up flowing down....  well, you get the picture.

And it doesn't look waterproof.  Remember that '57 Plymouth Belvedere that was in a time capsule in Tulsa?  They dug it up in 2007 and it was a rust bucket.

[solo1]

Dust to Dust.

Not my cup of tea but to each his own.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

What a time capsule that bike will be in......imagine if it is ever dug up in the distant future.....

And it doesn't look waterproof.  

The glass box he's in was lowered into a 9X11 septic tank.... Got a picture of the '57 Plymouth Belvedere ?

[RainMaker]

Septic tanks have clear plexiglass sides?

Here's the car pic after digging it up:

[musclehead]

who says you can't take it with you when you go?

a solar powered battery tender, the last ride of the harley was on a trailer.....  you guys crack me up! 

[Rebyl]

All power to him, it was his last wish, gotta respect that no matter what, his life, his bike, his choice.
I bet he died happy knowing his family was going to honour his wishes 

[Big Al of Tennessee]

In the Hole it goes.

Just like him, they had to drain all the fluids from the bike.

No battery either.

One Harley that will never leak again.

[Popeye]

The man loved his Harley, good for him. If that was his last request, glad his son's made it happen.

Honestly, it's crossed my mind as well.  Also think about being cremated and having my sons spread
my ashes while on a road trip out west. 

My $.02, kind of cheap shots because its a Harley.  Would the comments have been made if it was
a Honda or any other brand, kinda doubt it.

[BF]

Seems like a waste of a good old motorcycle to me. 

Even if I had the money to do that sort of thing, I'd rather have my bike passed on to someone else rather than have it buried in the ground with me. 

[Jess from VA]

I am not even buying a box, hole, stone and ceremony for myself, let alone my bike.

Start the oven and toss me in.  I have heard some places get away with making you buy a box just to be burned in, if so, cardboard will do.

I realize traditional burial is for survivors not the deceased, but what a colossal scam and waste of money.

At some point, EPA will require an environmental impact study for each burial, at a cheap $25K per.   

Dump my ashes on someone deserving.