Created: 6/12/2006 10:00:25 AM 
Jacksonville, NC -- It was an unusual funeral in just about every way.
Eight people, a dog named Scruffy and a sea turtle named Dare were laid to rest beneath choppy waves, their remains mixed with concrete into "reef balls" ranging in weight from 400 to 4,000 pounds. The balls, lowered to the ocean floor by a crane, will help create undersea habitat for fish and other marine life.
"I think he would have been proud of his son and daughters to find a special place for him and Scruffy," said Patty Webb, whose husband, William Stover, was laid to rest with their dog. "He loved the ocean and it's a remarkable idea."
50 people rode a charter vessel from Sneads Ferry to a spot about two miles off the coast of Topsail Beach last week, where they watched 10 balls put in place to form "Dare's Reef," named in honor of the sea turtle. Eternal Reefs Inc. of Decatur, GA charged $2,000 to $5,000 to create each reef ball, marked with a bronze plaque commemorating the person or animal for whom it was cast.
Associated Press
