A deceased family member was immortalized with a hidden message on his gravestone that a cemetery in Iowa found offensive.
Steven “Stevie” Paul Owens, who was a lifelong Cubs and Steelers fan who “loved his conversation with a shot of Fireball,” died at the age of 59 on Sept. 2, 2021.
He was interred at the Warren-Powers Cemetery in Polk County.
According to Owens' daughter, Lindsay Owens Andrews, he was a charismatic individual who often jokingly used the phrase "F*ck off" as a "term of endearment."
His son Zachary added they would often try and coerce him into using the phrase.
So how could it be left off his eternal resting place?
“He’s easily riled up," said Zachary. "It was always a goal of some sort to have him tell you to do this."
The family decided to honor Owens with one last joke by incorporating the phrase on his headstone with strategically placed letters at the beginning of each line.
The tribute to Owens read as follows:
"Forever in our hearts
"until we meet again"
"cherished memories"
"known as"
"Our son, brother"
"father, papa, uncle"
"friend, & cousin"
When the first letters are read vertically, it reads, "F*ck off."
You can watch a news report, here.
Social media users appreciated Owens getting his last laugh.
However, the NSFW headstone made Warren-Powers Cemetery, and other families of the deceased laid to rest nearby clutch their pearls.
The Owens family was strongly advised against placing the stone on cemetery grounds, but they did it anyway.
The cemetery is located in Camp Township and is overseen by their Board of Trustees, according to WHO 13.
The Board said in an emailed statement that they don't allow profanity on monuments because “those others who have a place in the cemetery have the right of decency afforded to them."
The statement added on behalf of the those opposed to the monument:
“They do not want nor do they appreciate the stone being in the cemetery. This community will not stop until they have the headstone removed.”
Community members are now pursuing legal action to have the monument removed, but the Owens family is hoping all sides can come to an agreement in order to have the stone remain on cemetery grounds.
The family said they had no intention of offending anyone with the tribute to their father and added "it is who he is.”
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