Denver – After a year-long ordeal, a veteran named Norman Douglas “Doug” Rumsey has finally been laid to rest at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Colorado thanks to the intervention of Denver7. Rumsey passed away in December 2023, and his family, who lived out of state, faced difficulties communicating with the funeral home that handled his remains.
The investigation revealed that the funeral home, Colorado Funeral Homes, had voluntarily surrendered its licenses following numerous complaints of misconduct and negligence. Anthony “T.J.” Garcia, the representative listed on the receipt for Doug’s cremation services, was implicated in the complaints. The family struggled to get confirmation that Doug’s remains had been delivered to the cemetery for interment.
Despite initial roadblocks, the family’s persistence and Denver7’s involvement ultimately led to the delivery of Doug’s ashes to Fort Logan. However, the situation raised concerns about the funeral home industry in Colorado. Funeral homes are regulated by the state, and recent legislative efforts have sought to better regulate the industry to prevent such incidents in the future.
The law in Colorado stipulates an order of operations for handling the remains of a decedent, with priority given to appointed personal representatives or next of kin. The situation with Doug Rumsey highlighted the complexities and shortcomings of the system, with his son only being notified shortly before his passing.
Ultimately, Doug was interred at Fort Logan, bringing closure to his family’s long and arduous journey. The case shed light on the challenges faced by families dealing with funeral homes and the need for improved regulations in the industry.
