Many mornings Betty Walker visits the cemetery where her parents are buried on Old Lake Road in Smithville. For years, she’s come out regularly to make sure the grass is groomed and the headstones properly placed.

Last week, she visited on Wednesday morning and noticed the gate at the entry was cut from its hinges and a few old cement posts ripped from the ground.

She called the sheriff’s office to file a report. Later, a foreman came to inspect the damages, which he estimated could cost as much as $750 to repair — money Walker isn’t sure she has available to spend.

"I don’t understand why someone would do that," she said last Thursday. "It puts a strain on us."

The Colorado Cemetery is a private burial ground. Walker, 75, and a team of local volunteers are responsible for its day-to-day upkeep. Most have family members buried in the 125-year-old plot off Texas 71, which could soon be designated a historic site.

"Our loved ones’ resting place has been disturbed," Walker said. "I hope whoever did this will be caught."

She said she was heartbroken when she discovered the damage. She is pleading the community in Smithville to keep an eye on the private cemetery, which doesn’t have security.

It’s not the first time the cemetery has been vandalized. A few years ago a wrought-iron fence around one of the family plots was cut and stolen. And sometimes people dump trash at the far end of the cemetery.

"We’ve had things happen over the years," Walker said. "Every time something like this is done it causes us to have to struggle more to keep the cemetery groomed for our loved ones."

The Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office did file a report of the incident, however investigators determined it was not likely the case would be solved, according to a supplementary report. They said there was "insufficient evidence" to "pursue a meaningful investigation."

Anyone interested in helping raise funds to repair the damage may call Betty Walker at 512-360-4804 or Mildred Rogers at 512-237-4728.