About Us
A Family-Owned Business
Nestled in the mountains of Northeastern Washington, the Kettle River Pet Cremation Urns has been making beautiful hardwood pet cremation urns since 2000. Each urn is hand made by Kevin Green with a love and attention to detail that comes from a lifetime of working with wood.
How We Started
A few years ago, wood craftsman, Kevin Green and his wife Cynthia decided that the best way to honor the memory of Cynthia's recently deceased mother, Mary, was to provide her with a simple, old-fashioned, grave-side burial service, with her friends and loved ones in attendance.
Unable to find an affordable casket that reflected Mary's personality and approach to life, Kevin made the decision to build her a classically-styled pine casket that was less ornate and lavish than most commercial brands.
Afterwards, when Kevin realized that others in his community might wish to similarly honor their loved ones he opened The Kettle River Casket Company to build pine funeral caskets. Soon after, he opened The Kettle River Urns Company and The Kettle River Pet Urns Company.
Interviews With Kevin Green
Kevin Green and his pet urns have been featured in articles in Arts & Crafts Homes and the Revival magazine Style 1900 magazine, Ferrycounty.com, and on Public Television's Northwest Profiles:
This month's edition of Arts & Crafts Homes and the Revival magazine (Early Summer 2009) features "The Resting Place," an article about Kevin Green and how he expanded his woodworking to include building "Japanese-influenced Arts and Crafts urns in cherry, oak, or maple accented with black walnut." Available now on newsstands or you can order by email at lviator@artsandcraftshomes.com.
Style 1900 Magazine (Winter 2009 : Volume 21, No. 4) interviews Kevin Green about his handcrafted hardwood urns made in the American Arts and Crafts tradition.
"Boxes of Honor" Lynn Veltrie interviews Kevin Green for KSPS-TV's Northwest Profiles episode on Public Television. Veltrie visits Kevin in the small town of Republic, Washing to document Green creating urns in his work shop. Show premiered 5/06. View video...>
"An interview with Kevin Green, cremation urn designer and craftsman...." Ferrycounty.com's article reveals Kevin Green background as a graphic artist and wood craftsman whose varied career has included firefighter, logger, mill worker, carpenter, graphic illustrator, and printer. Like many craftsmen, he delights in creating and selling cleverly designed keepsake and jewelry boxes. Unlike most craftsmen, he also builds handcrafted, hardwood caskets and urns. Read full article...>
"A Healing Touch; Republic business offers specially crafted caskets" by The Spokesman Review. May 6, 2005. Business article excerpt:
"Three years ago Kevin Green made his first wooden casket. His mother-in-law died after a long illness, and Green’s wife, Cynthia, asked him to use his woodworking skills to build her mother’s casket. The experience helped the Greens heal — and helped launch Kettle River Pet Cremation Urns, which the couple run from their Republic home.
"I’ve been working with wood for most of my life. I finally found something that provides me artistic expression and allows me to make a living," Kevin Green said. "I enjoy adding different details. No two caskets are the same," he said.
Note: Our apologies, but the the full article of "A Healing Touch" is only available if purchased through the Spokane Review's Archive site.
Watch for our Kettle River Pet Cremation Urns advertisements in American Bungalow and Style 1900 magazines.
Environmentally-Friendly Practices
Owners Kevin and Cynthia Green take seriously the environmental concepts of "do no harm" and living within a "small ecological footprint." The Kettle River Pet Cremation Urns’s studio and workshop is in the basement of their home, which is located on the main street of a small rural town. Most weeks go by without a need for them to start their car; in fact, they walk their urns to the local post office for shipment. Constant in their commitment to finding the most sustainable and thoughtful methods for making their pet urns, they offer a unique selection of pet urns made from domestic, sustainable, and recycled woods. They also apply their products' finishes by hand using products that are gentle to the Earth.
Caskets can be ordered by calling us at (509) 775-0441 or by emailing us at kettlerivercasket@yahoo.com