The short answer: most epitaphs run two to eight words, engraved beneath the name and dates. You do not have to be a poet — the phrases families treasure most are usually the ones the person said themselves, or a line of scripture or verse they lived by. This idea bank collects more than 150 traditional, scripture, and public-domain inscriptions, organized by relationship and theme, followed by practical notes on what fits on each memorial style and how we lay inscriptions out in your design proofs.
Since 1979, our family has engraved thousands of inscriptions in granite here in Reno, Nevada. Every base price on our pricing page already includes a verse, so choosing an epitaph costs nothing extra — it only asks a little reflection.
Short classic epitaphs
These traditional phrases have appeared on memorials for generations. Short lines engrave large and read clearly from a distance, which makes them a natural fit for every style, including compact flat markers.
- At rest
- In loving memory
- Forever in our hearts
- Always in our hearts
- Gone but never forgotten
- Until we meet again
- Rest in peace
- A life well lived
- Beloved by all
- In God’s care
- Peace, perfect peace
- Home at last
- Safely home
- Gone home
- Loved always
- Ever remembered, ever loved
- Too well loved to ever be forgotten
- Asleep in Jesus
- Not lost, but gone before
- So loved, so missed, so very dear
- Her memory is our keepsake
Epitaphs for a mother or father
For a mother
- A devoted mother and friend
- Her children arise up, and call her blessed — Proverbs 31:28
- A mother’s love endures
- She made this house a home
- Loving mother, devoted wife
- Her love guides us still
- Always in her garden
- The heart of our family
- Her hands were never idle, her heart never closed
- A life of love, freely given
- Mother, grandmother, friend
- She loved first and last
- Home was wherever she was
- Her kindness knew no season
For a father
- A devoted husband and father
- Strong, gentle, and true
- He led by quiet example
- Our rock, our guide
- A man of his word
- He worked hard and loved well
- Father, grandfather, friend
- His hands built more than houses
- Steady as the mountains he loved
- He asked little and gave much
- Well done, good and faithful servant — Matthew 25:21
- A father’s love outlasts the years
- Always in our corner
- His example was his gift
Epitaphs for a spouse
Many couples choose a companion memorial with a single shared inscription. If you are planning ahead for two, our guide to pre-need headstones explains how companion designs work.
- Together forever
- My beloved is mine, and I am his — Song of Solomon 2:16
- Love is strong as death — Song of Solomon 8:6
- Beloved husband · Beloved wife
- Two souls, one heart
- Until we meet again, my love
- You were my home
- My heart still speaks your name
- Side by side, then and now
- What we shared can never die
- Love’s last gift: remembrance
- Loved for a lifetime, remembered forever
- Hand in hand into eternity
- One love, one life, one memory
Epitaphs for a child
The gentlest inscriptions are often the simplest. Several of these are Victorian-era traditions that have comforted families for well over a century.
- Our little angel
- Safe in the arms of Jesus — Fanny Crosby, hymn (1868)
- Budded on earth to bloom in heaven
- So small, so sweet, so soon
- Forever our baby
- Suffer the little children to come unto me — Mark 10:14
- A little angel lent, not given
- Our brightest star
- Held for a moment, loved for a lifetime
- Too beautiful for earth
- In our hearts, always young
- God’s garden has need of little flowers
Epitaphs for grandparents
- A grandparent’s love never ends
- Grandpa’s stories, Grandma’s table
- Their legacy lives in all of us
- Generations rise to call them blessed
- A lifetime of love, a legacy of family
- The family they built lives on
- Always room at their table
- Wise in years, young at heart
- Grandchildren were their greatest joy
- Love multiplied through generations
- Together they built a family
- Every grandchild knew their love
Military & service epitaphs
Branch, rank, wars and years of service, and service emblems can all be engraved alongside these lines. Veterans’ families should also read our veteran headstones guide, which covers government markers and private memorials.
- He served with honor
- Duty, honor, country
- A grateful nation remembers
- At rest after faithful service
- Semper Fidelis
- He answered the call
- Proudly served — United States Navy
- Freedom was his watchword
- Anchors aweigh
- Faithful unto the end
- She answered every call
- A life given to service
Faith & scripture epitaphs
These lines use the traditional King James phrasing, which is in the public domain. Including the book, chapter, and verse under the line is a common and handsome convention.
- The Lord is my shepherd — Psalm 23:1
- I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith — 2 Timothy 4:7
- Well done, thou good and faithful servant — Matthew 25:21
- Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God — Matthew 5:8
- In my Father’s house are many mansions — John 14:2
- Be still, and know that I am God — Psalm 46:10
- He giveth his beloved sleep — Psalm 127:2
- Underneath are the everlasting arms — Deuteronomy 33:27
- I know that my redeemer liveth — Job 19:25
- Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you — John 14:27
- Absent from the body, present with the Lord — 2 Corinthians 5:8
- I am the resurrection, and the life — John 11:25
- Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard — 1 Corinthians 2:9
- The Lord bless thee, and keep thee — Numbers 6:24
- His mercy endureth for ever — Psalm 136:1
- Come unto me, and I will give you rest — Matthew 11:28
Poetry & literature epitaphs
Every line below is from the public domain — poets of the nineteenth century and earlier — so it can be engraved freely. We attribute the author on the stone when families wish.
- “Under the wide and starry sky” — Robert Louis Stevenson, “Requiem” (1887)
- “Home is the sailor, home from the sea, and the hunter home from the hill” — Robert Louis Stevenson, “Requiem”
- “Sunset and evening star, and one clear call for me” — Alfred, Lord Tennyson, “Crossing the Bar” (1889)
- “I hope to see my Pilot face to face when I have crost the bar” — Alfred, Lord Tennyson
- “To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die” — Thomas Campbell, “Hallowed Ground” (1825)
- “Good night, sweet prince; and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest” — William Shakespeare, Hamlet
- “One short sleep past, we wake eternally” — John Donne, “Death, Be Not Proud”
- “Grow old along with me — the best is yet to be” — Robert Browning, “Rabbi Ben Ezra” (1864)
- “He is not dead — he is just away” — James Whitcomb Riley, “Away” (1884)
- “Warm summer sun, shine kindly here” — Robert Richardson, as adapted by Mark Twain
- “Nothing is here for tears” — John Milton, Samson Agonistes (1671)
- “Ever thine, ever mine, ever ours” — Ludwig van Beethoven, letter (1812)
Humorous & lighthearted epitaphs
Humor belongs on a headstone when it belonged to the person. Kept warm and tasteful, a light line can say more about someone than a formal verse ever could.
- I told you I was sick
- Gone fishing
- See you down the road
- Out doing what he loved
- Save my place — I’ll be along
- He never met a stranger
- Back to the garden
- On to the next adventure
- Finally off the clock
- She always had the last word — and this is it
“In loving memory” variants
- In loving memory of
- In cherished memory
- In memory of a life beautifully lived
- Cherished forever in our hearts
- Always loved, never forgotten
- Loved beyond words, missed beyond measure
- Forever loved, forever missed
- Gone from our sight, never from our hearts
- In our hearts you live on
- Your memory is our treasure
- Remembered with love
- Deeply loved, sadly missed
- In loving remembrance
- Always with us
- Held in love, kept in memory
How many words fit on each headstone style?
There is no single character limit — it depends on the stone’s face size, the letter size your family chooses, and how much room the design artwork takes. As a rule of thumb:
- Flat markers(single from 24″ × 12″): the name, dates, and a short epitaph of two to eight words fit comfortably. Larger flats leave room for a second line.
- Bevel and slant markers: room for a short verse of one or two lines alongside artwork.
- Upright monuments and benches: the most generous canvas — multi-line verses, full scripture passages, and two-sided engraving are all possible.
Exact face dimensions for every style are listed in our headstone sizes guide. Remember that legibility beats length: a shorter line engraved larger will still read clearly decades from now.
How do we lay out inscriptions in your proofs?
Once your family has a working list of names, dates, and a verse, our designers set the inscription in a scaled design proof — the same collaborative process we use for every memorial, described step by step on our design process page. You will see exactly how the lettering sits against the artwork, how large each line engraves, and how the layout balances on the stone. We revise the proof with you until it is right, and nothing is produced until your family signs off on the final proof. All lettering is cut by sandblast engraving, deep into the granite, so it weathers gracefully.
Is a verse included in the base price?
Yes. Every base price on our pricing page — from a $1,100 flat marker to a $3,650 upright monument — includes one name, dates, a verse, and a design from our catalog in Sierra White granite. Choosing a meaningful epitaph adds nothing to the cost.
Questions families ask
Can we use song lyrics as an epitaph?
Modern song lyrics and contemporary poems are protected by copyright, so we steer families toward traditional phrasing, scripture, and public-domain poetry instead — there is more of it than most people expect, and it reads beautifully in stone. If a particular line matters to your family, call us at 775-323-1835 and we will talk through options.
Can an epitaph be changed after it is engraved?
Sandblast engraving cuts permanently into the granite, so an inscription cannot simply be erased. That is exactly why our proof process exists: nothing is produced until your family has reviewed the layout, checked every spelling and date, and signed off on the final proof.
Can an epitaph go on both sides of a headstone?
Yes — upright monuments and memorial benches can carry engraving on both faces, which is a good way to pair names and dates on the front with a longer verse on the back. Double-sided engraving adds to the base cost, so ask us for a quote for your specific design.
How long can an epitaph be?
Most epitaphs run two to eight words, which fits comfortably on every memorial style. A two-line verse fits well on larger flat markers, bevels, and slants, while multi-line verses and full scripture passages read best on upright monuments and benches. Our designers balance letter size against readability in the proof so you can see exactly how it will look.
Still weighing the words? Call us at 775-323-1835 — after four decades of setting family stories in stone, we are glad to help you find the right ones.