Actually, Grady Hunter put every nail in his coffin. He built it himself - and won a blue ribbon at the North Carolina State Fair for his woodworking skill.

Hunter, 75, was a bricklayer until his joints wore out. Then he became a homebuilder. He says he’s never lived in a house he didn’t build, and he didn’t want to be laid to rest in someone else’s work, either.

He used walnut for the box, and trimmed it in hard-rock maple and Brazilian Cherry. I saw that done a few times locally. I know there are some Amish craftsmen in the area who can make one pretty quickly; a friend of mine did that for her husband.

I think this is a pretty neat idea, myself, especially when he did it partially out of consideration for his kids. Not having to pick out the casket is good. Being able to say your dad built his own casket is even better.