Lilly E. Gray Headstone

The headstone of Lilly E. Gray in the Salt Lake City Cemetery is a famous local landmark due to its cryptic inscription: “Victim of the Beast 666”. 

The “Beast 666” Mystery

Despite popular legends involving Satanism or the occult, historical research suggests the epitaph was a political and personal grievance from her husband: 

• The Inscription: Added by her second husband, Elmer Lewis Gray, who used “The Beast” to refer to the U.S. government or legal system.
• The Husband’s Beliefs: Elmer suffered from paranoia and believed he had been “kidnapped” by government officials during a prior prison sentence.
• Cause of Death: Official records confirm Lilly died of natural causes (pulmonary embolism secondary to kidney failure) at age 77, not through any sinister event. 

Visiting the Grave

The site is a frequent stop on local paranormal and ghost tours. 

• Location: Salt Lake City Cemetery, Plot X-1-169-4E.
• Access: The cemetery is open to the public daily from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM with free admission.
• Navigation: It is located in the far northeastern section of the cemetery; using GPS is recommended as it is small and easy to miss.
• Separation: Elmer Gray is buried in the same cemetery but in the furthest possible corner, as Lilly’s family reportedly despised him and wanted them kept apart.