Northside family displays skeleton tribute to Dolly Parton

Residents of the Meridian-Kessler neighborhood can view a Halloween display of five skeletons on a north-side lawn. The figures stand outside a home at 5338 N. Washington Blvd., a street located southeast of the intersection of North Pennsylvania and East 54th streets. Each skeleton is dressed to represent a specific decade of Dolly Parton's musical career.

Katie Matsoukas, who organizes the annual lawn decorations, described Parton as a natural choice for this year's tribute. The family has previously honored other musicians with similar displays. Matsoukas noted that the selection reflected personal respect for the late singer's character and legacy.

"I just, I really, I think she's a great person to kind of aspire to be like," Matsoukas said. She explained that a social media post she read after Parton's death inspired the theme. The post suggested that Parton's life was defined by her character rather than just her accolades. Matsoukas said that sentiment captured how she and many others viewed the country icon.

Parton died on Aug. 25 at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tennessee. She was 80 years old. Her death followed a brief battle with cancer. The display serves as a local memorial for the singer who remained a popular figure in Central Indiana.

Halloween falls on Saturday. The skeletons are positioned on the front lawn for public viewing. The display continues the family's tradition of using their property to celebrate well-known musical artists each fall.