SELMA, Ala -- A family that buried its 20-year-old son in the back yard because of high funeral costs has upset its neighbors, but the practice is legal, officials say.

Blake Michael Anderson, 20, was buried July 17 in the back yard of his parents' home adjacent to the Lazy Acres subdivision in an unincorporated part of Dallas County.

Leonard Allison and Marion Allison, Blake's parents, said they lacked insurance money and time to pay for burial in a cemetery.

"We originally wanted to bury him at Pineview Cemetery," the mother said. "The problem is it would cost us $1,300 to buy a plot, money which we just didn't have."

But residents say the neighborhood is not a cemetery and met Tuesday night to discuss ways to fix the situation and keep it from happening elsewhere.

"I didn't move here to be closer to a cemetery," said Sandy Jones, whose second-floor window looks down on the grave site.

"I feel really bad that this happened to their son; I wouldn't wish this on anybody," Jones said. "But this is something that nobody should have to see everyday."

The Allisons said they checked with the county health department and Probate Judge Johnny Jones before deciding to bury their son. "We didn't do anything until we were told we could do so," the mother said.

The burial is most likely legal because it was approved by the health department, said County Commissioner Roy Moore.

Moore said he plans to meet with upset residents and would push for legislation that would prevent this from happening again.

"When neighbors are living this close together, especially in rural areas, it can present some problems," Moore said.

In the meantime, Marion Allison said she is comforted by having her son so close to home.

"This is the way that many families used to bury their dead," she said. "I really do believe that there is nothing wrong with what we did."