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- [S104] Cocke County, Tennessee, and its People, Cocke County Heritage Book Committee, (Walsworth Publishing, 1992), 244.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 27 Nov 2006.
The highways about our hometown carried a marked increase in traffic during the holidays primed by good weather and shoppers responding to a wealth of sales before Christmas. On a recent rainy Wednesday, a distinguished-looking gentleman wearing a broad-brimmed hat walked into our office. It was if I had known this fellow for years and he certainly knew me and the Plain Talk-despite the fact he had not lived in Cocke County for more than 50 years. Bob Smith was in town to attend the funeral of his childhood friend, Alden Thomas Fowler, 80, who grew up in Bruner's Grove. Accompanying Bob was his son, John, 37, who gained some reputation as a distinguished farmer via the Tennessee Farm Bureau's Farmer of the Year program. John also was a national winner and raises about 150 acres of burley tobacco. Bob said the family raises grains such as soybeans and registered Angus cattle. The Smiths, including Bob's wife, Jennifer, live in Henry County and farm in Paris. Bob said he also has a sister from Cocke County: Marty Reece who lives in Huntsville, Alabama. Bob also has several children: Debbie Easterday, a nurse in Nashville; Steve, a dairy farmer in Henry Co.; and Mitzi Parrish, who also lives there. Bob, who was raised in Harned's Chapel, is now 76 and left the county in 1949 to seek opportunities in Knoxville. He worked for J.C. Penny Company many years and ultimately ended up in Henry County farming. Many people like Bob traveled to pay their last respects to a man and his family worthy of the admiration and love.
Just Plain Talk - Changing weather stirs appetites for food and shopping
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