Stories and Poems by a Smoky Mountain Man - Extended Version

Harold Rudolph Walker, was the nephew of the Walker Sisters and was born in the Walker Sister's cabin in what is now the Great Smoky Mountain National Park Tennessee on June 7, 1929, to James and Ida Walker.The youngest of 16 children, he grew up in the Smoky Mountains and attended the Little Greenbriar Schoolhouse, which was built by his grandfather John Walker. He married Ramona Burkhart in 1948, and the couple went to France as missionaries in 1960. Upon their return home, they had two children, Lisa and Shannon, and later moved to Lakeland, Florida. Harold was a supervisor for Publix Supermarkets produce warehouse. The family moved back to Sevier County in 2002.This book is a collection of inspirational short stories and poems written by Harold over the years.MY LIFE IN THE SMOKESBy Harold R. WalkerBeing born June 7th, 1929 should have been a tip that life was not going to be easy for me, because that was the year that the Great Depression struck. My older brother thought my birth was the cause of that worldwide tragedy. If I did influence the Stock Market of 1929, it took four months, because it was not until October of that year that the Market failed. Many of the banks closed their doors, and almost everyone was out of work.The Great Depression was on and it's effects would be felt until the beginning of World War Two, in 1941, it was in these years that I was growing up, in what is now the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, in East Tennessee. We were poor in the mountains of Tennessee. The fact is, we probably would not have known there was a depression if someone had not told us, and we hardly noticed when it was over. My father was the oldest brother of The Walker Sisters. The Sisters would become famous in the 1930s by resisting the efforts of the U.S. Government when they came through buying up everyone’s land to make The Park. The Five Old Maid Sisters would not sell to them because they didn't want to move away from Grand-dad's old home place, which he obtained in the mid 1870's. They hired themselves a lawyer and delayed the deal till 1940. In 1940 they sold 122.8 acres of land, for $4,750.00, and a life time lease on grand-dad's old home place. The last of the Walker Sisters died in 1962, and my Uncle Dan sold all of the Sister's furniture and personal effects to the Park Service. My father, James Thomas Walker, was the oldest son of John N. Walker. My Granddad fought in The War Between The States. He, and a number of men made their way North from East Tennessee, and joined The Union Army. He was in The First Tennessee Light Artillery Brigade. This is the Extended Version with a Story and Pictures by Harold's Grandson, David Shaun Ezzell. David lived with Harold for many years growing up in Lakeland, FL after Harold moved from the Smoky Mountains and this Extended version talks about David's life with his Grandpa, Harold R. Walker and life lessons learned and stories with his mom, Lisa Walker, and Uncle Shannon Walker. David Takes you on a journey of his life and how his Grandpa influenced and guided his journey through life. This is dedicated to David's mom on her birthday, November 2018 in loving memory of her father, Harold R. Walker. If you are interested in the standard version go here:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K78V97G