Old Time Ball Player Turned Small Town Funeral Director
I wish to pay tribute to the people of smalltown Illinois who had a profound impact upon my childhood. They were people whom I loved dearly and who left me with many wonderful memories. It was from my observation of their indomitable spirit and steadfast determination to overcome hardship that helped prepare me for the difficult times that lay ahead of me.
In my writings I use the person's first names and their occupation as their surname. For example: Cooch the Barber, Jim the Mailman, Frank the Farmer, and Doc the Dentist. I also wish to note that smalltown is not the real name of the small town I lived in, but is only representative of the many small towns that dotted the landscape of southern Illinois back during that time period. Many of these small towns have for all intents and purposes faded away and only their names and a few houses remain to serve as a reminder to us old timers that they were once bustling little centers of activity that brought so much joy to the hearts of so many people who were lucky enough to have called them home. OTBP