Our founder, Harold Coker, turned 80 years old on Christmas Eve.   Don’t hardly sound fair to have one’s birthday the very day before Christmas!    I can imagine when he was a kid, he probably got all of his birthday presents wrapped in Christmas paper.   Dad tells the story that when he was first married that he and Mom were so poor that he got a very much needed pair of dress shoes one at a time!   You guessed it!   One for his birthday, and one for Christmas!       Well, this year we had a big surprise party for Dad and a bunch of family and friends came.   I think that Mom fooled him, but heck…when I get to be 80 I will probably be able to hide my own Easter eggs!   My sister put together a memory book so everyone could write something in it.   I wrote this poem about my Dad, Harold Coker turning Eighty:

Eighty

He just turned eighty so i hear
and here’s a little rhyme
about our Dad, who’s probably sad
he’s running out of time.

But who’s to say we know our day
cause no one knows the clock
the good Lord keeps, before our sleep
and on Heaven’s door we’ll knock.

No use to fret or even cry
its all part of the plan
we live, we love, and even die
but hopefully grow our clan.

First of three from Mom and Pop
came Harold with his brothers
the tallest sure, more hair than Pop
but smart just like the others.

He met his girl in Athens town
a daughter of Doc Thomas
They courted, spooned and surely swooned
before their marriage promise.

He joined the Guard, and began to work
for Pinky List each day
to learn the biz of selling tires
so he could make his way.

Along came one to him and Lill
a son in fifty four
but they weren’t through
another two for them to so adore.

The next came soon to him and her
in fifty six I think
It was a girl, her name was Chris
but not enough he’d wink.

Another son was born to them
September fifty nine
And then enough he said to Lill
They’re family was devine.

He started his own in fifty eight
not kids but company
next door to Pink but soon he
moved it South in Tennessee.

He moved his Lill and kids to boot
to Chattanooga town
and thrive he did a sellin tires
to everyone around.

He bought a farm for kids and cars
and thought he had arrived.
His kids grew up and then moved out
Good Lord he had survived.

He got involved to rock the vote
because he had been moved
to be involved in politics
His town must be improved.

Was Eighty Eight he ran for House
against the witch he lost
but nevermind his head was high
no matter how high the cost.

Soon kids had kids for cousins camp
to the farm they all would come
to play and play with Gram all day
until they all were numb.

Well time has passed, the kids are gray
were all are now old and farty
We love you much and thank you too
cause its sure been quite a party

Corky