My Daddy, Alvis David Ray, was born in Sedalia, Ky. on Feb. 11, 1911. His parents were Robert Luther (Bob) Ray and Virginia (Jennie) Lou Suggs. He and Mom married in May 1937 near Cottage Grove, Tn. He has told me of share-cropping, and of working on a farm for 50 cents a DAY, not 50 cents an hour! When I was about 4 we lived on a farm outside Martin Tn., owned by a man named Major Vowell. He furnished us a small house, and I think this is where Daddy did the share-cropping, I'm not sure of that. Later we moved to Mayfield, Ky., where I grew up. Daddy only had a 4th grade education, so he never had a high paying job, nor an easy job. He worked at the clay pit near Pryorsburg, Ky. for some time, until he was laid off. While he was laid off he was at the RR track in Mayfield, near our rented house, picking up coal that had fallen off the trains and trucks, to give us some heat in the house. As he was picking up coal, a Mr. James Wheatley came along and saw him. Mr. Wheatley owned a coal company in town! Dad thought he would be arrested for stealing coal, but instead, Mr. Wheatley gave him a job! I remember Daddy working for him for many years, 6 long days per week at $36.00 per week, then for another coal company later. He was a small man, 5'7", but was really strong! Shoveling that coal into and out of that old Dodge pickup really put the muscles on him! Somehow he and Mom raised 5 kids on the meager salary that Dad received, though my youngest brother came after I wa! s in the army and away from home. To this day when I occasionally look into my wallet and find that I have $36.00 I remember Daddy! The thrift and savings I learned in those days has served me well over the years, helping me to have a perspective on life that I would not have had if times had been better. On of Daddy's expressions was "I'm tard, T-A-R-D! and that is why my email address is what it is. We were poor, but never knew it until years later. Dad lost his life to a drunk driver at the age of 85. He became a Christian late in life, at the age of almost 78, and I'm so glad that he did! Now I know I will see him again!! Dave Ray ----- Original Message ----- From: "pj" <pj@ken-tennwireless.com> To: <TNWEAKLE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, June 17, 2007 10:18 AM Subject: [TNWEAKLE] My Daddy Happy Father's Day to all the men out there............ Tell us about your daddy........... <Snip>