Anonymous
Words fail me as I try to write this tribute to a man that I will never forget. Growing up in Chiefland, FL, I was around Tommy as everyone knew him his son Skippy a class-mate of mine and the Young family Tommy’s in-laws many, many times.
I do not even know how to begin this tribute to a man the Chiefland community owes a great deal. He almost single-handedly ran the annual Watermelon Festival every summer, and he loved being able to participate and put back something into the community. Tommy owned a restaurant that was located very near our high school and it was our hang-out. I spent many happy hours there, especially before we would depart on the school buses for away games in football and basketball.
One of the first daily stops on my way home from school was Tommy’s Pecan Candy Shoppe, located next to Dr. Farnell’s drug store and office. He always greeted me with a huge smile and told me to help myself to all I could eat of his pecan brittle and whatever else I wanted. Tommy made all of his candies using the finest ingredients and it seems that everything contained pecans. I can also vividly remember helping Skippy cut and squeeze oranges to make juice that was bottled in gallon size glass jars. The juice was then delivered all over the area out of Tommy’s truck. There were two girls that worked in the candy production areas and they were also pleasant and funny. I cannot remember their names, but I can see their smiling faces.
I also remember Tommy pouring the very hot brittle mixture fresh off the burner onto the marble tables and then spreading it out to the correct thickness using a hand saw. As a result of this hard work stirring the candy constantly while it cooked and then spreading it with the saw Tommy had forearms like Popeye…
My last memory I will share is going fishing with Tommy. He was the first man I knew who used the newly invented red rubber worms. He took me out to a farmer’s pond and skunked me with those worms. He would catch one, then another one, and then laugh at me for not catching any with my bait of choice.
I have not seen Tommy in well over 40 years, but I will never forget him. What a guy! Would love to talk to him again and share my life story with him.
God Speed Tommy Barkett… I am a better man for having known you. My deepest sympathy to his family and other friends. Skippy, I will be in touch someday, hopefully we can sit down and share an iced tea and reminisce about the good ol’ days of our misspent youth.##imported-begin##Pat Hogan##imported-end##