Can't wait to hear. Thanks for the heads-up along with the other correspondence I received. He had Hospice for say 5 days and passed peacefully in the night.
Lifted Obit from the Commercial Appeal, where my father-in-law was an editor:
"McKinley Verne High Highsmith died December 7, 2013 at the age of 91. He was born in Flat Rock, IL, to Violet and Fred Highsmith on July 15, 1922 in the family home built by his grandfather. He was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his devoted wife of 51 years, Willena McGarrh Highsmith of Memphis and his sister, Darlene Stevens of Flat Rock, Ill. At an early age, he played with his deceased grandfathers tools at his grandmothers house, and at the age of 9 built (by himself) his first muzzleloader. His father had it checked for safety, and he was allowed to hunt with it. This was the beginning of his interest in gunsmithing. Immediately after Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1942, High joined the Navy with a determination to fight the Japanese who had just killed his uncle, the editor of the Manila newspaper. After his basic training, he was sent to the Naval Air Technical Training Station at Millington. When sent to the firing line on the gunnery range, he amazed the gunnery officer by hitting 100 consecutive targets. With that, High was delegated to teach shooting to new recruits. Upon seeing a pile of shotguns on the ground one day, he said, Why are those pilled over there? The gunnery officer replied that they were broken and were to be shipped to Oklahoma for repairs. High picked up one, took a screwdriver and repaired it on the spot. From that moment he was not only an instructor, but also a gunsmith. The first gun shop in Millington was built for him and thereby sealing his fate as a gunsmith. The Navy sent him to the Remington plant in New York for further training to improve his skills. When he was discharged, High stayed in Memphis and worked as the resident gunsmith for Tommy Bronson for one year. He then decided to open his own shop and leased space with Dowdle Sporting Goods for the next 56 years until he retired at the age of 86 due to Alzheimer. His fame as a gunsmith was known throughout the U.S. Customers from California, Texas, Washington, as well as the Mid-South, sought his expertise. He was a founding member of the Hughes Hunting Club, and was the oldest living member of the Memphis Gun Club. He also hunted at the Merigold Hunting Club, where he met Willena when she was 16, but they both went their separate ways until 17 years later when they reconnected. He wooed her, declared her the love of his life and they were married. Early in their marriage, he encouraged Willena to learn to shoot, and she became good enough to accompany him on many happy outings, shooting doves, ducks, quail, deer and turkeys. High was a great pigeon shooter as well as a clay target shooter and a muzzleloading rifle and shotgun shooter, collecting many honors in all categories. His personality was such that most of his customers became his friends. He was an avid reader with a photographic memory, a quick wit with his one-liners and a consummate study of history. His interests encompassed not just guns and shooting, but a deep knowledge of the history of the Mississippi River, the Civil War and he became known for his archeology knowledge when his collection of Indian pottery was put on display at the Pink Palace Museum. He did not suffer fools gladly and on more than one occasion when a customer brought him a gun for repair and began telling him how to do it, hed say, Are you going to fix this gun, or am I. Services will be held Wednesday, December 11 at noon in the sanctuary at First Baptist Church, Poplar and Parkway, with visitation from 11 a.m.-noon and a reception following the services."
Believe you me it was much better in person with emphasis and interesting phrases and descriptions.
If you are ever in Memphis and have time, stop by the Pink Palace and see Hi's pastime. My mother-in-law accompanied him on several digs/searches. When in his house, the collection would take you aback.
Kind Regards,
Raimey
rse
