Introduction
I never knew that his first name was Joseph. I always knew him as Hal.
Tribute
Hal Trent is still my friend. He attended Rogersville City School in grade school. I went to the county school. He and I became friends in high school, both attending Rogersville High School (which is now Rogersville Middle School). In high school, we had a few classes together. He and I became friends. I remember much from those years. Hal was a good friend. He was born on 3/18/1960. I was born on 7/17/1960.
After high school graduation in 1978, we went our separate ways. I graduated from college. Before graduation, I asked Mrs. Appalachian Irishman to marry me, and she accepted. Once married, we moved to Missouri (1986–1992). Later, we moved to Moscow, Russia (1994–1999). Hal stayed in our hometown, Rogersville, Tennessee. That was good for him.
At some point, as I recall, Hal and I reconnected in the late 1990s. He had a business in the old Raley-Vaughn Motor Company building, which had been turned into a mall that included various shops. (The main branch of First Community Bank is now at the location.) I think that Hal and I reconnected, when I stopped by his shop during a four-to-six-week furlough from Russia.
After my wife and I moved back from Russia, I met Hal a few times. We saw each other at our high school reunion on 4/13/2012, as I recall. Afterward, we saw each other a few times. Hal's wife, Kathy, and he sold produce at fall festivals in Bean Station and Rogersville. That's when we usually met.
Hal, aside from aging as we all do, was still the same person that he was in high school. He had wisdom, wit, and a great sense of humor. He was a man of God.
Hal left this world to go home on Saturday, 4/17/2021. He was 61. Christian-Sells Funeral Home has Hal's obituary. The visitation and funeral start in a few minutes, later today. The one-way drive is about 1.25 hours. I had thought about attending. I wish that I could have. Yesterday, I wrote the following on Hal's tribute wall:
Marion W. Ferrell: My heartfelt prayers to Hal's family and friends. Hal and I graduated from high school in the same class. In the 1990s, I saw him again. I saw him a few times, when Kathy and he were selling great Winesap apples in Bean Station or Rogersville during the annual fall festivals. I will write an article on my website, https://www.appalachianirishman.com, in a day or so. Hal, my friend, I hiked House Mt. #178 yesterday for you. You are Home. We, here, will join you at Home! Won't it be great at that heavenly high school reunion? It will be!
Conclusion
I wish that time and distance had allowed Hal and me to see each other more often. I think the same for other friends, whom I haven't seen in a while.
On one of these great days, time and distance will be swallowed up into everlasting togetherness. Will it not be wonderful then? Hal has togetherness with so many, whom he has joined at Home. May we all go Home soon, dear Lord! Fly those wings, Hal!
By the way, for Hal, I hiked House Mountain for the 178th time on Sunday afternoon, 4/18/2021. I'll have another article on that hike in a few days.
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