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| Mike Gourley (#47400716)
 | member for 2 years, 5 months, 5 days |
| | | [Add to MyFriends] |
| Bio and Links |
Do you ever wonder why some folks are on this site? Is it ego, boredom, or a desire to be helpful? Some folks create memorials, some like taking pictures and some do both. For some folks it is all about genealogy. As for me, I started posting at the request of a member on a hiking site. You see, my thing is hiking. My area of particular interest is Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A few years ago I became intrigued with cemeteries of the National Park. As you can tell from my profile picture I seek out old home places of those that once settled in what became the national park. I continue to venture into places long forgotten by most visitors to the park. Many of the cemeteries in the national park are lost or very rarely receive any attention. Some of those cemeteries I have created and posted pictures on findagrave. It saddened me to know that some of these hard working people would someday be forgotten and their memories just dust in the wind. Some of them already are. So I do the best I can to visit these places and share what I do know with others. I write blogs that I hope leave a blueprint for future generations. Someday the settlements of the smokies will be buried beneath the dirt and leaf litter. The chimneys fall and graves stones crumble. One day they will be nothing more than a memory. A friend of mine told me about a couple graves he found on a ridge above an old home place. If not for the Boxwoods that had been planted behind the stones one would not even think them to be burials. The headstones are now enclosed by the boxwoods. The two footstones indicate that these were adults. It is off trail and a hard hike to find them. I am not even sure the Park service knows they are there. I only know because of the blood and sweat of a friend who found them and knew I would be interested. I just did the hike myself and can attest to the blood and sweat as you fight the rhododendron and feel the bite of the briers to reach this place. So why am I on here? Because I do not want those mountain people to be forgotten. Much is left to speculation about these places. Everything is subject to revision. So if I have made any errors on this site be rest assured none were made in malice. My only reason for creating a memorial is because of my belief that no one should be forgotten. My hope has always been that someone would request a transfer of management. I want and desire them to be managed by family members. My life situation today is one in which I do not really have time for upkeep so please feel free to request transfer. | |
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| | | Messages left for Mike Gourley (116) | [Leave Message] |
Troy Lee Conner
 | Conner
No I dont know if it was a Conner or not | | | Julie Self-Allen
 | William & Hester Sherrill
Mike,
I would like to use the photo at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=21884235&PIpi=51969277
on my family tree. Is it ok with you if I download the picture?
William and Hester were my great great grandparents. Thank you for taking the picture and uploaded it for the family to see.
I am more than willing to have maintain the memorial but I think someone else maintains it. I maintain one of their daughter's memorial (my great grandmother).
I loved reading your bio and thank you for taking all the photos that you do! You rock! | | | Emma Sue
 | RE: John Ownby
Far, far too many of these places have slipped away with time! It is such a shame to lose these old homesites and the other tangible objects that went with them. At least we have a way of preserving gravesites and memories though sites like this one. Thank you for the important work you are doing and for your willingness to share what you find with others!Added by Emma Sue on Apr 06, 2013 3:31 PM | | | Emma Sue
| John Ownby
Hi Mike,
Thank you so very much for the transfer.
Added by Emma Sue on Apr 06, 2013 1:15 PM | | | Frances Rogers
 | Photos and Memorials
Mike, thank you so much for all you are doing to preserve the memories of our mountain people. I am trying to do the same thing, and truly appreciate your hard work! | | | Lee Woods
| Bone Valley Cemtery
Please email me at info@northshorecemeteries.com | | | R & J Black & G Key
 | Thank You
Thanks so much for the help Mike. | | | beverly(dyer) gourley
 | RE: James H Gourley
Thank You Mike
Bev | | | Stephen Cook
 | Hello
You have several Cooks that you maintain. All but the one named Freddie are my relatives. Would be be too much to ask for a transfer? My number is #48063143. Thank you for the consideration, either way. | | | beverly(dyer) gourley
| James H Gourley
Mike Thank You For The Transfer Are You Related To The Same Line Of Gourleys My Husbands Father William McKinnley Gourley & James H. Gourley Was Brothers Thanks Again Bev | | | | [View all messages...] |
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