Margaret Louise (Dooley) Edwards

M. Louise Edwards

Gary and Barbara Jean were very close to their mother. Gary was much like Elvis Presley about his mother, they both grew up in a home where their mother was the foundation of the family and everything the family did was centered around their mother!  Gary told the story about buying a clothes washer and dryer with the first money he earned as a young boy delivering newspapers for the Corbin Times.  Gary fondly recounted,  "The first thing I did, when I saved enough money, was buy my mother a new washer and dryer"!

Gary and Barbara Jean both had many stories and memories about their mother!  She must have been a very special lady and as you can see by the picture, she was a very beautiful lady!  Even as Gary discusses his mother for this story, he teared up from time to time with obvious warm and special memories.

When Gary was nine and Barbara Jean was six years old, Mr. and Mrs. Edwards owned a restaurant and nightclub called "The Steak House" in Corbin.  Louise Edwards managed "The Steak House", Mike Edwards provided the entertainment, with several other entertainers!  Gary watched and learned from all of them, but one performer, in particular, was a beautiful lady singer by the name of "Reba Smith."  Reba allowed Gary to sing with her from time to time!  The patrons of "The Steak House" always enjoyed the young boy's music!  In fact, there were many requests for him to perform when he was at the restaurant.  Gary listened and learned from Reba as well as the other musicians associated with his Dad. In fact his Father, Mike, brought the piano player, Bill Felts, to the Edwards home for rehearsal at least once or twice a week. This gave Gary the opportunity to observe and learn first hand and close-up from another professional.    

On weekends, Gary and Barbara Jean spent many hours at "The Steak House"!  Both mom and dad were working the restaurant and club. In a small town like Corbin, the townspeople went out to eat and be entertained mostly on the weekends, so "The Steak House" was a very busy place.  

They both enjoyed the time at the restaurant, many times they got their homework at one of the tables or booths and assisted in busing tables, washing dishes and anything else that they could do at such a young age.  Both Gary and Barbara Jean told me about looking under the booths for loose change after the restaurant closed for the night, Gary said: "that was a great brother and sister experience and lifetime memory!  We sometimes found as much as ten dollars between the two of  us, I am sure Barbara agrees!