Choctaw County
Walking
Sticks
Jerry Thompson would not want to hit a snake with an ugly stick so
he has created beautiful works of art to do the damage. After retiring
from the paper mill industry, Jerry continued to create walking sticks and then
snake sticks in the manner taught to him by his uncle. Jerry says that he
is just playing around to keep himself busy.
Jerry’s walking sticks are made from winter huckleberry that is
usually found in the sandy land where pine trees grow. Since the root of
the tree is the naturally shaped handle, Jerry never knows what he will have
until it is unearthed. Huckleberry is a hard wood whose color can deepen
as the soil it grows in changes. The snake sticks are made from
persimmon, maple, and sassafras. Jerry peels the bark from the wood,
gives it a satin finish sanding, and applies six coats of polyurethane.