Old folks around here say they used to light smudge pots and put in the yard when someone died.
Back in the days before FB and cel phones and chit.
Back when “sitting up with the dead” was a thing.
Heard of my grannie talk about gong to so and so’s house and uncle Tommy be laid out in the living room.
Body stayed there till the grave.
My father told me his dad was in the living room for a day and a half. Neighbors took turns all night "sitting up".
He said another neighbor that worked for the state put out the smudge pots in the front yard.
1952 or 53 I think.
