At 59 years of age Grandpa gave up on his second marriage, although there is no record that the marriage was formally dissolved in divorce. From this time forward he took the role of ``Grandfather'' to a growing list of children, totalling twenty-two grandchildren in the families of four of his children. In these twenty-five years he worked with Ulrich on all types of farm related jobs, but was best known for his delivery hack in which he delivered milk, butter and vegetables from the farm to customers in Jackson and along the road. He made three trips a week, and ran regular delivery routes to stores and homes with fresh produce from the farm. Such a service made the dairy herd of the Hammond farm more profitable, as well as opening a market for surplus berries, fruits, vegetables and poultry produced on the little farm. When more hands were available firewood was sometimes sold also.
Besides his hack for deliveries, Grandpa Watlington always kept a buggy in good repair for his social visits and taking the children to church or other special activities. His riding horse or buggy provided him with the means to keep in close contact with his relatives and friends in Jack's Creek, Henderson, Pinson, Big Springs, and Crockett County. He was a man of the open road, and always identified living with traveling on. His wide associations and friendships revealed his interest in people and his qualities as a good friend and host. ``Miss Jennie'' always welcomed his guests at home in a way to reciprocate well the hospitality he received elsewhere. As long as he had his own home he was known as ``one who set a good table'' for guests who appeared, and his son and daughter-in-law kept up the tradition.
Grandpa Watlington knew his kindred and the kinship pattern of his ancestors. He had lived in the house with his own Grandfather and Grandmother George and Catherine Watlington while attending school as a lad before the Civil War, and he knew the good, bad and indifferent about his folks during the intervening years. These more leisurely sunset years gave him the freedom to keep alive the memory of them and to get to know the younger generations. Through his good memory and interest in the family we have received the oral tradition and the kinship pattern outline of the Watlingtons of West Tennessee. His granddaughter, Clara Mai, wrote these down as he described them about 1929-30 and passed them on to the writer years later.
Mack Rob proved to be strong in health and was able to be active into his 83rd year. He was still able to shuck corn, feed the hogs, and work in the garden, as well as to hitch up the mare for a buggy ride. During the Summer of 1937 he grew weaker and less venturesome, but was still alert in mind and body. He dreaded to be a bed patient, or to have anyone wait on him, and forced himself to care for himself until the last days of his life. He died at home on October 9, 1937, while the family was busy with the annual sorghum making in a nearby meadow. His funeral was held at the Big Springs Methodist Church around which so much of his life had been centered. He was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery near Aunt Susie, his wife Eula, children Paulin and Ethel, and many other relatives and friends.