We continue this week by recognizing couples who have been married over 60 years.
It seems that December might be a good month to say, “I do.” Of the 31 couples recognized for 50 or more years together, 10 were married in December. Another similarity in many of the couples is their faith in God and in one another.

It is fitting to start this week’s celebrated couples with words from the letters of the apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a (NIV): “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophesy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

We congratulate these couples: “. . . Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” --1 Cor. 13:13.

70 Plus Years
Lester and Linda McCumbers
(above and below)
Orma
Dec. 18, 1937 - 71 years
Their secret: “We just stayed together.”
Advice: “Do not fight.”
They were married at Mill Fork by Rev. Joe McClung when they were 16. They have lived in Calhoun all their lives and have raised nine children.

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Donzel and Emma Wease
Mt. Zion
Dec. 12, 1948 - 60 years
Their secret: “There weren’t too many fusses, and Donzel is a pretty good fella.”
Advice: “Never go to bed angry, and there are two sides to every story.”

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Hubert and Ettalean Kerby
(above and below)
Mt. Zion
(Hubert passed away Jan. 18)
Mar. 1, 1947 - 61 years
Their secret: “It’s always been what we made of it. We were blessed with two wonderful children, Ronald and Carolyn. Those were very happy years, except a few ups and downs. We stuck with each other.”
Advice: “Love and trust in the Lord and you will out ride the storms. There will be bad and good times, but love each other always.”

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Gordon and Mary McKee
Millstone
Jan. 12, 1947 - 62 years
Their secret: “Devotion, sacrifice, lifetime compromise, and the value of our Christian faith is a top priority, believing in ‘Till death do us part’.”
Advice: “Make sure you are in love and ready to keep that commitment for a lifetime.”

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Denver and Pauline Garretson
(above and below)
Annamoriah
Apr. 9, 1946 - 62 years
Their secret: “Jesus got us together and has taken care of us all these years.”
Advice: “Thank Jesus for all His many blessings. Abide by one another, treat each other good, and love a lot.”

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Scott and Gae Bailey
Minnora
Dec. 31, 1946 - 62 years
Their secret: “Marriage is 50-50.”
Advice: “A couple should always work together and work things out.”

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Glen and Dorothy Fowler
Grantsville
Jan. 5, 1946 - 63 years
Their secret: “The Lord has always been with us. We could always go to him.”
Advice: “Don’t let the sun set on your anger, and give more than you take.”

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Paul and Margie Evans
Arnoldsburg
Feb. 2, 1946 - 63 years
Their secret: “Just always got along.”
Advice: “Give everything you got before giving up.”

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Von and Freda Yoak
(above and below)
Grantsville
June 1, 1942 - 66 years
Their secret: “The great depression taught us how to survive with nothing. We had only one way to go and I had the finest woman in the world to love. We were high school sweethearts and have been together for 70 years loving each other. We can read each other’s minds.”
Advice: “Find a church and go to it together. We were Christians when we married. Raise your family in the church. Remember to start your life at the bottom and work your way up together.”

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Walter Edward (Emory)
and Mary Louise Smith
(above and below)
Grantsville
June 19, 1942 - 66 years
Their secret: “We were always good to each other, helped each other, and took care of each other.”
Advice: “Love and respect each other.”

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Paul and Glenna Fleming
Arnoldsburg
Nov. 22, 1941 - 67 years
Their secret: “We love our children dearly and we stayed together for our family. I am a person of my word and when I made my marriage vow, it was to Paul and God.”
Advice: “Love and respect. Be sure to know the character of your partner and the steps you and that partner want to take to raise your children.”

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Rood and Hester McCartney
Mt. Zion
Apr. 27, 1939 - 69 years
Their secret: “Love and trust each other.”
Advice: “Make sure before you leap into marriage.”