He grew up in Schell City, Missouri which is north of El Dorado Springs and east of Nevada. His dad was a milkman when Gary was a child, then later worked as an electrician doing high-line construction. Most of the time Cecil had to work out of town all week and come home on weekends. Gary had a lot of responsibility at his home, with four younger brothers and sisters. He grew up doing outside chores and inside chores. His dad had quarter horses and Gary learned how to ride and take care of them early on.
In 1966, Gary's family moved to Willard, Missouri because Cecil took a job with Frazier Brothers Construction. It was Gary's junior year and he went from a small school where he was playing sports and would have had a graduation class of 12-15 to Willard High School with a graduating class of 120. He did get to run track and play intramural basketball and made some friends at Willard. Even though I also attended Willard, we never had a class together for the two years he was there. Fortunately, we had a mutual friend,Ellen, who thought we would make a good match.
When my grandma, mom and aunt planned a graduation party in May, 1967 for my cousin, Mary, and I,Ellen said she would bring Gary so that we could meet. I was very shy, but agreed. I remember thinking how "cute" he was and my mom really liked him. She liked him so much, she actually said he would make a great son-in-law.
On the last day of school, we traded yearbooks to sign. I signed his, but he didn't get time to sign mine, so he offered to take me home (I rode the bus). For some lame reason, I said "no, the bus is waiting on me." He said he would bring my book to me later.
At the end of the school year, his family moved to Sheldon, Missouri, but Gary had a job with Frisco working in St. Louis and stayed here and lived with Ellen's family, which was very close to my house. Her family attended Springhill Baptist Church and she had invited Gary to church earlier in the school year and he began to attend and eventually joined Springhill. His family had always attended the Christian Church in Schell City.
One day, I saw Gary drive into our driveway and I got butterflies in my stomach. I really liked him but was just very, very shy. He came to the door and knocked. I opened the door. He handed me my yearbook. I said "thank you." He said "goodby." I said "goodbye." He left. I cried and was sad the rest of the day. I thought I would never see him again. He thought I didn't like him. That was in June, 1967.
Ellen kept trying to get him to call me. Finally she set up a double date for us with her and her boyfriend. We went to my church, Glidewell Baptist, on the first Sunday night in January, 1968; then to a youth event in Springfield. He took me home after that in his green convertible mustang and asked me for a date for next Saturday night. I said "yes." He didn't call me all week, but, sure enough, showed up Saturday night for our date. We went to the drive-in movie, which was our "every Saturday night" date. He was working second shift Monday - Friday at Lily Tulip then, so I didn't see him during the week, but always on the weekends. (By the way, the mustang got traded for a buick.)
On our third date, he asked me to marry him and I said "yes." I went in and told my mom and she was, surprisingly, not surprised. She was, however, very happy. I didn't really date much in high school. I was only 18, but sometimes I wonder if she thought I would never get married because I had never had a boyfriend since 4th grade. Well, I worked at Netters Department Store downtown and sometimes he would meet me for lunch. One day when he came to pick me up, I was clocking out at the time clock and he gave me an engagement ring. How's that for romantic? It was on February 13, 1968.
So the plan was to get married in two years. Hah! The thing is...he got his draft notice and the VietNam war was going on....so, we got married on August 10. He went to Kansas City in October, but failed his physical and didn't have to go to the war.
Why did I fall so hard so fast for someone I really hadn't had time to get to know before I agreed to marry him? Well, besides the fact that he was so good looking (dark-complexion, black hair, brown eyes) and wore blue jeans, western shirts, and cowboy boots, owned a couple of quarter horses.......he was a Christian and loved the Lord and His church; he was so good with babies and little kids; he was a hard-worker; He was....all the things I had asked God for in a husband. That's how I knew he was the one.
You know, I didn't ask for a romantic, rich man......but he's a little more romantic now than then...and we aren't rich by any means (with money, that is), but he has worked hard all these years and we are comfortable. He takes care of me and I feel safe with him. When I worry about something, I just need him to tell me it will be alright and then I'm alright. I still love to look into his eyes, hold his hand when we're walking, and feel his arms wrapped around me.
Happy 60th birthday to the only man I have ever loved. (Let's go to the drive-in movie for your birthday!)
Love,
Donna
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