Waltz or foxtrot?
It91裸聊视频檚 not the steps they remember, it91裸聊视频檚 the power of that one dance that sparked a 75-year marriage for Mary and Lawrence Williams.
At 19, Mary was living in Reston, Manitoba where her father owned a grocery store, and 20-year-old Lawrence lived 75 miles north in Foxwarren.
91裸聊视频淲e met on persuasion of one of her friends and one of mine,91裸聊视频� laughed Lawrence, who had made the trip to Reston to attend a spring dance towards the end of May 1948.
91裸聊视频淚n a small town 91裸聊视频� you knew all the boys, so for a handsome young man to show up was quite exciting,91裸聊视频� said Mary with a mischievous grin. 91裸聊视频淗e was so handsome and so different 91裸聊视频� a mystery to be unravelled.91裸聊视频�
The magic of that one dance remained with Lawrence, who was soon wooing Mary with walks in a park, bicycle rides and animated conversation.
He proposed on July 15, gave Mary an engagement ring on her birthday in October and married her at 7:15 p.m. Christmas Eve in Reston United Church.
91裸聊视频淲e had to be early so people could get home to fill stockings,91裸聊视频� laughed Mary.
Lawrence recalled that as of Dec. 20, 1948 there was four feet of snow on the ground and that it was fortunate he and his family lived north of Reston.
91裸聊视频淭he main east-west roadways were blocked by snowdrifts, but the wind had cleared the north-south roads,91裸聊视频� he said, pointing out that the Prairie wind had created huge snow drifts that closed many of the roads.
After a brief honeymoon in Regina, the couple settled in Woodnorth, Manitoba.
91裸聊视频淭he following year we started our movements,91裸聊视频� said Lawrence, with an infectious laugh.
Between 1949 and 1969, the couple moved from Manitoba to Saskatchewan, to Alberta, back to Manitoba, then Alberta again, before finding their place in B. C.
91裸聊视频淭here was nothing further west so we had to stop,91裸聊视频� says Lawrence.
The couple arrived in Salmon Arm in 1969, accompanied by their four children, 19-year-old Keir, 16-year-old Kerry, Rhonda, 11 and three-year-old Gwen.
They purchased Ell Dees Drive-In located at the top of Tank Hill on the site of the current Interior Health Outpatient Lab. The restaurant, which offered dine-in and carhop service, was situated on one acre that boasted 17 apple trees and a trailer.
91裸聊视频淲e tested a red apple milkshake and it drew people back,91裸聊视频� says Lawrence with pride. 91裸聊视频淎nd the young people of the day still call us Mom and Pop and ask us to make them a hamburger.91裸聊视频�
At the end of four-and-a-half years and having had only two days off each year, Mary and Lawrence sold the restaurant.
91裸聊视频淲e were tired,91裸聊视频� noted Lawrence, who pointed out that the couple had also been operating what is now Finz Restaurant in Blind Bay, a coffee shop in Sicamous and a business renting and selling tent trailers. As well, Mary catered some five meals per weekend to busloads of people from Calgary and Edmonton that the Barker family was bringing to view their new Blind Bay Estates development.
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In 1974, the couple sold off all their businesses, kept one of the trailers and travelled across Canada. While they were in St. John91裸聊视频檚, New Brunswick, Lawrence called to accept a job as personnel and member relations manager with Salmon Arm91裸聊视频檚 Mainline Co-op. And, upon their return, Mary became manager of the new Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant. In 1991 she worked as a nanny in Pennsylvania for one year.
Lawrence finally retired from working, including 17 years of preparing income tax returns for up to 100 clients annually, in 2018.
That the couple continue to share deep and abiding love for each other is evident in their affectionate banter, laughter and attitude.
91裸聊视频淲e had so many shared interests and we liked doing the same things,91裸聊视频� said Mary with a smile. 91裸聊视频淗e was a family man and he was tidy.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淲e just fit,91裸聊视频� Lawrence added, noting the couple loved to sing, were members of the Shuswap Singers and took up cross-country skiing at Larch Hills in 1980. 91裸聊视频淚t is a comfort to have someone who cares about you and shares your hopes and dreams.91裸聊视频�
These days, the parents to four, grandparents to nine and great grandparents to 10 (with twins on the way), drink coffee at Tim Horton91裸聊视频檚, go shopping and invite friends to their home.
Lawrence, who managed the local legion for 10 years, said being part of the Salmon Arm community has been wonderful and that anyone he and Mary meet become instant friends.
On Dec, 13, members of the community showed their appreciation. The couple thought they were meeting two couples for drinks and a meal at the legion, and were surprised to find the place filled with people ready to celebrate their 75 years of happy marriage.
91裸聊视频淭hey were there for us and I am pretty damn satisfied,91裸聊视频� said Lawrence proudly.
At 7:15 p.m. on Dec. 24, 2023, Mary and Lawrence were joined by another couple to celebrate their enduring love for each other with a festive meal at the Vernon Lodge.
