Happily ever after certainly came true for three Red Deer couples — two have been married for 72 years and another for 68 years.
One couple met at a Calgary coffee shop, another grew up in the same small town and cupid’s arrow struck at a high school dance, — the other couple ran into each other at a community dance after competing in track and field at the same high school.
Coincidentally, they all happen to live at Aspen Ridge Optima Living.
Don and Gloria Moore have been married since May 19, 1951 and met when her family moved from Alix to Calgary where they ran a coffee shop.
“It became a neighbourhood hangout. I lived about a block and a half away. We got to know each other quite well because she served at the coffee shop,” said Don, 95.
He said being together was always a priority, which strengthened their relationship.
“We golfed together, we fished together, we camped together. We did everything together.”
Today Gloria, 90, lives with Alzheimer’s. Don said while the disease has interrupted their marriage, he still spends “every hour of every day that he can with her,” sharing meals and participating in activities in the building.
“I’ve had my health problems. Gloria’s had hers, but we’ve survived it all and we love each other dearly.”
Support from their families has also been important, Don added.
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Harley and Ellajean Jones were married on Sept. 22, 1951, after a few chance encounters.
Harley competed in the long jump, and Ellajean was a runner and hurdler at Vancouver Technical Secondary School, and they only knew each other to say hi.
When Ellajean’s family returned to Vancouver after briefly moving to Calgary, she noticed him at a community sock hop.
“I was with another fellow at the dance. He went into the washroom, so I was standing by myself, and I saw Harley standing there by himself. So I went over and I said, ‘You’re Harley Jones for Vancouver Tech aren’t you? He said ‘Yeah I am. Do you want to dance? That was it,’” said Ellajean, 91.
Harley, 94, said seeing each other at track and field and later ending up at the same dance in a huge city — seemed like it was meant to be.
“We’ve always been happy together and still are,” Harley said.
“We’re still in love,” Ellajean said.
“Love and respect,” he added.
“Be considerate of your partner’s wishes. We were very busy with raising our family and we helped each other,” Harley said.
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Cliff and Carol McDermott, who married 68 years ago on June 22, both grew up in Alliance, a village east of Camrose.
“We were raised in a small community so we always knew everybody,” Cliff said.
But sparks didn’t fly until a high school dance.
Carol said they started out as friends, and it grew into something more.
Cliff said they never had a lot of money, but could count on each other. They shared one bank account, and even when their responsibilities kept them apart, there was communication.
“She knows exactly where I’m at. I’m still that way,” joked Cliff.
Seriously though, marriage is one of the toughest jobs, he added.
“You have to work 24 hours a day, every day of the week on it, and you don’t want to let up. That’s my theory. It’s a full, full-time job.”
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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