We met just after Christmas 1965. I used to remember the exact day and time. I guess time does fade some of the memories. He was thirty one and I was eighteen. we had so much in common and yet we were so very different. He was so outgoing and I was on the shy side but we enjoyed just being together whether it was a quite dinner or going to the drive in movies. He ask me to marry him after work the night of Valentines day 1966 and we were married on Friday, September 30, 1966 after ignoring the advice of his family about marrying a girl so much younger than himself. What an adventure it was for the both of us. We had some great times and some rough times too. I know now when looking back, I was blessed that most of our times were so good, filled with such love and that our bad times were all in all over our many years few and far between.

First and foremost he was a  man of the old school, where a man meant exactly that, being a man. That meant that love and respect of God, country and people were the rules of his self respect. That also meant that taking care of his responsibilities, where keeping his word was his bond. He was a devoted family man that never failed to provide for his family. He was dedicated to me, our children and he treated the family he married into like they were his own. He love music but favored jazz and rhythm & blues. He loved to talk and could out argue a fence post. He never met a stranger. When he made a friend, it was for life. There wasn't a lazy bone in his body. He loved the outdoors in any season. His favorite pastimes were playing cards or dominoes. He loved football and baseball. His favorite teams, win or lose, were the Houston Oilers, which is now non existent in Houston and the Houston Astros. He also loved to fish and we knew if he ever came up missing for any length of time, most likely he had gone to the nearest fishing hole. We had four beautiful children who were his pride and his joy. He was a strict Dad, not always agreeing with their decisions, but held a deep love for each of them. He shared their disappointments and bragged on their accomplishments. He tried to instill a sense of responsibility and self pride in each one of them. He wanted all of them to get a good education so that they could have a life better than what he'd had. When they each married, in his eyes, their chosen mates became four more of his children. At the time of his death we had six very precious grandchildren which he loved with such a deep awesome love. He loved for them to visit as well as taking them places and doing things with them. It didn't matter if they went to the park or fishing, played games or just watched television or movies. All that was really important was that they got to spend time together and share their love.