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Couple celebrate 67th wedding anniversary
Motts met on a double date in 1938, married two years later
Saturday, November 10, 2007
ST. PARIS — Ray and Mary Mott's home in rural Champaign County is small and simple and surrounded on all sides by silent, open fields.
The couple have lived here for 51 of their 67 years together.
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Largely housebound now because of Ray's health issues, they live, by their own admission, a quiet life. Mary, 88, looks after Ray, 87, monitoring his oxygen tank and taking care of his daily needs.
On Oct. 26 the couple quietly celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary. Ray gave Mary 18 bright pink roses. Cards poured in from family, friends and well wishers, 67 cards to be exact, one for each year of marriage.
The two met on a double date in 1938 and, according to Mary, it was far from love at first sight. Attending an outdoor movie with another couple, accommodations were somewhat cramped.
"They had a little coupe and I had to set on his lap, I didn't like that," Mary explained. "When he left I thought, well, I'm not going to see him anymore."
Not to be deterred, Ray continued to pursue Mary, promising to stop by Mary's home with a box of candy.
"I knew that she was the one I guess," said Ray.
"He came by, but it was without the box of candy," Mary said, adding with a laugh. "He grew on me." The couple married in 1940. Ray worked as a machinist at Hobart in Troy and Mary was a secretary at Grimes Aerospace in Urbana. The Motts raised two children, "a preacher and a teacher." Their son, Wayne (Randy) Mott, pastors Harvest Baptist Temple in Clyde, Ohio. Their daughter, Cinda Bright, teaches at Bethel Local schools in Miami County.
Faith has always been a priority in the Mott home and played a huge role in what the they describe as the most important moment of their married life.
"Our son's a pastor ... he came over and talked to us one night, and shortly after that we were saved," explained Mary.
Comments
By Resident
November 11, 2007 9:45 PM | Link to this
Congrats, it seems now days young couples are not willing to work though the bad times in a relationship. It sure is nice to see a story like this in the news.
By Cheryl Collins-LeVan
November 11, 2007 8:45 AM | Link to this
Congratulations! God Bless You and yours.
By jamestown
November 10, 2007 11:35 AM | Link to this
What an example this couple is to young couples today. God bless them!
By Eileen
November 10, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this
Congratulaions to this couple. We too, were married 67 years last May. We were married in Springfield and now live in Michigan close to our daughter. We are able to drive if not too far, attend church regularly and work at the church one afternoon a week. So it is possible to live with one partner if you love one another and put that person first!Having Christ the head of your home is important and regular church attendance.
By Spfld resident
November 9, 2007 11:34 PM | Link to this
Congratulations on 67 years of marriage! We should all strive to emulate your faithful example to one another. Good luck in the years to come.