70th Anniversary
Their first meeting is a source of historical disagreement. Lamar remembers being present for Mary Gails first bath after she was brought home from the hospital in Mena, Arkansas. Mary Gail strongly disagrees, so this first official encounter is still under dispute. Their courtship lasted a lifetime with Lamar and Mary Gail, always aware of each other, even when Mary Gail’s family moved away from Mena, Ark. to Arkadelphia and then to North Little Rock, Ark. Lamar and his family moved to Las Cruces, NM during his teen years, but the families were still in touch. Letters have recently been discovered showing Lamar corresponding with Mary Gail’s mother during her college years. It appears that there had been behind the scenes matchmaking going on that Mary Gail was unaware of.
In 1955 Lamar was in the Army and stationed in North Carolina, Mary Gail was a Senior at the University of Arkansas. On his way home for Christmas break he decided to make a detour stop in Little Rock, where he dropped by Mary Gail’s home unexpectedly only to discover she was on a date. Her parents, who adored Lamar, asked him to stay the night. Much to Mary Gails surprise he was there waiting for her when her date brought her home.
The rest is history!
On April 1, 1956, Mary Gail Anderson married Lamar Edward Gwaltney in North Little Rock, Ark. Following the wedding, they stopped for a short Honeymoon in Hot Springs Ark., then drove on to Las Cruces, NM where they have lived for the past 70 years in wedded bliss!
They have been blessed with four Children, seven Grand Children, and currently have three Great Grandchildren with three more babies due this July. They have lived a wonderful, colorful life filled with great friendships, travels, family and a lifetime of memories.
Congratulations on 70 wonderful years of love and family!
