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photo by Luke Horton
Bob and Marie kiss for the first time as a married couple.
Couple reunited after spending lifetime apart
Published Saturday, December 15, 2007
He tried to steady an outstretched hand to prove he was calm. But his fingers trembled, his hand betrayed him. Despite his attempts to hide it, Bob McAllister was nervous.
On the opposite end of the church, Marie Shaifer was waiting behind closed doors. She checked her makeup and checked it again and again. She was nervous, too.
A wedding was nothing new to either of them. Both had been married before — this was Bob’s third and Marie’s second. But it was different this time. This marriage was 72 years in the making.
Bob first met Marie in 1935. He was 18. She was 16. Marie was visiting family in Cleveland, Ohio, and ran into Bob at church. Marie’s twin sister, Alice, had fallen in love with Bob’s cousin and the four of them hung out together throughout that summer.
“I first fell in love with Marie back then,” Bob said. “That’s when the romance began.”
Marie tells a different story.
“We had a lot of fun back then, but I wasn’t in love,” Marie said. “I was only 16, I didn’t know what love was.”
Marie returned to Natchez for the start of school and left Bob in Cleveland.
“I didn’t think much about it when I left Cleveland,” she said. “I didn’t hear from him again, so that was that.”
Bob and Marie went on with their lives separately. Bob married his first wife and went into the ministry. He served on the mission field in 10 different countries and pastored several churches.
Marie stayed in Natchez and married a “fine Christian man.” Her husband died in 1999 after 60 years of marriage.
Bob and Marie never expected to hear from each other again. The years went on and both grew old. After outliving their spouses, they were single again and not looking for romance. Bob had lost his second wife in 2004.
This past March, Bob had heart surgery, and it was that unfortunate event that brought the two back together. Marie’s sister knew about Bob’s operation and convinced her to send him a get well card.
“I got the card and the name rang a bell,” Bob said. “I thought, I remember that sweet Mississippi girl. I can’t believe she’s still alive.
“I got her number from Alice and called her up. I asked her if the flame was still burning.”
Bob and Marie decided to get together for a visit, so Bob flew to Natchez. They spent four days rekindling the decades old flame. A month later, Marie, now 88, flew to Bob’s home in Florida to help him celebrate his 90th birthday.
“When she left Florida, she told me I had to come to her birthday party in Ohio, so I did,” he said.
During the trip to Ohio, the two went for a walk through a flower garden in downtown Cleveland. They stopped to rest at a gazebo and Bob proposed to Marie.
“She made me get down on one knee to ask her,” Bob said jokingly. “She said yes, but at my age, the only problem was getting back up.
This was the fourth time Bob had proposed to Marie in as many months.
“I finally wore her down,” he said. “I guess the fourth time’s the charm.”
With family and friends looking on, Marie walked down the aisle of the First Baptist Church with Bob waiting on her at the alter. They joined arms and Bob sang a song for his new wife. They said their vows and on Thursday night, kissed for the first time as a married couple.
When it all over, the two sat together holding hands. They smiled at each other, both obviously less nervous now.
“My nerves can finally settle now,” Bob said. “We were both shaking so much during the ceremony. It was the weak leaning on the weak for support.”
Comments
Posted by sportsgirl81 (anonymous) on December 16, 2007 at 12:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How precious! I hope that you have a very good life together! Merry Christmas!
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on December 16, 2007 at 8:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
that is the sweetest story!!
Posted by itsjustme (anonymous) on December 16, 2007 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That is just the sweetest story. I wish yall the very best.
It just goes to show you how all things happen for a reason, good or bad. If he had not had a heart attack, she would not have sent him the get well card and they may not have ever gotten back together. I'M so glad they did. Everyone needs someone to love in their life.
CONGRATULATIONS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!
Posted by traceb (anonymous) on December 16, 2007 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's these kind of sweet stories will live to hear.
Posted by Morticia (anonymous) on December 16, 2007 at 2:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations! Now this is news we love to hear. Merry Christmas and happy New Year!
Posted by callitasitis (anonymous) on December 16, 2007 at 6:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I've known Marie for 30 plus years. If Bob is as nice and as kind of a person as Marie, they'll be a wonderfully blessed couple. We will all be blessed for knowing them. This is trully a story to pull at ones heart-strings.
Posted by wonderingirl (anonymous) on December 17, 2007 at 3:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess the saying "It is never too late to live happily ever after!" is really true!
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on December 17, 2007 at 4:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Romance, I love it!
I wish this sweet couple the very best of everything!
What a wonderful story!
THANKYOU ND
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on December 17, 2007 at 8:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
AWE!!!! Now this is a story!!
Posted by dixiemama (anonymous) on December 17, 2007 at 11:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr.& Mrs. McAllister, I wish you the best in all you do. This is the kind of Christmas story that brings happiness to all.
Posted by HappyAppy (anonymous) on December 17, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It would be wonderfull if this was the only types of stories we saw in the news. If there were no violance, ignorance (ie hatered), My Chrismas wish is for peace and the only news was good.
But sence that will never happen.... Lets just hope for more of these wonerful stories. HOHOHO Merry Christams Everybody
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on December 18, 2007 at 7:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Only the very best of wishes to you two sweeties. Have a very Merry Christmas, you've been given a wonderful gift. Be happy all the rest of your years together.
Posted by thelorax (anonymous) on December 18, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As they say ; "Love conquers all"
Congrats to the happy couple.
My Grandparents married late in life. They were in their 70's. They spent many happy loved filled years together.
Hoping the same for this couple.
Posted by ntzluv (anonymous) on December 19, 2007 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow! This is a great story! Congratulations!!!!!!!!
Posted by toosweetlej (anonymous) on December 19, 2007 at 12:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How I wish that was me! i WOULD LOVE TO BE REUNITED WITH MY EX-HUSBAND. But I doubt that will ever happen. We can't even be civil toward each other, but anyway God bless the couple that did. May you stay together forever.
Posted by ntz143 (anonymous) on December 19, 2007 at 9:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
wow! the love of my life lives in Oxford and I wonder if someday, 30 years after our last kiss, if we will ever be renited. This story gives me hope.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on December 22, 2007 at 7:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WOW That is great to hear about all of you also having "lost loves" because soon I will be seeing mine who I have not seen in many moons and he lives in Texas but he is married but I still would love to be friends with him....why not huh? He IS the one that "got away".
Posted by buttercup26 (anonymous) on December 27, 2007 at 1:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i knew it!! true love does exist.. and when the time comes one will find it!! or in this case rekindle it...
Posted by blueeydlady101 (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 8:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is a wonderful story that we all need to hear about. there is still hope for true romance in this world. HAPPY NEW YEAR and MAY YOU BOTH BE HAPPY TOGETHER>
Posted by dixiemama (anonymous) on January 13, 2008 at 12:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great love story. I hope you two love birds have lots of happiness.
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