Harrell Ray and Hazel Fern Wilson

Darrell Ray and Glenna Wilson

Harrell came home from the Navy, 1958 November.

One night he came in the Steak House, I went home and told Daddy I had met the man I would marry, he said it takes 5, I said no it takes 2; He replied “You, He, 2 witnesses, And someone to read the vows.”

Our first date he had just or was in the process of buying a 1957 blue and white Chevy for Mac. We got in front or Lee’s Grocery on North First and the tie rod broke, fixed it with baling wire and went home.

He left for school in Oklahoma seemed like he was gone for a long time (he wasn’t); When he came home we started dating on January 9, 1960 he asked me to marry him, we were wed in the Pastor study of Calvary Baptist Church on Washington. Darrell and Glenna were our witnesses, Ronnie and Sondra were there also. Harrell gave Bro. Ward the license and said there is something wrong with them, Bro Ward said, “there was no error”, HR replied “there is no expiration date…”

Valorie Raynell was born in Stanton, CA. February 7, 1963, a few days earlier I had given Mom Wilson a perm. We had cooked supper and had friends over for cards, got up to cut the cake we had baked, sat right back down, tried again and wet all over the floor, went to the hospital, not ready, she came 2 or 3 days later after a specialist came into the picture.

Blackie East died around the 10th of May 1967; felt HR should be with his family considering how close they were. I was in labor every mile, Harrell would ask if I needed to walk, Harrell Ray (Winky) Wilson was born May 29th 1967 in Long Beach, CA: Memorial hospital. I was really straining , HR said Fern you are going to mess yourself, and I told him it was all his fault. He asked if I wanted something to eat, I did so he got me a cheeseburger and I ate every bite of it.

We moved back to Artesia November 1969, Melissa Jo was born May 11, 1970 on Daddy’s 62 birthday. Harrell was in Odessa, Texas , with Joe & Bobbie Solt.

We went into business 1976 and lost everything 1986  when the oilfield went down..

Here we are old & tired but still in LOVE whether he will admit or not.

Darrell and Glenna met in April and married in August in 1959. Darrell and his first wife, Shirley, already had 2 children Steve and Teresa, but he and Glenna didn't have children until the 12th year of their marriage when Darin was born. Two years later,Tracy was born.
This will be their 54th year together and both say they would do it again.