Hughes celebrate 60th anniversary years ago
The entire family of Warren and Letha Hughes gathered at the Peabody Senior Center Sept. 1 to celebrate the couple's 60th wedding anniversary.
A professional photographer from Newton was present to photograph the family. He also took many individual family pictures, as well as generation pictures.
A catered meal was served to 37 family members following the photography session.
Tables were set with mix and match primary blue and red clothes and tableware. They were decorated with garden bouquets in blue Mason jars, arranged by Marilyn Jones, mother-in-law of Marc Hughes, son of the Warren Hughes.
Following the meal and a quick family pitch-in cleanup, the celebration moved to Coneburg Inn, which is owned and managed by Carolyn (Hughes) Anderson, daughter of the couple.
The family presented the Hughes with a group gift of a television set and entertainment center.
After the anniversary cake was cut by the couple, their granddaughters played "You're My Best Friend," sung by Don Williams. The granddaughters had remembered their grandmother remarking a few years ago that the song would make a beautiful wedding song.
Cake, mints, nuts, and lemonade were served to the guests.
Those signing the guest register at the reception included Lynn, Anna (Hughes), and Vincent Moore, Ponca City, Okla.; Jacque (Hughes), Robert II, Michael, and Serena Williams, Tulsa, Okla.
Vinnia Rexwinkle, Welch, Okla.; Valjean Kallenberger, Claremore, Okla.; Kenny and Dianna Kallenberger, Enterprise; Trigg and Trisha (Hughes) Witmer, Tianna and Toran, Minneapolis, Minn.; Derek Hughes, Stillwater, Okla.
Tom Grossnickle, Wichita; Warren Dale II, Leilani, and Noel Hughes, Tulsa, Okla.; Amanda O'Kane, Enterprise; Larry, Debbie and Lara Kallenberger, Kechi; Cory Hughes and Sarah Schroeder, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Sean and Tracy (Hughes) Tracy, Taylor and Luke, Frederick, Md; Tim and Kimberly Anderson, Taos, Rayel, Kaycee, and Reed, Gruver, Texas.
W.D. and Juanita Hughes, Emporia; Jack and Chris Hughes, Palmer, Alaska; Marc and Lynn Hughes, Chauncey and Connor, Carney, Okla.; Carolyn (Hughes Grossnickle) Anderson, Jeanetta Farr, Eileen Myers, Richard and June Litton, Bill and Shirley Krause, and Shirley and Larry McClure, all of Peabody.
The remainder of the afternoon and evening was spent visiting, playing pool, eating finger foods, and listening to Roy D. Mercer tell stories. All this was combined with a lot of laughing.
When Warren was asked what the secret is for staying married for 60 years, he replied that marriage takes a lot of hard work on each's part, and you never give up. He continued, "I can still see Letha today as I saw her the very first time I laid eyes on her — 75 years ago. She is just as pretty now as she was then and we have made it 60 years together. You know, Letha and I each came from big families, 14 brothers and sisters for me and nine for her, and we are even the younger of the kids at that, and we are the first to celebrate our 60th anniversary in either of our families. Now isn't that something?" Letha's reply was a nod of her head, misting of her eyes, and a smile on her face.
