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GREGORY - GASTON
September 13, 2003
Wartime prevented newlyweds honeymoon 60 years ago
It's hard for Francis and Susie Gregory to recall a time when they weren't together. They met when she was 14 and he was 16, were sweet on each other for five years and married on Sept. 11, 1943. Sunday, they will celebrate their 60th anniversary with a drop-in at Philippi Baptist Church.
There wasn't time for a honeymoon trip after the wedding. Gregory was home on leave from World War II for only a week. In fact, after that short leave the Army sent him to California and his wife didn't see him again for more than two years. They plan to make up for that now. We're going on a honeymoon to the mountains, Mrs. Gregory said a laugh. The former Susie Gaston, Mrs. Gregory was living in Chester with her family when her sister's husband, J.B. Tracey, brought Gregory over for a visit. All I can say is I just fell in love with him, Mrs. Gregory said.
I knew he was the one for me and he sure has been good to me. I just liked her, that's all, Gregory said. And we decided to get married. The couple bought their marriage license from Miss Hattie Hardin, the probate court judge in Chester who just happened to be Mrs. Gregory's former grammar school teacher. They got married at the home of Preacher Wallace, the pastor at Lockhart Presbyterian, with Virgie and J.B. Tracey in attendance.
A week later, Gregory was gone. His service in World War II included duty in Australia, New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies. Pneumonia nearly took his life not long after he entered the service. He came so close to death his family was called in. They told my mama and daddy they had better come on if they wanted to see me, but I got better, he said.
Gregory was discharged in 1945. His wife had been saving the money he sent home and they built a house on the Mt. Tabor Church Road. Gregory became a cattle farmer and went to work as a builder, first with Smith Lumber and later with Berry Brothers (later Berry Builder Mart). He and two partners, Bud and Aubrey Garner, later went out on their own as contractors. Gregory worked as assistant county supervisor with the Farmer's Home Administration office in Union from 1969 until his retirement in 1994.
The Gregorys are members of Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church where he is an elder, has served as a deacon and was treasurer for many years. Mrs. Gregory taught the young people's Sunday School class and was treasurer of the Sunday School. They have one son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Jewel Gregory; two grandchildren: Nick Gregory and Andrea Butler; and two great-grandchildren, Baylee and Grant Butler.
Mrs. Gregory watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow has been one of her greatest pleasures. I just enjoy seeing them learn to crawl and walk and talk, she said. We just love them to death. The Gregory's said there are no secrets to having a lasting marriage. It should begin with a good foundation, spiritually and financially. Treat each other right and devote as much time to church as you possibly can, Gregory said. And try to stay in a pretty good job. And work and cooperate with each other, Mrs. Gregory added.
Wartime This photograph of Francis Gregory was made during World War II. Young bride Susie Gaston was 19 when she married Francis Gregory.
By ANNA BROWN
