LAHARPE — A lot can happen in 65 years.
For Joyce and Harry Lee, who celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary today, the past several decades have brought them seven children, 24 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.
Their love has even outlasted the church where they said their vows.
The couple were married at LaHarpe First Methodist Episcopal Church on Dec. 21, 1958.
Over the past couple of months, they’ve watched as the church is being demolished, brick-by-brick and beam-by-beam.
Before the church is reduced to a pile of rubble, the Lees have taken the opportunity to recreate their wedding day photos there. Photos show them on the steps where they waved to family and friends after making it official; near what was once the altar; and in the center of the church before the stained-glass windows were removed for salvage.
“We captured the new reality,” Harry said.
The photo session brought back memories not only of their wedding but also their many Christmases as husband and wife.
“We just have so much fun together, even after 65 years,” Harry said.
HARRY first saw Joyce Hay in high school.
“I was not too excited about girls until my junior year in high school, and I noticed this cute little farm girl who was also an outstanding athlete,” he recalled.
She played basketball, his favorite sport, and scored a whopping 39 points in one game.
“She’s a good athlete and I worked hard at it, so we were both successful for different reasons.”
Two years after she graduated high school and Harry was in college, they decided Christmas break was the perfect time to get married.
After the ceremony and photos, the newlyweds hopped into Harry’s car, which had been duly decorated.
