Collier - 40th Anniversary

Friday, July 31, 2015

A couple whose love story began almost a half century ago recently celebrated a milestone anniversary.

Ray and Edythe Collier celebrated their 40th anniversary on Saturday, July 25.

Ray is a logger and Edythe serves as his secretary.

The two met when Edythe was 10 and Ray was nine. Edythe and her family made it to church a little late and they were praying.

Ray turned around to see who had come in, and Edythe tugged on her mom's skirt.

"You see him?" Edythe asked.

"Yes, shhh!" her exasperated mother replied.

"I'm going to marry him someday," the smitten little girl said.

Some nine years later, she did just that. Ray turned 18 on Jan. 26, 1975 and the couple was married almost exactly six months later on July 25, 1975.

They wedding was in the Stilesville church where they had met years earlier.

Two years after the wedding, they welcomed Ray Allen Jr. into the world. Daughter Laura Kay was born a year later.

Ray Jr. is married to Beth, and Laura is married to William.

Ray and Edythe also have five grandchildren, Victoria, Tiara, Katelyn, Emily and Andrew.