On June 23, 1962, a young man from Dale married a girl from Texas City. Charles Smith, known as “Chick,” had met Emma Lee Phelps on a blind date, and that one date led to another. They soon found they had many things in common; they both loved their family and friends, and they both loved the Lord. In December 1961, Chick told Emma Lee that he bought her carrots for a Christmas present. She thought he meant vegetables, but it was a diamond ring. When he asked the question, she said yes. A June wedding was planned and held at Star General Baptist Church. Tom and Lil Rippy stood up with them, and Emma’s brother Raymond married them. The couple set off for a honeymoon in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee. The Smiths were not a family who traveled outside of Hamilton County, so this amazed Chick’s father. After the couple had been gone a few days, Grandpa said, “I think Chick took his honey and went to the moon”! The couple returned to Dale and began their life of farming and gardening together. In 1964, they welcomed their first child, Ronald Andrew, into their home. In 1966, they brought home a baby sister for Ronnie; her name was Emily Ann. In 1977, a third child, Joshua Cletus, blessed their home. Ron married Kim Biggerstaff and they had three boys — Kane, Logan and Trase. Josh married Karen Bahr and they have two children, Grant and Isla. On June 23, 2012, Chick and Emma Lee will have been married for 50 years. You may send them a card of congratulations to the same address they have had for the last 47 years —Route 5, Box 172, McLeansboro, IL, 62859.