Kermit and Joyce Jeffery will be celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary this year so who better to be recognized on this Valentine's Day? Kermit and Loyce were not only class mates while attending Burr Oak High School, but they soon became high school sweethearts, a love that has remained with them for almost 74 years.

Kermit, who will be celebrating his 90th birthday Friday, has lived in Northbranch all of his life except for the two years he served in the Army. He was born in a Northbranch Academy dormitory just about a 1/4 mile from where he and Joyce now live. His parents, Everett and Zula Jeffery, had some of the academy students living in the same house they and their four boys lived in. That house held special meaning to Kermit as it was the house he was born in.

About 10 years ago Kermit sustained a leg injury while riding his motorcycle. While recovering he construction a model of the house. The model house sits in a corner of the Jefferys' living room and Kermit has a photo of him and his brother Ardean standing in front of a door of that house.

Kermit had three brothers, Lyle, Ardean and Curtis. The brothers remained close and lived within a few miles of each other. The four brothers enjoyed singing together. Under their mother's direction, they formed a quartet while in grade school. They grew up singing together into adulthood. They would sing over two radio stations, at community events, at their church and at numerous funerals. Eventually Lyle would leave the Jeffery Quartet but John Dillon would soon become a member and the tradition was carried on.

Ardean, Kermit, and Curtis farmed together in the Northbranch and Burr Oak areas. They and their families grew up in the Quaker faith, at the Northbranch Friends Church.

It was in the first years in high school that Joyce caught Kermit's eye and they began dating. They laugh as they recall some of their dates. Kermit said, "We'd go to ballgames, school activities, to our parent's homes and to a lot of church services." Loyce remembered Kermit was good in high school sports, especially football. She adds, "I was the cheerleader and cheered him on." Kermit and Loyce attended the junior-senior proms together, and went on their senior sneak. They graduated together in 1949. Their best friends were Kermit's brother, Curtis, and his girlfriend, Marilyn Brandon, both in a grade behind them. "We did a lot of double dating," Kermit added.

Loyce grew up on one of the Lewis farms southwest of Burr Oak and was the daughter of Emmett and Verda Lewis. She worked at the high school office most of her high school years, and even after she graduated. Kermit and Loyce went to high school in the older high school building on the west side of town. They laugh as they remember walking down the sidewalks, across the White Rock bridge to eat lunch in the "lunch room" building next to the limestone grade school building.

It was after their senior year Kermit proposed to Joyce and on Nov. 25, 1951, they were married in a formal wedding at the Northbranch Friends Church with a reception following in the church basement. Standing up with Kermit and Loyce were Curtis and Marilyn. It snowed the day before. That morning the ground was covered with snow, so Kermit had to put chains on his car that was appropriately "just married" decorated following the wedding. They remember the kidding they went through as they drove the car into Johnson and Platt filling station, Burr Oak, to have the chains taken off. They finally got to leave on their honeymoon to Concordia. The next day they decided to go to Lincoln, Neb. Loyce smiled and said,"That was our big honeymoon." After their wedding they lived mostly with Kermit's parents, but would also stay sometimes with Joyce's parents until they could make their own home.

1952 to 1953 proved to be trying times for Kermit and Loyce. Kermit remembers a day well, while staying with his parents. "I was out in the garage with my dad and watched as Loyce walked out to the mail box to get the mail. As she turned to walk back towards the house, I could see she was crying." Loyce saw the letter from the U.S. Government addressed to Kermit. She knew it was his draft notice. Kermit had to leave his bride and went into the Army where he served for two years with most of it being overseas in Germany. Loyce continued to work at the school for Superintendent McCley, and continued staying with Kermit's parents and her parents until Kermit was discharged.

When Kermit returned, it was time to find their own home. Meanwhile Curtis had married Marilyn and so they too were trying to find a home. Loyce said, "There were two small farmhouses within a short distance from each other, right south of Northbranch and we had to choose who wanted which house. Marilyn chose the south one and I was glad as I had wanted the one a little north of the one she chose."

Kermit and Loyce, years later, would remodel and add onto their house, as did Curtis and Marilyn. Kermit and Loyce still live in that remodeled house. Kermit's parents lived a little north of them, with the church building in between. Their Jeffery families were close, as their children arrived and grew up together. Kermit and Loyce have a son, Mark, and his wife, Sherri, who live on the same farmstead Everett and Zula lived on before they moved into Northbranch. Kermit and Loyce also have three daughters, Juel and her husband, Randy, Jenelle, and Jennifer. They enjoy time with their family that now includes 16 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. Mark continues the family farming tradition.

Kermit and Loyce feel blessed to have their life together. They attribute their successful long marriage to their strong love for each other, their faith in God and having attended church together regularly. After the interview, Kermit and Loyce moved towards the couch to have a photo taken together and they quick grabbed each other's hands. Though they are not certain if they will do anything special for Valentine's Day, they know they will be together.

(photos of the model house Kermit made; Kermit and Loyce's engagement photo; present day photo of Kermit and Loyce in their Northbranch home.)