140 years of marriage celebrated at Monette Manor

Monette Manor residents and staff, along with family members, celebrated two 70th wedding anniversaries on Monday, June 22.

Couples honored were Roy and Birtha Clowers and Floyd and Frankie Henry.

The party was a surprise to honorees. Two picture boards of old photographs were displayed of the couples and their families. Teresa Hembrey, activity director, created the boards and welcomed family members.

Roy and Birtha Clowers were married 70 years on June 22. (Town Crier photos/Revis Blaylock)

Monette Manor presented each couple with a large anniversary souvenir plate and pen. Family members and friends signed the plate with well wishes giving them a keepsake of the event.

Roy Clowers and Birtha Leird were married June 22, 1939, in Bald Knob. Mr. Clowers was born near Heber Springs and Mrs. Clowers was born in Scott County.

They are the parents of four sons, Rick, Danny, Robert and Jack. They have five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Mr. Clowers was a farmer and Mrs. Clowers was a homemaker and worked at American Greetings for several years.

They were long time residents of Leachville where they lived and raised their sons.

Mr. Clowers is actually a nephew of Clifton Clowers of Woolverton Mountain, made well known through the popular country song. He said his uncle lived to be 103 years old.

Mr. and Mrs. Clowers welcomed several family members and friends.

"This is really nice of everyone to do this for us," Mrs. Clowers said.

Floyd and Frankie Henry of Manila were married 70 years on Sunday, June 21.

Floyd and Frankie Henry were married 70 years on June 21.

Floyd Henry and Frankie Morris married in Blytheville on June 21, 1939, and have lived in Manila all of their lives. His father, George Lewis Henry, was an early pioneer of the area. He helped bring the railroad from Jonesboro to Blytheville.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry are the parents of four sons and one daughter. They are Eugene, Jimmy, Lonnie (deceased), and Ricky Henry and Bonnie Beal. They have 14 grandchildren (two deceased) and several great-grandchildren.

Mr. Henry is 92 and Mrs. Henry is 85. Before retiring Mr. Henry farmed, worked in factories and owned a gas station for awhile. Mrs. Henry was a nurses aid at Manila Nursing Home for 27 years.

Mr. Henry visits his wife every day at Monette Manor.

Through the years they have enjoyed fishing together and have fished from coast to coast.

Both couples agree the last 70 years have passed fast and if they had it to do over, they would marry each other all over again.

Laverne Austin, staff member, congratulated both couples.

"This is something you don't see much today," she said. "Enjoy your day."

The song "You Are My Sunshine" was played on request of Mr. Clowers.