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0 90 7BC-KS-PAN--Heart RevivalSLUG

Couple meets again So years laterBYLINE

By BRIAN WILLIAMS/The Ottawa HeraldDECK

EXCERPT

too"or release n weekendeditions . 4 andthereafter Editor: SarahD.Wi AWA,I(un.kep) | It's not exactlypuppy ove.

Although, it may seem ike it is for two Ottawa High Schoolalumni."We feel ike we're15,"Joan Stone,68, of rural Waverly,said.In November,sheplansto wed GeorgeStewart,78, oflar.r'rence.It's not as f they arestrangers, hey've ust taken the scenicroute to eachother.Theyboth attended he sameone-roomschoolhouse, atimer School,southof Ottawaon RockCreekRoad.They FCIttlutt".tded the samechurch and belonged o theJayhawker 4-H Club."we did a lot of hangingout as a group,"said stone,whose amily movedaboutone-eighthmile eastof the school n March Lg49,whenshewas n first grade."My earliestmemoriesof Georgewere of him singing,"Stonesaid.He sang at both their schooland their church, which wasacross he street from the

DeniseN/tu-Student)unday,eptember,2Oo9 :13:34MCT oo:23:df8a:57:c6 9/6/09 :1


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school.Shealso heard a lot about Stewart, he oldest of five, from his youngersiblings."Jack always alked about Georgewith this adoring voice," she said about his youngerbrother who was her age."I had enormousrespect or him becauseof that.""I rememberher as he little girl who lived dornmhe road," Stewart,whose amilymoved across he road from the school n r93r, when he was nine months old, said.After graduating from OttawaHigh School n 1948,Stewart married DonnaCartmilland farmed for awhile beforeattending Ottawa University to study music education.Challengeswith the piano led him to J.C.Penney'swherehe worked at the Ottawa,Lar,r'rencend Independence,Mo.,locationsuntil tg6z."I moved to Lawrencewithout a ob, four kids and a lot of faith," Stewart said.Within five days, Stewarthad two part-time positions at the University of Kansasincluding one as an accountantwith the endor,trynentssociation.Those enuous beginningsevolved nto a 33-year enure with the KU Endor,',.rynentAssociation,which endedwith his retirement as vice-president n 1995.Stone,who's maiden name *ur Ftr" fott t"tboan Hay, graduated rom Ottawa HighSchool n 1959.Her path led her to Robert"Bob"Stone,whom she married n 1968.They moved o StoneMountain, G&.,ust outsideof Atlantain tg7o.After about 15yearsof work in broadcastmedia, she urned her home into aneco-friendly farm and raised registered dairy goatsand then golden retrievers."I've never been afraid to try anything," Stonesaid.Aboutfiveyearsago,Stone'shusband.toldherthathe*u'@-""h l""g*ldying and wanted to take her back to whereher friends and famrly were,she said.

started eeting a few old friends ether coffeegrew into yearlyreunions at PomonaLake, which Ffrutlstotteand her husbandwould drive in their RVto FndfiromGeorgia t .In zoo6, they movedto a farm in rural Waverly near the OsageCounty ine.

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The summer reunions at Pomona Lakecontinued and Stone'sold classmate.JackStewart,wasa regular attendee.In zoo8, he askedStone f hecould bring his brother,George,who had ost his wife ofnearly 59 years n May to Parkinson's disease,alongwith him."I said, I can't seewhy not. He waspart of the community too, bring him, by allmeansr"'she aid."We met for the first time in 5o yearsat least," Stonesaid. "The last time I rememberseeinghim, he wasthe assistantmanager at the Penney'sstore in Ottawa."After the reunion, Stoneremembers her husband,Bob,telling her that he thoughtGeorgewasa nice guy.A few weeks ater, Bob passedaway.When Stewart ound out he sent her a condolencecard and a Christmas card followedsoon after. Theybegane-mailing eachother backand forth."It wasgoodto have one another to walk through the grieving processonline," Stonesaid. "It was good o have someone o share hat with who understoodwhat you weregoing hrough."After months of talking online and counseling and catching other on theirlives for the past 50 years, hey decided o go for coffeeafter a church meeting.Mother Nature had other plans.An ice storm canceledchurch and their time to talk face-to-face."Georgesaid he wasn't going to accept hat and e-mailedbackwith other dates omeet,"Stonesaid with a huge smile.They agreedon a time and then not only had coffee,but wine, dinnerfi and talked forhours aswell."We had so much fun, we did it again the next duy," shesaid.Theybeganseeingeachother almost every other day for severalmonths until Aprilwhen Stewartstopped n to seeStoneon his wayto visit his daughter in Newton.Before eaving he askedher what she would say f he askedher to marry him.

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"I told him that I would probablysay, Yes,"'shesaid.When he returned a few days ater, he was talking about things they would do whenthey were married, Stone said."I said, Wait, you haven't askedme yet,' and then I could see he cogs urning ashewas rememberingour conversation,"Stonesaid."Shewouldn't let me get away without saylng t," he said with a smile.Although their paths to each other havebeenunconventional,neither would chooseadetour."I think the neat part of our relationship is we both loved our mates,and we have nodifficulty discussing hem," Stewartsaid. "I think it's a neat thing to be able to dothat."Stoneagrees."Georgeand Donnahad a goodmarriage.Boband I hada goodmarriage,"Stonesaid."I still love Bob.He still lovesDonna.""Loveexpandsand ovegrowsand this is good,"shesaid.When tr)'rng to put her and George's elationship into perspective,she ooked to herexperienceas a mother."It's like when you have a baby and you think you'll never ove anything as much.Then you haveanother and you love it just asmuch. You don't stop loving the otherone.t t

Denise NrlU-student) Sunday,September6, 2OO9 :13:34 Pl\4CT OO:23:dl:8a:57:c6 916lo9 :13

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