Gregory McKelvey McKelvey
Rhonda McKelvey Royse
Gregory's Latest Interactions
happy happy birthday
60 years married, 67 years since our first dance.
Happy birthday.
Happy, happy, happiest birthday, Tom.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Help us Please
Celebrate our 60th Wedding Anniversary
June 6, 2025
Sally & Greg McKelvey
If you are in Tucson between 1 pm and 6 pm
drop by for
Wine, Cheese & Snacks
4505 N. Silverbell Road
Tucson, AZ 85745
RSVP if you can
602 561 5915 / gempressphotos@gmail.com
Surprises always welcome.
No gifts, please
Bring stories, memories, caring, and love.
happy happy happies to you good man
Posted on: Dec 24, 2024 at 1:33 AM
Gregory and Sally 2024. Tucson
The happiest of days ever
Happy happiest birthday
happy happy birthday. !!!!!
Fifty-Nine Years
"We gather here today to celebrate the marriage of Sally Jo Addicott to Gregory E. McKelvey. Dear friends and family, I am honored to join these two long-time sweethearts to commence their lifelong journey into a bright and exciting venture exploring life, love, and family. We know not where they will go nor what they may encounter, try, test, or experience; however, we know they will do it together. "These and other words spoken in a Palo Alto church on June 6, 1965, formalized a marriage, a friendship, and mutual respect of two young people some fifty-nine years ago.
Time tested our resolve, strained but strengthened our love, fortified our caring, and constructed our mutual respect while growing as people, friends, and lovers. Each grew as an individual and together as a couple. We lived in Lancaster, Pa., Salt Lake City, Utah, Tucson, Arizona, Spokane, Washington, Tucson again, Santiago, Chile, Scottsdale; then Peoria, Arizona; years in Pine, Arizona; and back to Tucson. Some of the most rewarding times were in Chile, where we learned more about ourselves being in another culture.
Sally's art blossomed from sewing, fashion design, paintings, textiles, weaving & quilting to design and superb camera work. About one-third of our marriage passed, with one of us being away on business or working in distant places. We raised two beautiful daughters and enjoyed brightened homecomings and special unplanned times together. Trips we did take: Hawaii, Galapagos, Macho Peachu, Easter Island, Torre del Pinie, South Africa, India, New Zealand, Bolivia, Costa Rica, jungles in Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Mexico, Nambia, Easter Island, Botswana, Ecuador, most Western United States National and State parks, and every state in the USA.
Sally is the artist, me the science guy. She sees form, color, feeling, and comfort; I look for solutions and reasons. Yet I learned of my artistic and caring sides from her and how to give unconditionally. Opposites do offer complementary perspectives. No chat about marriage does not include, "What is your secret?". It is not a secret! I worry when people ask that. Is caring, giving, compromising, respecting, listening, forgiving, building on the positives, and learning from conflict a secret? We do not talk about religion or politics. We do not try to influence others; each opinion needs respect and privacy. We reject hate.
We spent almost 1/3 of our married life apart, not estranged, but apart for work. How is that positive, you ask? We know the essential things we missed while away, and we gave space to each other to be both solid individuals and a caring couple. We agreed on more things than we disagreed. Our values grew as one, and we learned when to help and when to provide space. We always try to listen to the other point of view and be in their shoes, so to say. We learned this in Chile while living in someone else's culture. Judge our words not on what we say but as others may hear them.
I have loved this lady since our first dance in 8th grade. Married before entering graduate school, we know, care, and respect each other. Fifty-nine years after our wedding, we still tease, laugh, help, care, and remain deeply in love. Age arrives with new challenges, yet our foundation prepares us to address each other and support each other.
We will celebrate together in private. Abandoned for this year are the zip line, bungee jumping, bull riding, tag team shopping, running a marathon in the baking desert, annual window washing, midnight street racing, the trip to the space station, or waiting in line at Costco. We know of no Hallmark anniversary symbols for this milestone; that can wait another year.
Facing dementia, Crohn's, arthritis, kidney disease, ostioperos, carcinoma, cataracts, and other aging ailments, we support and care together. Our strength from 59 years together is enormous and more than enough to deal with whatever passes our way.
Hope that you are continuing to click your camera as one of many ways to enjoy life and celebrate the beauty around us.
Hola old buddy. Such fond memories we hold from our days together
