Spencer Couple Celebrates 74 Years of Marriage

By Kirsten McIntyre, NEWS 9

MIDWEST CITY, Oklahoma -- It's quite a day for a Spencer couple; they're celebrating their 74th wedding anniversary.

Their love began back when they teenagers and even now in their 90's it hasn't faded.

Lurton and Katherine Dukes say the faith they share has been the most important thing in their 74 years of marriage. Life for them is certainly changing with age, but they remain committed to living out their vows.

Lurton Dukes loves to make music and he also loves to tell stories, especially ones involving the love of his life, his wife, Katherine.

"I was 15 and my wife was 12," Lurton said. "It was our first eye-to-eye look at each other. I learned her eyes were green and I loved it."

Five years went by after that first meeting and on May 26, 1935 Lurton and Katherine Dukes became husband and wife.

"I had $5 for the Justice of the Peace, for marrying us, and that's all the money I had," Lurton said. "Our honeymoon was picking dewberries for 25 and 40 cents a gallon."

"He means life to me," Katherine said. "We've been together since, nearly all of our lives."

These days, home is now a long-term facility in Midwest City. Lurton moved in about a week ago when he couldn't stand being without Katherine any longer. Katherine requires more care so they two have separate rooms, but at least they're together.

"We believe in living together until death do us part, that's what the policy says, and we're doing that," Lurton said. "We're going to do that."

As for their secret to a marriage that has stood the test of time:

"Just baring with each other," Katherine said.

"Well, to cut a story short, it isn't anything else but love," Lurton said. "That's all it is. We loved each other."