Octogenarians celebrate new beginning

It’s a fairy-tale ending. Or rather, it is a fairy-tale beginning.

"They aren’t continuing to mourn their spouses who passed away, they’re moving on," said Marla McLean. "They’re living their lives. They’re happy together. That’s why I put ‘A New Beginning’ on their wedding program, because that’s what this is for them."

McLean’s father, Howard Cassells, married Shirley Jean Pigg Saturday at the Palm West Community Church in Sun City West. Cassells is 89, and Pigg, now a Cassells herself, is 81. They met through the church and have known each other for years. And to hear Shirley tell it, Howard has been after her for years, too.

"You know how this started," Shirley said in her vows. "You pursued me and pursued me and pursued me until the Lord finally opened my eyes to you."

When Shirley finished her vows, Howard was overcome. "I’m going to kiss you now," he said, and did just that even as the reverend playfully admonished him.

When the ceremony was over, the Rev. Kenneth Kliever said, "You may now kiss your bride again."

McLean said she has seen that kind of behavior from her father ever since he and Shirley began seeing each other.

"It’s so amazing to see my 89-year-old father act like a 16-year-old boy," she said. "He is so happy. They are so adorable, too. They hold hands when they’re out. They’re like teenagers; it’s like new love."

One of Howard’s other children, Vesta Miller, said she and the other family members are getting along very well, even though the romance came about quickly.

"We’re all just happy they’re happy," Miller said. "When you’re their age, you don’t have a lot of time to waste, you know? We all think it’s beautiful."

The two families enjoyed a Thanksgiving together this year, during which McLean said they all got to know each other.

"It’s such a joy for us to be able to expand our families like this," she said. "We’re all so uplifted when we see them together."

The couple will head out on a Caribbean cruise for their honeymoon, and McLean said the families and the church congregation could not be happier for them.

"I live in Sun City myself," she said. "And let’s be honest, there are just so many funerals out here. I think the community is really happy to be able to celebrate a joyous event like this. It’s a wonderful story. As a widow and a widower, I think they were both just so surprised to find each other like this. It really is an amazing thing."

Howard made that clear in his vows to Shirley.

"I can only give thanks that I have found you."

Jeff Dempsey may be reached at 623-876-2531 or jdempsey@yourwestvalley.com.