The Gift Of Their Love

When she first met him, she told me that her heart skipped a beat. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen. That view of him never changed. He was older than she was, which was not unusual in those days. Her own dad was sixteen years older than her mom. Still, my mom, Collene (Byer) Spencer was just a girl of 15 or 16 years, and my dad, Allen Spencer was 12 years older than she was. Nevertheless, their love was real and lasting. Her parents, George and Hattie Byer liked him too, so there was no problem there. He had been a friend my Aunt Virginia (Byer) Beadle and her later ex-husband, Jim Reynolds’ for a while before he met my mom. Once they met, however, he and my mom were a match made in Heaven, and neither one of them were ever interested in anyone else again.

They married when Mom was 17 years old and Dad was 29 years old, and they were married until his passing, 53 years later. Their love was a beautiful thing to grow up with. We, their daughters, Cheryl Masterson, Caryl Reed, Alena Stevens, Allyn Hadlock, and I always knew that they loved each other forever and ever. The years found Al and Collene blessed with a growing family, sons-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and now great great grandchildren. As parents, their daughters have worked to keep their legacy of love, telling all the kids about their wonderful grandparents. One day the kids who haven’t known them will get to meet them in Heaven, and that will be a great day. Mom and Dad loved the grandbabies, and I know they already love them as much as we do.

Mom and Dad loved to travel around this great country of ours. They were patriots through and through. While they had been to other countries, they always felt that the United States was the best nation on Earth and wanted their girls to see it. And see it we did. Every summer found us taking a vacation somewhere. We were probably the most traveled students in school, as was mentioned when teachers asked what we did in the summer. They were always surprised at the states we had seen. Now that we know how amazing our travels have been, we feel very blessed that our parents gave us that wonderful gift. Nevertheless, the greatest gift was the gift of their unconditional love. We weren’t perfect, but we were always loved. Today would have been Mom and Dad’s 72nd anniversary. Happy anniversary in Heaven Mom and Dad. We all love and miss you very much and look forward to seeing you in Heaven in our future.