Osborns celebrate 50 years of marriage

Mr. & Mrs. C.T. Osborn

Having grown up in the Brownsboro area, C.T. (Thurman) Osborn and Fran Stevens met for the first time at the (now defunct) Brownsboro Movie Theater, on a Sunday afternoon.

When this young couple met, it was love at first sight and that love has never wavered. In fact, each year it has become stronger.

After a thirteen-month courtship, on August 29th, 1957, they were married at Opelika Missionary Baptist Church, where they remain active members today.

C.T. retired from Tyler Pipe Industries in 1997 after 33 years, but is now employed by the Brownsboro Independent School District. He enjoys the exercise of working and the friendships of his fellow workers. He has always enjoyed working.

Fran had to take a medical retirement from East Texas Medical Center-Tyler, in 2001 after 21 years. She is a registered nurse and states her only regret is she couldn't continue working another 20 years.

God has blessed this couple with four beautiful daughters and sons-by-marriage, (Cindy and Larry Bright, Sheri and Steve Williams, Lorri and Harold Hawkins, Tammy and Wes Anderson), nineteen grandchildren (Matt and Kimberly Bright, Sarah and Brandon Adam, J.N. and Katie Williams, Josh and Amanda Williams, Sarina Williams, Latisha Estridge and Greg Calhoun, Raynebeaux and Matt Sims, Kayla Hawkins, Austen Hargrave, Edmond Hargrave, Jessie Hargrave, Amber Anderson and Madison Anderson), ten great-grandchildren, (Zerek McGowan Bright, Garrett Bright, Cameron Williams, Lexi Williams, Hayden Estridge, Hunter Estridge, Sarah Calhoun, Gus Sims, Hannah Sims, and Bryan Hargrave). J.N. and Katie will present them with another great-grandbaby in the Spring.

After spending a three-day second honeymoon at the Bar S Ranch and Resort in Palestine, they will meet with their children at their youngest daughter's home and go out for dinner on Saturday night.

On Sunday morning, August 26th, they would like to invite their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends to attend worship services at Opelika Missionary Baptist Church with them, then go out for lunch, if they so desire. Worship services begin at 11:00 a.m.

This 50th Anniversary is a gift from God and they'd like to dedicate this poem to their daughters.

Why God Made Little Girls

Author unknown

God made the world with towering trees, majestic mountains and restless seas,

Then paused and said, "It needs one more thing ... someone to laugh and dance and sing.

To walk in the woods and gather flowers, to commune with nature in quiet hours."

So God made little girls, with laughing eyes and bouncing curls,

With joyful hearts and infectious smiles, enchanting ways and feminine wiles.

And when He'd completed the task He'd begun,

He was pleased and proud of the job He'd done.

For the Osborns, when seen in their daughters' eyes, greatly resembled paradise.