Announcing a new Facebook Group and a new Blog


We have created a new Facebook Group called

The Childress (Texas) High School Classes of 1960-1966

Created for anyone from the Childress (Texas) High School classes of 1960-1966 who is looking to reconnect or connect with former friends and classmates.

If you are currently a member of Facebook or if you are planning to become a member of Facebook, we invite you to join the group. Contact either Nicki or Jennifer for information.

You are also invited to visit our new blog, Voices From the Class of '63,

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Celebrating the Journey: The Power of Love: Kay and Gayle Whitten

Kay (Eatherly) and Gayle Whitten
August 20, 1966


How did you meet and what attracted you to each other?

We met in our sophomore history class, and I (Kay) did not learn history, but I was attracted to a cute boy who was full of fun and had a great smile. Gayle says he thought I was cute but probably would not give him a second look. He was so intriguing that I asked him to be my date at the Future Teachers of America banquet on March 24, 1961. From that night on, we spent a lot of time together. After we graduated from high school, Gayle went to Wayland Baptist while I went to Texas Tech. That first year of college left us longing to be in the same town, so the next year, Gayle transferred to Texas Tech where we discovered that we truly wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. So we married August 20, 1966 and have lived in Lubbock ever since.

What was the biggest thing that you had to change or learn to make your marriage work? What was the biggest challenge you triumphed over as a couple?

According to Gary Thomas, a Christian author, “God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy.” We are living examples of the truth of that statement. Marriage has been a challenge for both of us; living together, respecting each other, submitting to the Christ in each other, choosing to stay together, living on a one-teacher salary and bringing up two children to be Godly people who are responsible and delightful, being stretched and stressed while taking care of sick parents while working full time, and then dealing with the deaths of our parents.

How has your relationship changed over time?

GOD is faithful, and today we are happier, more content, more in love with Jesus and each other than we have ever been.

What Accomplishment are you most proud of in your life?

Our children are healthy and successful, bringing up our five grandchildren in homes with love and affection. We thoroughly enjoy our grandchildren and are blessed almost daily to see the three who live in Lubbock. The other two are in Houston, and it takes more effort to see them.

What activities do you enjoy doing together?

For years, we had a boat and spent many hours boating, skiing and fishing. We have been privileged to take many wonderful and awesome trips together—Korea, China, Russia, Japan, Czech Republic, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Canada, London, Hawaii, Alaska, Arizona, all over Texas, and soon we will go to Virginia and Washington, DC. We enjoy bird watching and sharing in the excitement of finding birds wherever we go.

What is your favorite thing about being married?

Having someone to share LIFE with is a precious gift, and God has used this gift to draw both of us closer to Him, truly revealing that the process of becoming holy is a road marked with trials and suffering, but the eternal rewards, that far outshine merely being happy, are true love, joy, peace and happiness.

Is there anything you haven’t accomplished that you dream of doing together?

As I write this, God is opening new opportunities for Gayle to embark on realizing his life-long dream of teaching Creation vs. Evolution in churches and in the Ministry Training School at our church. Together, we prepare PowerPoint presentations that emphasize the authority of the scriptures as they relate to this topic as well as to our daily lives. This is just another step in our journey, and we are eager to see where this path will lead and what new and exciting things lie ahead.

In your experience, what is the secret to a good marriage?

Our secret to a good marriage is not really a secret but a scripture: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths (journey).”

Reflecting on the Journey: The Power of Love

As we looked at these two pictures (wedding day and today), we were struck by the enormous space that separated them. What filled all those years? We have been on a journey that has led us in many directions and through valleys, across rivers, up onto mountain tops, and today we look back over that expanse and are amazed that God has been leading us and He has allowed us to share this journey together for nearly 42 years of marriage plus five and one-half years of dating.

Kay and Gayle Whitten June, 2008

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey, guys. Great love story. I've long thought that if ever a couple was destined from the beginning of time to be together, it's you two.

Jennifer Johnston said...

Kay and Gayle, thank you so much for "Celebrating the Journey" and sharing your thoughts on love, marriage and LIFE with all of us.

You were a good-looking couple way back when, and I see that has remained constant through the intervening years, as you have in your relationship. What a wonderful thing to have been together with your "soul mate" for so many great years, to enjoy your children and grandchildren, and to still enjoy each other's company!

I was also very interested to hear about your travels all over the world. For Yahn and me, even though our overall "path" may have been somewhat different than yours, travel has been a truly enriching and growing experience and I feel sure it has been for you as well.

Wishing you many, many more happy anniversaries as you continue on your journey together....

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