My Girl
The Love Of My Life
Lola at age 5
Lola at age 14
Lola's Graduation from Belfonte, Oklahoma Elementary School
From left to right
Betty Mathews, George Horn, Myrna Boyd, Josh Fears, Alene Qualls, Doug Allen, and Lola Keen
My Girl
The Day My Life Changed
It was a hot day on July 4, 1956. Some of us
boys had gone to the local swimming hole. We
were not surprised to see several more people
there since Reeder Ford was a popular holiday
gathering place.
Reeder Ford is located on Lee Creek in Eastern
Sequoyah County, Oklahoma. Just above the Ford
is a nice shady hole of water. This was where
that day changed my life.
Being teenaged boys, we noticed right away when
a couple young ladies showed up. We wanted to
attract their attention, so we started showing
off our rope diving skills. I guess it worked
because we saw they were looking at us. As our
confidence grew, we finally got our nerve built
to the point we approached them.
I knew one of the girls, and had seen the other
one before. I had seen her playing basketball
at Belfonte Elementary School. I was interested
in her then, and asked a friend who she was. He
told me she was his cousin, so I already knew
her name.
Before I knew it, me and this beautiful girl was
play fighting over an inner tube. That was one of
the best fights I ever lost.
After that day, we spent as much time together as
we could. I knew right away I had found the right
girl for me.
It didn't take long for me to ask her to marry me.
Right away, she agreed, but under the condition we
wait until we "grew-up". (I was 16 and she was 14).
On December 6, 1958 my dream came true. Lola and I
were married in Muldrow, Oklahoma. I guess we were
not grown up yet, (I was 19 and she was 17), but I
have never regretted getting my child bride.