Family and friends gathered December 27th to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of Ferrell and Brenda Smithey. The surprise luncheon featured a slide show presentation spanning five decades.

Ferrell Smithey, a retired Dallas firefighter and rancher, met Brenda while working in Dallas at Chancellor Vault. Brenda, a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, was working for Olan Mills in the Dallas area as an artist painting oil portraits.

The couple married on January 16, 1959 and have been living in Ellis County ever since. Their two sons, Michael and Jason Smithey, also reside in Ellis County. Their daughter, Robin Frank, resides in Ft. Knox, Kentucky. They have seven healthy, happy grandchildren.

According to Brenda, “Marriage is what you make it.”