Till Death Do We Part They took their wedding vows seriously and literally. Like any story, a love story has to come to an end. Ah, but these were sweet tales of love, not only while they lived but in how they died. Two couples that were married for almost three quarters of a century and died only hours apart. They died holding hands. And, exactly one hour apart.
Gordon and Norma Yeager
Last October, the Iowa couple was hospitalized after a car accident. They were placed in the same room in ICU where they held hands although they were in different beds. At 3:38 pm Gordon died, yet, his heart monitor continued to register a beat. According to hospital staff, the monitor continued to beep “because they’re holding hands.” It appears that the monitor couldn’t tell the difference in his heartbeat and hers. It was through their touch that the machine sensed life. At 4:48 pm, exactly one hour later, Norma died. Gordon was 94 and Norma was 90. Married on May 26, 1939, they had been married for 72 years. The couple’s son remarked that they loved being together and not surprising that passed away together, “He always said, ‘I can’t go until she does because I gotta stay here for her.’ And she would say the same thing.”
The Kentucky couple died recently only four hours apart. Married October 21, 1938 they were together for 73 years. Ethel, 99 had to live in a nursing home due to a decline in health, Presley visited her everyday until he moved in to be with her two years later. The staff stated the Presley would “hold her hand, kiss all over her, tell her how much he loved her and missed her.” “They were a true epitome of the word love,” said a nurse at the facility. Presely died first, with Ethel following him four hours later.
Presley and Ethel Bradshaw
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