L O N G T I M E
L O V E S
EVERLASTING
LOVE
TWO COUPLES SHARE THEIR STORIES OF HOW THEY MET AND THEIR MORE THAN 50 YEARS OF MARRIAGE BY ANNA-RHESA VERSOLA
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MICHAEL SIMPSON
THE BOY AND GIRL NEXT DOOR
L
arry Kent Autry, 88, wraps his fingers
Larry says, adding that after school he around his cup of coffee and smiles would walk the three miles back home sweetly at his wife in their Pittsboro with Avis. Their childhood friendship kitchen. Avis Mackey Autry, 85, leans blossomed when Larry left to attend the against the countertop and answers with University of Maryland and two years her own sly smile. later, Avis went to Madison College, now “It’s a certain kind of grin,” Avis says known as James Madison University, in of her husband of 64 years. Harrisonburg, Virginia. The way they look at each “I think I fell in love with Larry Autry, 88, other seems akin to telepathic her in ’52,” Larry says. “She hits a high note connection. The couple first came to fraternity parties, with his wife, Avis Autry, met in 1948 when Larry’s and I would go down to 85, who is an family moved into the house Harrisonburg, driving my ’49 accomplished pianist and next door to Avis’ in Perry Mercury. We dated and stayed former Point, Maryland. He was good friends for a long time. cryptographer 13, and she was 11. They … Somewhere along the line, with the National share memories of canoeing I think it was around ’56, I Security the Susquehanna River and wanted her to marry me, and Agency. playing sports with close in ’57 I asked her.” friends and neighbors whose Decades later, the couple fathers worked in nearby has three daughters, six Department of Veterans grandchildren (one of whom Affairs offices. was killed in a car accident “We were the boy next door in 2018) and two greatand the girl across the alley,” grandchildren.
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CHATHAM MAGAZINE
FEBRUARY / MARCH 2022