• Sunday-What'sUP January 8 - 06:38 pm

Last week's Shoebox Memory introduced us to some Copper Country kids toward the end of the depression years. It wouldn't be long before events in Europe and Pearl Harbor would call one of those carefree young people into the service of his country.

Ray Fahlen was our mother's first husband. Two years after that photo was taken Ray met my mother, June Marie Piche, on April 13 in 1941, as she and her sister Dorothy were making their way home from the Congregational Church in Lake Linden on Easter Sunday. It was during the spring thaw, and they were negotiating the currents of running water in their Easter dresses. Ray was passing through town with his friend, Bob Matheson, who knew Dorothy from mutual classes at the Laurium Commercial School. The young men, noticing the sisters’ predicament, stopped to offer them a ride home. That was the beginning of a long-term romance between Ray and June. She was 17 and a senior at Lake Linden-Hubbell High School and he was attending Michigan Tech, enrolled in the mechanical engineering program.

When June’s father (Joel Piche) met Ray, he told my mother that she would “marry that young man some day,” and her reply was “Never in a million years!” However, my mother fell in love with Ray that summer, and after a long-term romance, with many months apart due to Ray’s enlistment in the army, they were married in August 1944 at the home of Ray’s brother in Bay City, MI.

On May 12, 1945, several days after the German surrender, Ray fell to his death from a hotel in France as he was securing a water tower on the roof. My mother, married and widowed at age 21, was devastated. I have a beautiful collection of letters sent by Ray to my mother during their courting years and from his time overseas after they were married. In addition to Ray, my mother lost her brother, Pilot/Officer Robert Piche, RCAF, whose plane was shot down in April of 1943, also in France.

Coincidentally like Joyce Hart (in last week's Shoebox Memory), my mother made delicious pasties, and was a published poet!

Such a wonderful story. It would be even better if it ended, "They lived happily ever after". I know that war has a way of changing a lot of dreams and loved ones.

I so much enjoyed this love story! So similar to my parent's beginning in their relationship.

I love stories like this, of long-ago love and commitment. I have a feeling that marriage would've lasted their lifetimes had it not been for the war. My husband and I knew that kind of love/commitment for almost 57 years.

Brought tears to my eyes!! What a great story!! How hard for June. Thank you, Penney, for sharing your mom's story:)

What a story, a tear jerker for sure. We just celebrated our 58th and I wouldn't trade a day of it either.

And I thought 35 years of marriage (come Feb.26th)
was a long time. Guess my hubby and I have a few
more years of catch up of married bliss. Loved the
story.

By Russell E. Emmons (Russemmons) on Saturday, January 7, 2012 - 11:56 am:
Happy Birthday Kay!----Mine was Thursday.
Isn't it Capt. Pauls one of these days?

LOL, I can't believe Russell was the only person that remembered my birthday was around this time of the year as well; it just happened to be yesterday.....

Well....Happy (belated) Birthday, Capt. Paul!

So, you're the same day as Kay, then!! Happy belated b'day to you, Capt!!

Well for heavens sake Cap't.! A belated happy birthday young man. I'll be sure to remember next Jan 7th- that we shared birthdays. You know
Elvis's is a day or two nearby also. Can't picture him as 70-something! But then I can't be 74! My son #3 took me to a grand buffet breakfast this morning. Won't need to eat again today! My David is such a good boy. Of course so is son#1 Mike, son #4 Andy, and Son #2 would have been too. I hope everyone else has a lovly day like we're having. Taking down the Christmas stuff now. Christmas is just about over.

Today is Elvis' birthday.

Now that we know the story of Ray Fahlen and the other couple, maybe someone will tell us about Evelyn Clark, from Silvis, IL.?

Yep, Elvis was born the same year as I (was born)....1935. He was only 42 when he died, that's one of the reasons it's hard to imagine his being 77. With all his 'gyrating' you have to wonder if he might also have suffered with arthritis by now. Bet so!

I seem to always remember Capricorns birthdays around mine especially!
Hope you had a good one Capt. Paul!

And Kay I guess that makes me 2 days older then you! (?)

Ohhhhh that story made me cry...:(