Love Story

Published 10:59 pm Tuesday, November 27, 2007

When Roy Bly met Irma Malone in 1929 in Bemidji, Minn., he fell deeply in love. The couple were married that same year.

By March of 1938 their family had expanded to include six children.

In July, 1941, Roy decided to leave Minnesota and headed to the West Coast. He arrived in Omak, Wash., where he got work picking apples and painting. Soon Irma packed up the six children and their belongings and boarded a train to be with her husband.

Irma and Roy Bly will celebrate their 78th wedding anniversary on Dec. 3.

The couple were married Dec. 3, 1929, in Minnesota.

Irma, one of five children, and Roy one of 10, will also celebrate their birthdays on Dec. 9. Irma will be 95 and Roy will be 100.

They have six children, 19 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren. A year after arriving in Washington, the family moved to Everett. Roy had numerous painting jobs before going to work at the Everett shipyards as a painter. Irma worked at General Hospital.

Most of the six children attended or graduated from Everett schools. Five of the six children still live in the area.

Irma and Roy eventually moved to San Diego, Calif., where one of their daughters lives and takes care of them. Roy is in a nursing home. Irma is in assisted living. The couple visits each other frequently.

“They are still devoted to each other,” said Loren Bly, Irma and Roy’s son.

Roy has a good sense of humor and Irma still knits afghans for friends and family. As well as being young at heart, the Roy and Irma are still deeply in love. Roy still sings “I Love You Truly” to Irma, Loren Bly said.

The couple had a party at Forest Park in Everett for their 70th wedding anniversary. Many family members and friends attended. They also celebrated their 75th at the nursing home where Roy lives.

Irma’s advice to couples starting out would be not to go to bed mad at each other. She believes in settling arguments before going to sleep at night.

Both Irma and Roy attribute their long marriage to their love for each other and to their faith in God.

Irma has handed so much wisdom down to her children, Loren Bly said.

The love that bloomed in Minnesota 78 years ago is still growing strong today.

Irma and Roy have grown old but are still young at heart. Loren Bly believes that they have been the best example to him and his siblings. His parents have taught their children how to live, learn and laugh, he said.

For more information on Celebrations and Love Story, contact Christina Harper at 425-339-3491 or e-mail harper@heraldnet.com.