George Secor joined the U.S. Navy after graduating from Everett High School in 1951.
In May 1953, he returned home from a tour of duty in Adak, Alaska. As he headed toward a bus stop in Seattle, he saw a lovely young woman wearing a beautiful white coat.
“I waltzed on over and introduced myself,” George said.
Marilyn Miller knew who George was from high school, but he didn’t know her. She had graduated from Everett High in 1952, then entered the Tacoma General School of Nursing.
The two talked for a few minutes, then boarded the bus for Everett. That was it.
After a week’s leave, George reported to San Diego and boarded a ship to Japan and Korea. Marilyn returned to her studies.
In November 1954, with his Navy work done, George was in Everett one Friday night having his shoes shined, when he spotted Marilyn coming down the street.
“I jumped out and said, ‘Hi,’” George said. “I couldn’t remember her name.”
George and Marilyn Secor of Everett celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Sept. 10. They were married in 1955 at Immaculate Conception Church. They have three children and five granddaughters.
While George was in the Navy, his parents moved to the Oregon coast. He told his mother he had found the person he wanted to marry.
“She’s the most wonderful lady I’ve ever met,” George said.
When he got home, there was an invitation for him to escort Marilyn to a Christmas ball at her school.
During the following months, George and Marilyn spent little time together. She was studying, and he was working.
In spring 1955, he took Marilyn to meet his parents. It was there that he proposed. The couple set the wedding date for Sept. 10, 1955, the week after Marilyn was to graduate from nursing school.
Marilyn began her career at Providence Hospital in Everett. George worked for Scott Paper. In 1956, while still working, George began college studies. He graduated from Western Washington University in 1960. During those four years, they had three children.
George continued his Navy affiliation until his retirement on Sept. 21, 1992. During that time, he received recall orders to active duty from 1972 to 1975, and the family moved to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
They returned to Everett in 1975, and Marilyn resumed her career at Providence. She retired after 31 years after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
“It’s a partnership,” George said. “Marilyn doesn’t have MS. We have MS. It’s us.”
They also agree that planning their future was important as they headed into their marriage 50 years ago.
Among other things, their religion has been important to George and Marilyn. “God won’t give us something we can’t handle,” George said.
The couple believe that communication and respect for each other are necessary ingredients in making a good marriage work.
“We never lost our love for one another,” George said. “And never lost our respect.”
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