Little Macy Ellis wasn’t about to spill the beans as the stretch limousine made a couple of passes around the courthouse square in downtown Iola Saturday.
Even when their 5-year-old granddaughter giggled and said she wasn’t “supposed to say anything,” Darrell and Gynith Ellis still thought they were on their way to Kansas City for a 50th wedding anniversary dinner with family.
Instead, the limo headed west to the Knights of Columbus Hall in Piqua where the Ellises were met by family and about 200 friends, some from as far away as western Kansas.
“We were surprised,” said Gynith.
THE ELLISES were married Sept. 3, 1960.
“We grew up together and had dated since junior high and soon after I graduated from (Iola) high school, we were married,” Gynith said.
She had spent much of her earlier life in Neosho Falls, where Darrell graduated from high school in 1958. After marriage they started farming near Neosho Falls and raising a family, which eventually included sons Kevin and his wife, Monica, and Tim, Iolans today, and Lisa and her husband, Walt Griffith, Neosho Falls. They farmed in Woodson County until moving to Iola 15 years ago. He then went to work for Nelson Quarries, with his duties revolving around the Nelson farms.
For their 25th anniversary, the Ellises celebrated with a barbecue at their home.
They intended to keep their 50th simple, too.
“Earlier this year we told the kids we didn’t want anything elaborate, just something with family,” Gynith said.
The younger Ellises, including eight grandchildren and a great-grandchild, seemed agreeable, but the seeds of a more celebratory recognition quickly surfaced.
Earlier this month the Ellises took a week off for a trip to Branson, Mo., to mark their 50th at the same place where they had honeymooned. A niece and husband, Brent and Gloria Lundborg, Ocean City, Wash., and her brother and his wife, Richard and Marie Townsend, Burlington, went along.
While they were gone, the makings of the surprise anniversary party came together.
Chelsey Gobbo, 24, the oldest of the grandkids and a resident of Tucson, Ariz., led the clan with a scouring of the Ellis home just east of Iola in search of photographs, music, other memorabilia and Gynith’s wedding dress .
They decorated the Piqua hall with what they found and put together a 45-minute video from what was collected at the house, including photos of the anniversary couple from early childhood on. Gynith’s wedding dress was positioned on a mannequin.
“They had pictures of us on the farm, of all the kids and many of the things we’ve done through the years,” said Gynith, wiping away a telltale tear.
Guests were found from Gynith’s address book.
“Everyone that we would have invited was there,” Gynith said, including next door neighbors Jim and Donna Rourk, who were masters of concealment.
“We were talking to the Rourks Saturday morning,” said Darrell. “They never cracked a smile, never said a thing when I told them the kids were taking us to Kansas City that night for dinner.”
“We had a great time at the party,” Gynith said. “We were dressed pretty casual, thinking we were just going out to eat, but I didn’t have any trouble dancing with flip-flops on.”
MANY IOLANS know Gynith from more than 34 years of working in retail sales, 24 at Dryer’s Shoe Store and the past 10 at Casey’s General Store.
In the afterglow of the celebration, Gynith said she was eager to thank their children and spouses for the memory of a lifetime, as well as their grandchildren, Logan, Macy, Cody and Ty Ellis, Chelsey Gobbo, Connor and Kyra Griffith, and Wally Olson, and great-granddaughter Riley Olson.
“And I want to include our special little Shelly Griffith, who was called to heaven two years ago,” she said.
“People ask me the secret to being happily married for 50 years,” Gynith mused. “All you need is to have Jesus Christ in your life and be able to forgive and to forget.”
