Frank and Lillian Howle, as newlyweds, following an elopement
to Oklahoma, to get married.

 

 

"Secret Elopement" Results in Lasting Marriage
From Yantis Community

 

 

 

All Because Two People Fell In Love

By Kelly Howle-Sink  

 

 

Yantis, Texas and the year was 1930, when the young dark haired girl caught the eye of the wiry country boy.  He thought she was beautiful but he knew she would never look twice at him since he was  just a poor country boy. After all, her father owned the town’s general store; she would never think he was good enough for her.  It wasn’t long before he was proven wrong and by early spring of 1931, the two were very much in love.  But, just as he knew it would be, her family did not think he was good enough to marry their daughter. She, however, had a different opinion, and on the 11th of March 1931, they left Yantis for Hugo, Oklahoma where they were married.  They had sealed their future together but knew they still had to return home and face her parents. They did return home but decided not to face her parents yet. She went home to her parents’ house and he went back to his parents’ farm and to their lives as usual, telling no one they were married. The days turned into weeks and the weeks into months before the truth became known and they began their life journey living together as husband and wife.

 

 

 

 

They were married for 57 years when he died; they raised two boys, four grandchildren and now have eight great- grandchildren.  When our family is all together for holidays and special occasions, they are both dearly missed but I always stop to think that our family of nineteen members began all because two people fell in love.

 

 

This is the story of my grandparents, Frank and Lillian (Bryant) Howle

 

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