CLAREMORE —
It was 50 years ago Saturdayday that a young Darlene Marlin was featured as the Claremore Progress’ “June Bride.”
Darlene, who had just graduated from Claremore High School a month before, was engaged to marry Keith Harper.
“June Bride” was an annual special advertising section for several years, selecting one woman from Claremore who was engaged to be married in June. The bride-to-be was photographed shopping at “Northeast Oklahoma’s Finest Stores,” including Dorothy’s, Gentry Drug Store, Heins Jewelry, John Denbo Jewelers, Montgomery Ward, J.C. Penney Co., Smith Furniture, and Western Auto Store.
Although Darlene doesn’t remember how she was chosen, she says it made her feel special. She still has two yellowed copies of the June 18, 1961 issue.
Darlene and Keith wed June 24 at First Assembly of God in a ceremony officiated by the late Rev. Tom Casey.
“I had one guy offer to beat me up and put me in the hospital so I wouldn’t have to go through with (the wedding),” Keith said. “I told him, ‘I want to go get married!’”
Both born and raised in Claremore, the Harpers were high school sweethearts.
Keith remembers seeing Darlene when she shopped at Warehouse Market where he worked.
“She came in to pester me, I think!,” he joked. “Her smile was what I noticed first.”
Keith was a senior and Darlene was a sophomore at Claremore High School when they began dating. Though neither remembers their first date, it was the start of a two-year courtship.
Keith graduated from CHS in 1959 and then left the area to attend Okmulgee Tech. He finished his studies there and got a job in Tulsa before they married.
The couple made their new home in Claremore and Keith later worked as a mechanic, then service manager at Jack Kissee Ford. Darlene worked at drug stores around town before becoming a full-time homemaker.
“We both had younger brothers and didn’t want children right away, so we waited quite a few years to start our family,” Keith said. “We were blessed with two girls.”
Over the years, the family has made special memories traveling together.
“We used to go on lots of trips and I think the one we’ve enjoyed most was Niagara Falls — we’ve been there twice,” Keith said. “I’m a bow hunter so we’d go to New Mexico and Colorado and made a family outing of going on hunting trips.”
In 2005, Keith retired from American Airlines.
Today they spend as much time on Lake Hudson as they can, fishing and boating.
“We like to do things with our grandkids at the lake and going to all their dance recitals and everything they’re in,” Darlene said.
Daughter Kim and husband Marty Reynard live in Wyandotte with their children Cody and Caylor. Kristi and husband Bobby Franks and their children Rylee and Rykker reside in Verdigris.
The Harpers’ daughters say their parents’ marriage provided a solid foundation for them as children and now as adults with families of their own.
“When we were growing up Dad never failed to tell Mom good-bye and that he loved her before leaving the house,” Kristi said. “We were always given those kind of examples and we’ve both been fortunate to find husbands who do that.”
Keith and Darlene agree that good communication has been the key to their long, happy marriage.
“Being able to say ‘I’m sorry’ and go on is important,” Darlene said. “We’ve been through a lot — good and bad — but we’re still blessed.”
As her husband plants a kiss on her cheek, it’s clear that 50 years later Darlene Marlin Harper is still a blushing June bride.
Features
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Darlene and Keith Harper, lifelong residents of Claremore, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on June 24.
Still a June bride: The Progress’ 1961 featured bride-to-be celebrating golden wedding anniversary
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