Wasco couple celebrates 65 years of marriage

Leeman and Oli Mae Parker of Wasco met in 1955 at the Shafter Farm Labor Camp and were married Sept. 27, 1956 -- and they are still happily together 65 years later.

Leeman wore many hats before he retired from Wallace Machinery (now Quinn Co.) in 1992. Oli Mae spent their years together as a full-time homemaker. When their children were attending Wasco High School, you could always find the couple working to support the Wasco High ag department with their time and finances. They attend the Shafter Church of God and hold to the values of God, family and country.

Their union blessed them with four children, seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren. They are scattered, yet close together. Charles is agriculture education and family consumer sciences manager and state FFA advisor, living in Sacramento with his wife Sonya; Steven is an ag teacher at Taft High School and is married to Stephanie; Melassa Waters, married to Courtney, is a Tulare Hospital nutrition assistant; and Linda Parker is helper and caregiver for Oli Mae.

Through the years family and friends knew that if they needed help or a car worked on, they could called on Leeman and he was always willing to lend a hand.

Now days, you will find Leeman and Oli Mae enjoying dinner out or shopping with their daughter Linda, and as often as they can, attending their grandkids' ball games.

If you want to catch Leeman for a chat, you will need to show up at Tiger Mart or Café 101 early in the morning, where he meets up with his cronies to discuss world events, local business and anything else that crops up.