Guest Comments

We would love to hear your stories, comments, memories and thoughts about this amazing couple and their family! Please leave your comments by clicking on the comment link to one of the posts below or email your messages to mwmcnamara@msn.com and we will add them for you! Thanks for visiting!!

It's A Miracle! (Article printed in local papers)

It’s a miracle!

Despite raising seven unruly, opinionated children, relocating nearly one hundred times, and making countless trips to the emergency room, Ross and Pat McNamara will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on December 27, 2008. Yes, folks, it is a miracle!

Their journey together began at the Gold and Green Ball in New Orleans in 1957. She fell for the dashing airman from Idaho. He was attracted to her Southern charms. They were married in Baton Rouge just after Christmas in 1958.

Their crazy adventures included numerous cross-country migrations and a few international expeditions. Ross, at the mercy of his Norwegian gypsy heritage, worked in the oil industry until the oil boom of the 80’s, at which point he took up teaching. Pat (or Tricia as she was known in high school) has worked every shift at most major hospitals from Washington to Louisiana as a respiratory therapist. He currently teaches at the Salt Lake Community College and she works for Praxair in Lindon.

Incredulous witnesses include their seven children, Tessa (Brian), Kristie (Steve), Karon, Kim (Glenn), Mike (another Kim), Mark (Shelly) and Kjrstin (and another Steve), twenty-three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Most surprised of all is Pat’s mama, Theresa Ward, of Jena, Louisiana.

If you would like more details about their astonishing lives, check out their blog at http://www.mamaimarriedayankee.blogspot.com/. She didn’t actually say that; what she really said was “Mama, I married a *@#! Yankee!” But this is a family newspaper, so we’ll leave it at that.
If you would like to congratulate them, those same unruly children are holding a beach party in their honor on the 27th at 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Canyon View Stake Center, Spanish Fork

Monday, December 29, 2008

From: Susie and Ted Ransom

I have a BIG case of "hero-worship" for my big brother and his beautiful wife. Let me tell you why. Because Ross left home for the Air Force when I was only 4, I don't have a lot of early memories. But I remember vividly when he brought Pat home to meet her new Idaho family. I thought she was the most beautiful lady I had ever seen. Not only was she beautiful, but she was nice as well. When they lived on Monterey Street in Idaho Falls, they would let me stay overnight with them. Boy, did I feel grown up and special. After they moved away, I would look forward with great anticipation to their trips home.

When I was a senior in high school, Ross asked me (with Pat's permission I hope) to come to school at BYU and live with them. I could babysit for room and board. I enjoyed every minute of that time. Even the babysitting!!! Ross and I used to play duets on the piano until we drove those close around us away. Pat never complained about that. I always appreciated their willingness to include me in their home.

After I had my family, when we would all get together, we looked forward to Pat's delicious food and the "way past midnight" visits with Ross. He could talk any subject. Those visits are some of the highlights of my memories. (When my family gets together to visit today, we still talk about what a great cook Pat is!)

I always knew that Ross and Pat were full of fun, love, and support. This has been shown to me many times over the years. The latest example of their support was this summer when Brian died. They came and stayed right close with us running errands, and helping with arrangements. I wouldn't have made it through all of that without their help. These are just a few of the reasons why I have this well deserved case of "hero-worship."

I am so proud of their accomplishments in their careers, their Church, and their family. They are a good example to all of us. (I am already looking forward to our next get together at their house--I can smell the steaks cooking and I am ready for a long discussion on the virtues of retirement!!)

Ross and Pat, we love you!

Susie and Ted Ransom
.

Friday, December 26, 2008

Tomorrow is the Big Day!!!

Almost as exciting as the first wedding celebration, tomorrow marks 50 years and a fun Beach Party is planned to celebrate the event. Pictures of this fabulous party will be posted soon so keep checking back!!! See Ya'll Tomorrow!!!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

From: Russ & Lugean Walpole

Dear Ross & Pat,

Congratulations on your fifty years together. We wish you 50,000,000,000,000,000,000 or more more. We wish we could come to your celebration, but we will have house guests then. We admire both of you. You are so talented and generous, helpful and kind, a real example of Saints. Our neighborhood, ward and lives are blessed with your presence. May you enjoy another great year.

Love,
Russ & Lugean Walpole

Sunday, December 21, 2008

From: Dane & Jan Kay

Ross & Pat,

First of all Congrats! on hitting the 50 year milestone What a great accomplishment! It has been fun getting to know the both of you, we think the world of you! Thanks for being such good examples to us & our family.

Best Wishes for another 50 years!

Dane & Jan Kay

Thursday, December 18, 2008

From: Aunt Melva & Uncle LaWayne

Congratulations on your 50th wedding anniversary! I love the wedding pictures on the card! Patricia you were a beautiful bride and Ross you were a handsome groom!

We haven't been able to be around you as much as we would have liked to have been through all these years. However, we have admired you for working so hard to provide for your large family. Your children were so well behaved and beautiful when we saw them.

Patricia, I have always wondered how you could work so hard & still have such a good sense of humor!

Hope you will have many more happy years together!

Come to see us.
We Love You
Aunt Melva & Uncle LaWayne

From: Aunt Melva & Uncle LaWayne - To: Mike

Hi everyone, this was sent to me, but thought you would all like to see it - I think it is really meant for all of us. Thanks ~Mike

Mike,

I am so glad you & your brother & sisters are honoring your parents on their 50th wedding anniversary. I think they are very deserving. I would love to be there but it is just too far away! Thanks for sending us an invitation! I would love to get to know all of you better. Come to see us if you ever can.
Love,
Aunt Melva

From: Dottie Jean Sliman

Dearest Ross and Patricia,

I still think of you as that cute young couple. That is one of the benefits of having older friends --they'll always think of you as children. Happy, happy Golden Wedding Day to golden friends!

Much love,
Dottie Jean Sliman

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Living abroad with Ross & Pat

Well, I think I should add a bit about the adventures I had with Mom & Dad when we lived in Indonesia. We definitely had some wild and crazy times over there.

After we had been living there for only a few weeks, I was outside playing in a tree. Up in the tree I noticed something moving in the jungle across the street. I sat and watched as a huge lizard (huge, like 6 feet long) walked down the street. Well, I couldn't keep this discovery to myself, so I ran inside to tell Mom & Dad what I had seen (it ran away when it heard me). I rushed inside, breathless, trying to describe to them that there was this HUGE lizard outside. Well, they gave me the polite parent response like "that's nice dear, but you must be mistaken." I tried and tried to convince them of what I had seen, but they didn't believe me.

The next day, though, they found out for themselves exactly how wild our island was, because they got to see the lizard! They never doubted me after that!

Another adventure was when a drunk lady jumped in front of our car and spit her chewed up cigarette all over the windshield.

One neat thing Mom got to do while we were there was to use her vast hospital experience to help our neighbor, Didi, who had a stroke. We arrived in Indonesia right after she had the stroke. So, the doctors on our island said she needed to travel to Jakarta to see a specialist. So, Mom went with Didi to see the doctors in Jakarta. I'm not sure how long they were there, but it was a while. Mom got to be Didi's personal nurse and make sure she got the care she needed.

Living in Indonesia had it's ups and downs. I'll list some of both.

The Fun Stuff
  1. We had a driver and maid.
  2. We lived on a tropical island.
  3. We ate very fresh food and fruit all the time.
  4. We got to go to Bali, Singapore and Malaysia.
  5. Me and Mom got really tan.
  6. We became really good friends with our neighbors from New Zealand, the Turnbull's.
  7. We learned a lot about Islam and learned to appreciate the Muslim culture in Indonesia.
  8. We got to babysit a parrot for a few weeks.
  9. A tribe of monkeys lived across the street.
  10. We really learned to be grateful for the good lives that we have.

The Harder Stuff
  1. Being very far away from all our family (3 grandsons/nephews were born that year).
  2. The power would go out all the time, sometimes for weeks, meaning no A/C.
  3. Crazy bugs, like this big scorpion that Dad had to kill with a golf club it was so big.
  4. Losing our luggage for 3 months.
  5. Having to boil all our water.
  6. Not speaking Indonesian very well (we did learn quite a bit, but we've forgotten almost all of it now).
  7. Seeing the poverty.
  8. Seeing the deforestation of the rain forests.
  9. Not being able to swim in the ocean around our island (poisonous jelly fish).
  10. The smell of the fish market.
Overall, it was a great adventure. It definitely has shaped my life. And it was good to be able to be with Mom & Dad one on one for a whole year. I had a great time!

Saturday, December 13, 2008

From: Vernon and Doroth Moon

Card:

On Your Anniversary
Dear Ross & Pat,
Wishing you happiness
Through the years that are to be,
To make each day as happy
As this Anniversary
Congratulations
All our Love
Your cousin "Dot"
Vernon & Dorothy Moon

Insert from Invite:
Ross & Pat
May your golden anniversary be as special as the day you said "I do".
Here's to many more years of love and laughter together.
So Sorry we can't be there for the "big party'. We will be in Portland, Oregon visiting our eldest daughter for Christmas.
Lovingly Your Cousin,
Dorothy Belisle Moon
&
Vernon Moon
Married 67 yrs.

From: Mrs. Grace Balcom

Dear Friends,
I was at the 25th celebration. Sorry I can't attend the 50th. I am sure it will be wonderful, but my bikini is out of style now anyway. I hope the next 25 will be wonderful.
Love, Grace & Carolyn (Hers wouldn't fit either.)