51 Good Years - Grace Wilson

Mike Wilson met Karen Clevelle in 1962 at a Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF) meeting. They dated through high school, where they both attended Miami Trace, in Washington Courthouse, Ohio. They were married in 1969, and have been together since. Mike spent his years working in the Mead Containers plant that used to be in WCH. Karen opened a beauty shop in 1973, and still works today. Most of her current customers are the same ones she had in the 70's.

They had one son, Toby Wilson, who I am blessed to call my father. This story is about my grandparents and their relationship that has inspired myself, and countless others to love unconditionally.

"I don't know if I'd ever really say we had hard times...we worked through together."

-Karen (2020)

Karen and Mike work together to remove the AC unit for the winter on Oct. 16, 2020.

A letter from Mike sits on the hutch in the kitchen.

Mike and Karen pray at breakfast on Oct. 16, 2020. Prayer is a centerfold in both of their lives. A clock in the kitchen plays Amazing Grace every hour as a reminder to always give thanks to God.

A photo of the farm Karen grew up on, Tri-Creek Acres, hangs on the wall of the barn.

Mike and Karen Wilson feed the neighbor's horses, Dale (right) and Blue (left), on the morning of Oct. 16, 2020.

Mike Wilson stands next to his tractor, given to him by Karen's father, Bill Clevelle, when he passed away in 2005.

Sue Matthews (left) gets her hair done by Karen (right) early in the morning of Oct. 16, 2020. Karen opened her in-home beauty shop in Sept. of 1973, and still operates. Her customers are regarded as friends, and she enjoys listening their joys and concerns while she styles their hair.

Karen and Mike take a break from doing yard work on Oct. 23, 2020.

Mike and Karen eat at one of their favorite restaurants, Lola's, a Mexican joint in Cedarville, Ohio, on March 5, 2021.

A box of apples from their neighbor sits on the kitchen table. When Mike and Karen were in the eighth grade, Mike threw an apple from the back of the school bus, at Karen, in the front to get her attention. That was the start

A box of apples from a neighbor sits on the kitchen table. The first interaction Mike and Karen had was when Karen was in ninth grade. Mike tossed an apple from a few rows back on the school bus, to where she was sitting, to get her attention. That was the start of their now 57 year relationship.

The grandchildren's heights on the wall of the sunroom.

Mike and Karen go on one of their daily Jeep rides around the backroads of southeast Ohio. They enjoy finding dirt roads or one lane roads, and often times their drives last for a couple of hours.

Karen and Mike prepare for church on Nov. 8, 2020. Karen turns all of the lights on and waters the flowers, while Mike gets the sound system set up and rings the bell.

Karen and Mike fill their cars up with gas on the evening of April 17, 2021.

Karen cooks breakfast on Oct. 24, 2020. Mike says what he loves most about her is that "she is loving, caring, and a good cook."

Karen kisses Mike goodnight.

Karen reads her devotional book before going to bed on Oct. 15, 2020. Mike usually falls asleep on the couch while watching ball games, and doesn't make his way back to bed until early morning.

An old phone hangs on the wall of Karen's beauty shop. The two angels on top were made by Sandy McKinney, a long-time customer and friend.

"I guess we wouldn't be together if there wasn't some love in there somewhere."

-Mike (2020)