Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Gary and Kay Stilson celebrating 50th anniversary
Kay and Gary Stilson are celebrating their 50th anniversary April 8.
Kay and Gary Stilson were wed April 8, 1972.
COLFAX – A local couple is celebrating 50 years together as a family and business owners.
Gary Lee Stilson and Kay Ellen Crandall were married in 1972. Eleven years later they bought Colfax Monument Co.
The Stilsons met in the summer of 1971 through a cousin of Gary.
"We met in the summer of 1971 and were married April 8, 1972. Gary is a country boy, and I was the city girl," Kay Stilson said.
The couple raised their sons while active in the Colfax Chamber of Commerce, church, and Boy Scouts of America.
"A lot of people can't work together with their spouses. It's communication," Kay Stilson said. "When we first bought the business, I had read an article about couples that work together. We had to learn how to work together."
They spent their early years working as farm laborers in Wilbur, Thornton and Malden, before purchasing the Colfax company in 1983.
In 1991, they purchased a second business, Garlinghouse Memorials in Lewiston, Idaho.
Running businesses kept them busy and on the road between Colfax and Lewiston until they moved to Clarkston in 1998.
"When we had both the Colfax Monument and our other business, I did my own radio
advertising," Kay Stilson said. "Gary and I were together 24/7."
The Stilsons retired and sold their businesses in 2019. They said they travel and enjoy their time together in retirement.
They like spending time with family, fishing and boating at Williams Lake.
"Whatever we've done, we did it together. That was the important thing for us," Kay Stilson said. "We did a lot of things together and still do."
Gary Stilson may be retired but still does woodworking while Kay Stilson enjoys reading and stitchery.
Their sons Rob and Lee, along with their wives, Lori and Julie, are planning to host a family dinner in celebration of their 50th anniversary.
"I still think that communication along with give-and-take will go a long way. Everybody has ups and downs, you're going to have disagreements, and the best thing is to work together," Kay Stilson said.
"Marriages don't normally last 50 years nowadays.
"I am really grateful for that. We are just going to have a nice family dinner.
"My mother would celebrate her birthday for 6-8 weeks so maybe we'll take the next year to celebrate 50 (years) together.
"We are proud of the fact that we have been together."
Olivia Harnack is a Journalist at the Whitman County Gazette. Olivia is enrolled at University of Idaho and is majoring in digital film studies. She serves in the United States Army National Guard and is proud to serve Whitman County.
Reader Comments(0)