ERWIN – Rob and Kathy Alford, 411 Ninth St., celebrated their 25th anniversary on May 26, 2009.

The couple were married May 26, 1984, at The Pond on Rock Creek by the Rev. Julian Walton.

Mr. Alford has been employed as a lineman for Erwin Utilities for 36 years. Mrs. Alford is the former Kathy Effler. She has worked as a driver license examiner for the Tennessee Department of Safety in Elizabethton for 25 years.

The couple have three children, Adam Alford and Hannah Alford, Erwin, and Holly Alford Marlowe and husband Michael, Knoxville; and one grandchild, Luke.

The Alfords are members of Centenary United Methodist Church.

Mr. and Mrs.
Rob Alford

Mr. and Mrs. Carroll Butler, 130 Butler Lane, Jonesborough, celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at their residence with family.

The couple were married on June 3, 1967, in Burnsville, N.C. by the Rev. Troy McCurry.

Mr. Butler is a self-employed mechanic. Mrs. Butler is the former Elizabeth Lewis. She is retired from Volunteer Blind Industries.

The couple have three children, Tina Butler, Erwin, Tammie Anderson, Jonesborough, Terra Gouge, Johnson City; and three grandchildren, Jake Gouge, Haylee Gouge and Will Barnett.

Mr. and Mrs.
Carroll Butler

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Durham, 247 Cedar Point Road, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Sunday, June 28, 2009, at a reception from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center.

The couple were married on June 27, 1959, at First Freewill Baptist Church by the late Rev. Guy Foster.

Mr. Durham retired from the state of Tennessee. Mrs. Durham is the former Betty Taylor. She is employed by Washington County mayor’s office as administrative assistant.

The couple have one child, John Durham, Johnson City.

The celebration is open to family and friends.

Mr. and Mrs.
Donald Durham

Lester and Blanche Jones, 1106 Tenn. Highway 81N, Jonesborough, celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at Mountain View Restaurant with family and friends; and June 11, 2009, at Fairview United Methodist Church with family, neighbors and friends.

The couple were married on June 10, 1939, by the Rev. E.B. Jeffers.

Mr. Jones retired from ET&WNC. Mrs. Jones is the former Mary Blanche Loudy. She is retired from McCroy’s Department Store.

The couple have five children, Frank Jones, Milford, N.H., Margaret Denton and husband Ray, Mount Carmel, Ann Morelock and husband George, Jonesborough, Lee Jones and wife Judy, Jonesborough, Randy Jones, deceased; eight grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Mr. and Mrs.
Lester Jones

Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Jennings "Bud" Leach Jr., 117 Lands End Court, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Saturday, June 6, 2009, at a reception at the Leach home hosted by their children and grandchildren.

The couple were married on June 6, 1959, at Munsey United Methodist Church by the late Rev. Ogleva Street.

Mr. Leach retired from Kingsport Foundry and Machine Works as field sales manager.

Mrs. Leach is the former Patsy Sue Broyles. She retired from East Tennessee State University after 35 years of service as director of personnel.

The couple have two children, Todd Wiley Leach and wife Judith, Johnson City, Jayne Anne Leach Morrell and husband Gary, Bluff City; and two grandchildren, Andrew Jennings Leach and Sydney Layne Morrell.

Mr. and Mrs. Leach in 1959

Mr. and Mrs. Leach today

Walter and Annalene Maupin, Gray, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary Friday, June 26, 2009.

The couple were married on June 26, 1949, in Kingsport by A. Preston Gray, minister.

Mrs. Maupin is the former Annalene Buckingham. The couple have two children, Theresa Lambert and husband Charles, Kingsport, Jamie Buttrey and husband Jerry, Brentwood; four grandchildren, Chris Lambert and wife Corintha Robinette, Telford, Matthew Lambert and Hillary Davis, Gray, Mark Buttrey, Brentwood, Mackenzie Buttrey, Brentwood; and one great-grandchild, Colin Preston Lambert, Telford.

Mr. and Mrs.
Walter Maupin

Mr. and Mrs. Paul W. Peer will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Sunday, June 28, 2009, at a reception at 4 p.m. at First Christian Church, 200 E. Mountcastle Drive.

The couple were married on June 18, 1959, at Johnson Bible College, Knoxville.

Mr. Peer is minister at New Hope Church of Christ, 4527 Bristol Highway, and has served in the ministry for 54 years. Mrs. Peer is employed by J.C. Penny Co., where she has served for 16 years. She also has served in the ministry for 54 years.

The couple have two children, Timothy Peer and wife Valerie, Watauga, Kimberly Bright and husband Parrish, Bristol; and three grandchildren, Wesley Peer, Scott Peer and Mchale Bright.

The celebration is open to family and friends.

Mr. and Mrs.
Paul W. Peer

Ray and Viola Simerly, 122 Woodland Road, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Sunday, June 21, 2009, at a reception at 2:30 p.m.

The couple were married on June 21, 1959, at the Rhododendron Festival in the garden on top of Roan Mountain by J.C. Cartee, pastor of Little Mountain Baptist Church.

The couple have two children, Lisa Mizell, Hampton, Lora Fenley, Johnson City; and four grandchildren. The couple will be touring the New England states.

Mr. and Mrs.
Ray Simerly