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Show pMl Y tcv. .... rt-f y f he . , h ..;.- ccL 1 ,.s . jt . ... J i .J.I' Sixty-one years Is a long time, but not If you're as happy and busy as Moab's Mr. and Mrs. Edd E. Provonsha, who celebrated their 61st anniversary mark not long ago. It's Been a Rich, Rewarding Life For Mr. and Mrs. Edd Provonsha Edd and Isabella (Issie) Provonsha celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary August 18, making them Moab's longest-married couple. cou-ple. In addition to this singular accomplishment, they've lived in this area all their married lives, and have contributed much to the town. Issie Provonsha was born Christmas morning of 1897 in a log house located where First Security Bank now stands. Her father, Dan McCollum had died and her mother, Helen, came to Moab from LaSal to receive the care of the midwife, Aunt Sarah Stewart, as she was called. Aunt Sarah was one of the three wives of Randolph Stewart. Her mother married Fred Prewer a year later, and her stepfather built the first school in La Sal. She recounts the story of how there were only 6 kids in La Sal then, and 8 were required for a school, so they borrowed a couple of kids for the school year, Carl Berry and Elvin Duncan were imported from other families, and school was held. Edd Provonsha was born May 17, 1891 in Antigo, Wis., and came to Colorado at age 13. He and Issie met while . going to school iu grand Junction when she was 15 years old. He came to Moab on Aug. 2 1914,, and Aug. 18, 1914, a year after they met, the Provonshas were married in the front room of Dr. J. W. Williams' home. Their first home was a tent at La Sal, and during their tent days they built a little house which was turned into a grainery 2 years later when they built their home. The Provonshas lived in La Sal 35 years, and to them were born 4 children, Dan, Marie, Harold and Sofrona. They owned and lived at Pack Creek ranch several years, after which they bought and operated the Trail-O-Tell Motel which was located where the Green Well Motel is now. This June they sold their home on Fourth East and moved into a mobile home in Holiday Haven. The move was amazing, they tell, because after sorting through a number of years accumulation, a process which took several weeks, the movers pulled the new mobile home to their front door, and in an hours time, they were moved in. Edd Provonsha served as a city councilman and was responsible for a number of city-betterment projects, such as the paving of city street from the asphalt center to the curbs along the city street. He is also the father of the Lions River Park, the moving force behind the development of the park a"nd its upkeep over many years. Both Provonshas enjoy working with their hands, and Issie has produced many lamps made form unique pieces of local cedar wood. How does a couple manage to remain together all those years? Issie says 61 years are fine, but she doesn't think she wants to undertake another 61. |