A love story that began during World War II

Pat and Wes Haggans have been the perfect examples of a dedicated couple. Lester and I have been privileged to be their friends since we first met at the Centenary Methodist Church when our children were little. However, our histories really go back beyond that time in that we were all on the campus of the University of Missouri during the years when there were many more girls than boys on campus, but the Army had sent soldiers onto the campus to be trained. Therefore the girls had opportunities to meet young men from distant places and become friends-or beyond- during the times they were studying their different careers.

Lester had not been drafted yet due to a health problem, but Wes was one of the "soldier boys." Pat and Carolyn were both small town girls on campus although we did not know each other.

Pat, from El Dorado Springs, was very much like her unknown friend, Carolyn Gray from Nevada, except I was not nearly as pretty or talented musically. Lester was in the ROTC and often was marching near the campus classes, but his background was quite different from his future wife's, also. Wes was the son of a northern Methodist minister. Pat was a devoted Christian girl from El Dorado Springs. Lester's Ozark background didn't contain regulated denominations. Carolyn's freethinking Unitarian parents attended a large church in Washington, D.C. Yet these four young people shared religious experiences in Nevada year's later and maintained friendships for all of these years.

The Haggans sang at my father's funeral service. I can't remember the song's name, but it was a famous song about a ship passing from sight but really coming into the light. Wes and Lester were active in the men's groups, and both loyal members of the Sunday school class when Lester was not preaching at or in Seminary.

Pat and Wes continued their singing together in the church choir and the sight of those two singing together always moved the congregation.

When those days passed and they no longer could sing together, Wes would check his watch regularly to be at Pat's side to have her meals with her and be her companion even though his family had convinced him that he should not try to care for her himself.

In earlier days they both worked together in projects such as Habitat for Humanity, the church's sales events such as the Boy Scouts' Pancake Day and the women's Holiday Bazaar. Pat was famous for her embroidered tea towels, which always sold out.

Neither one of them were there to just be there for the event and then enjoy hearing about the success. They stayed until the bitter end cleaning up. Sorting things away and helping make our beautiful church retain its glory.

Both Lester and Wes were on the building committee of the present day United Methodist Church and were proud of the architecture, even with some flaws in traffic flow that are noticeable.

Later, when Pat and Wes were each housed where there was more care for them, they stayed deeply in touch. It is hoped that someday again they can sing together and enjoy some of Pat's wonderful cooking together. It has been a pleasure to know this beautiful woman and her faithful husband. Our sympathies go to Wes and to their entire family and church family.