Reprinted from The Packet, February 14, 2016
by Kevin Curley
When it comes to records for most years married, George and Nellie Seward would probably be contenders.
George and Nellie Seward are a testament to lasting love, have been together for 73 years. © Kevin Curley photo
In 1942 the Second World War was in full swing, William Lyon Mackenzie King was Canada’s Prime Minister and Beatle Paul McCartney was born.It was also the year Nellie and George Seward were married at a church in Shoal Harbour.
Seven decades later, the couple is still together and residing at Cozy Quarters Personal Home Care in Clarenville.
They met in Shoal Harbour while Nellie was working as a housekeeper and George was in the lumber trade. They’ve since had 12 children, 21 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.
George, 96 and Nellie, 92 lived for many years in Gooseberry Cove. In the days before cars were ubiquitous they used to travel to Clarenville by motorboat.
Their daughter, Donna Butt, says things have changed over the years. As newlyweds, the couple used to walk everywhere they went.
George worked all of his life in the lumber industry, which meant he spent months at a time in the woods away from the family.
“He would be gone for a couple months and then come home and stay for awhile. He was generally always gone in the fall,” says Butt.
They kept their home in Gooseberry Cove for many years, only moving to Cozy Quarters last year.
The couple grew all their vegetables over the years in order to feed their many children and they also raised sheep, for meat and for wool.
“My mother used to shear the sheep. I can picture her now wrestling them to the ground and tying their legs,” says Butt.
“She knit all our mitts and socks and everything,” she added.
Even after all these years, Donna says her mother still gets jealous if she’s worried another woman might be interested in George.
“She says she won’t be with for long because I’ll go and knock her down. She gets upset,” says Butt.
These days they like to spend time together by going to church, but when they were younger they went to a lot of dances. They would frequent the fisherman’s loft in Gooseberry Cove and also make the trek to Clarenville or Lethbridge.
On June 4 they will celebrate their 74th wedding anniversary.
Nellie says they’ve seen their share of ups and downs but have always stayed together. They celebrated Valentine’s Day today with a family get together.