Page 11 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Winter 2020- Online Magazine

silver coin from the Mexico City 18 and a man under 21 to marry Whittenburg. They had learned
Olympics in lieu of an engagement without parental consent. These a thing or two about kids and
ring. parents were not consenting. marriages. Their approach was
to remain quiet. They were not
Thrilled about their news, they On the other hand, Burk was overly excited about their young
raced back to Carol’s home to tell the fifth child of Grace and Roy son marrying a teenager, but they
her parents. It was late, and her were also not going to stand in the
dad was soundly sleeping. When way of two people in love. After all,
she and Burk shared their exciting they had married when Grace was
news, her mother gasped, and eighteen.
repeated, “No. No. No.” Carol
remembers her father closing his Roy drove to the Snows’ farm to
eyes and sitting like a statue. A talk to them about signing a consent
few moments of silence passed. He for the kids to marry. Audie Snow
exhaled, put his hands on his knees, was adamant; she would not do it.
stood up and stated, “This could But, over the next few weeks, Carol
have waited until morning,” before planned her wedding with her
going back to bed and closing the reluctant mother. Her parents were
door hard behind him. hopeful that the marriage wouldn’t
happen. They were counting on
Carol was 17 and Burk was 19. Her their daughter coming to her senses,
parents were not going to let this calling off the wedding, enrolling at
happen. It was illegal, in the state OCC and marrying a preacher. They
of Oklahoma, for a woman under refused to enroll her at Texas Tech,

Amarillo Senior Link 11