Couple celebrates 50 years

John and Barbara Goss Hay, formerly of Byram, recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They now live in Harrison, Tennseesee, by Chattanooga. The weekend of Aug 5-8, family and friends from Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee joined them aboard the Delta Queen for the celebration. The Delta Queen, a luxury Steamboat built in 1925, is now a hotel in Chattanooga, docked along the Tennessee River. In March 2011, John and Barb flew to Ireland with their son, Jack, his wife, Jenny, and children, Clara, 11 years old and Zack, 2 years old. For eight days they toured Ireland and celebrated their 50 years together. John and Barb were married August 26, 1961, in Detroit, Michigan, at Bethesda Lutheran Church. They were married by the Rev. Leon Appel. Both John and Barb were born in Detroit and grew up in Detroit. They attended Redford High School, John two years ahead of Barb. John's brother, Bill, and Barb's sister, Judie, set them up on a blind date when the attended Wayne State University in Detroit. After graduation Barb was a social worker at Lutheran Social Services of Michigan. John received his Bachelor's degree from Wayne State University. Then he received his Master of Arts in Education from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan. After teaching for two years, he moved on to a job at Michigan Bell as a plant engineer. In 1964, John and Barb moved to Farmington, Michigan. With the start of a family Barb stayed at home with the family. John Jr. was born in 1967. In 1970 Allison was born and made their family complete. In November of 1977 the family moved to Byram, New Jersey. A two to three year rotational job at AT&T turned into 21 years. Barb was not employed while Jack and Allison were in school. In 1989 she began a nine year career at Waterloo Village as a tour guide at the Canal House and the Wellington House. Their years in Byram were filled with so many good memories. Tent camping and boating were part of their life in Michigan and New Jersey. John was very involved in Boy Scouts on the local and the district levels, Barb was a Girl Scout leader. While in Byram, John and Barb were active members of the Andover Presbyterian Church. Since June 2000 the Chattanooga area has been home to John and Barb. Their son Jack and his family live in Farragut, Tennessee. He and Jenny have two daughters, Clara and Liz, and a son named Zachary. John and Barb's daughter, Allison and husband John Peterson live in the Atlanta area. John and Barb have become very interested in Bluegrass music and have an active life in Chattanooga. They are members of the Civil War Roundtable and Chattanooga Area Historical Association. The Hays attend New Hope Presbyterian Church. John still pursues his hobby of photography. In the winter, John and Barb leave "snowy" Chattanooga to enjoy life in sunny Jensen Beach, Florida. Several other Byram couples join in on the fun. John and Barb Hay say life has been wonderful wherever they have lived.