The Nixons on their 50th Wedding Anniversary.
Mary Hersley-Kaineg
Senior Living
When Lonna Jean Smith finished high school, she began working at an A&W drive-in near where she lived with her family in Northern California. The A&W was also not far from Travis Air Force Base, and it was common to see young airmen frequenting the drive-in.
One day, a co-worker introduced a friend currently stationed at Travis. “He seemed like a nice person,” recounts Lonna, “and he had a beautiful smile and gorgeous blue eyes.”
The rest, as they say, “is history.” Gary and Lonna Nixon were married on September 15, 1966. “Now it’s 60 years,” laughed Lonna, “and we’re still happy to be together.”
As a newlywed, life “in the service” was not much of a change for Lonna. She had grown up as the daughter of a Naval officer and had spent most of her life on one military base or another. She was well prepared for life as a military wife. During their second year at the base, and two days before Gary was to receive his next promotion, he suffered a grand mal seizure. Gary spent time in the hospital while tests were conducted to assess his condition. It became evident that he could no longer serve in the military, and he was soon given a
medical discharge.
What to do next? Going to school and pursuing a college degree seemed to be one solution. However, “reading and studying became one of the triggers for a seizure,” explained Lonna, “so school was not the answer.” It didn’t take long for the Nixons to realize that most employment was unavailable to Gary. “At that time, no one wanted to take a chance on someone with his medical issues,” continued Lonna. “We were young and had a lot of confidence that something would soon work out for us.”
The couple moved to Glendora, Calif,, to be nearer to family while they worked out a solution for their future. Gary began as an apprentice painter with the International
Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT). The union sent him to school to learn his new trade, “and he is meticulous,” laughed Lonna. “He is a really good painter,” she said. As a result of this training, Gary spent many years in his new profession, “with Chevron Oil as one of his main employers.”
“I was sent wherever Chevron had any new construction,” explained Gary. “It proved to be the career I was meant for,” he said.
Lonna and Gary Nixon
In the meantime, Lonna found a perfect fit with Circle K. “I worked for Circle K for twenty years,” Lonna said. “Our girls were born in 1966 and 1969, and I was able to take care of them and continue at Circle K.”
Lonna was born in Hailey, Idaho, in November 1944. In 1977, it became time to go home. They moved to Boise, where Lonna was able to reconnect with family.
Not long after the return to Idaho, Lonna saw three close family members die within a very short time of each other. “This loss included one of my brothers,” recounted Lonna, “and I just could not function.”
During this painful time, Lonna experienced another homecoming: she rediscovered her Catholic Faith with the help of her family, who are Basque and active Catholics.
In the meantime, since the Veteran’s medical system still covered Gary, and Boise was close to Mountain Home Air Force Base, he could receive medical care there if necessary. It was at Mountain Home that the Nixons met Father James Hallisey. “The Holy Spirit brought us together,” explained Lonna.
During the Easter Vigil in 1978, the Nixons were received into the full life of the Catholic Church at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Mountain Home. Both attended the parish RCIA program (now called the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults or OCIA). Their young daughters received the Sacraments of Initiation at the same Mass. “RCIA brought me home,” said Gary. “I’ve formed a lifelong bond with the people from our RCIA group. They’re family. I’m loving our life in the Catholic Church!”
It would seem the church communities are loving the Nixons, too.
They have managed to be very active in each parish they have attended. While at Holy Apostles, they volunteered at the food pantry, helped where needed, and were very supportive of the work of Father Len MacMillan and Cross International, a Catholic outreach agency meeting the critical needs of impoverished children, families and communities. Lonna also volunteered for several years at St. Vincent de Paul’s free medical program and St. Luke’s hospital.
Lonna Nixon at Sacred Heart Parish, Boise. (Courtesy Photos/Lonna Nixon)
As the Nixons became a little older, the distance from their home in South Boise to Holy Apostles Church in Meridian became too much. They are now active members of Sacred Heart Parish where Gary has become a household name. When the Ladies of Sacred Heart (a social service club that meets for fellowship, fun and church needs) require help getting things moved and set up for their annual Rummage Sale Gary is Wedding Anniversary. always ready.
The Nixons continue to be active with St. Vincent de Paul and spend time praying in the Adoration chapel at Sacred Heart Parish, where Lonna volunteers as the Monday morning office assistant. In their spare time, both Gary and Lonna foster their creative talents. An avid woodworker, Gary makes signs and art pieces, while Lonna creates beautiful portraits and other works through oil painting.
The Nixons have spent most of their 60 years together working through the hard times, enjoying the good times and finding something to laugh about. They are a gift the Holy Spirit called forth to bless the Catholic community in Idaho.
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