Otho and Grace were both sick from complications due to Alzheimer's.
A couple from Oklahoma died just 16 hours apart from each other, after spending decades together.
Otho McEntire died on April 26, but before his passing, he was able to spend his last moments with his beloved wife, according to his obituary. On April 27, barely 16 hours later, his wife Grace McEntire followed "him into rest," the post said.
The love story of Otho and Grace started almost 70 years ago. The couple tied the knot in 1951 when they were both teenagers, according to their obituaries.
Otho and Grace were both sick from complications due to Alzheimer's and were placed in different facilities. “Daddy was in the nursing home about three weeks, I guess, maybe? And mamma just started declining and so we had her placed in Chandler,” said daughter Brenda Hart.
Things didn’t look good for the couple, per News9.
"Mom had constantly been asking for dad, for days and days and days, and I said, 'Mom he can't make it, he's going to go to heaven before you, but he'll be waiting for you,'" daughter LaReva Mandeville said.
Fortunately, Otho, 89, was able to be transported to the same hospice as his wife, 84.
“Daddy would wiggle his toes and then mamma would wiggle her toes, and then daddy would wiggle his toes, and said they’re communicating,” said Hart.
Otho died that same evening around 10 pm. Hours later, his wife died. At the time, the couple's favorite song was playing on their daughter's phone.
"That was daddy telling us girls, I got her," Mandeville said.
Agra Couple Dies Within Hours Of Each Other After 71 Years Of Marriage https://t.co/fnoTW6DVPx
— News 9 (@NEWS9) May 10, 2022
"They shared a life full of love and were 'honeymooners' for their whole marriage," his obituary stated. "Otho began working in the oilfield after marriage and would continue there until retirement," the obituary continued. "Anyone who knew him knew he loved to visit, there was never a quick conversation no matter the topic. He was a genuinely fun person who loved to joke and laugh."
Grace, who helped run a family-owned grocery store, later worked at Walmart. She is remembered as being able to make "every event special from holidays to birthdays."
"She was a mother to many, never hesitating to love others as her own. Grace cared for many relatives that began to need help late in their lives," read her obituary. "She also cooked for many years at the Agra Senior Citizen's Center."
The couple was in love until their very last moment, and in a fitting nod, their funeral was held on May 3, 2022, which would have been their 71st wedding anniversary, had they been alive.
"They were on a honeymoon for 71 years. We have so many pictures of them looking at each other and you could just see the love that they had for each other," daughter Tawanna Chapman shared.
References:
https://www.palmermarlerfh.com/obituary/otho-mcentire
https://www.palmermarlerfh.com/obituary/grace-mcentire
Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | gyro
