The Fulton Sun continues the "Week of Love," a collection of daily love stories from around Callaway County leading up to Valentine's Day.
Day four: The story of Bob and Rosemary Shryock
Out behind the corn maze off Interstate 70, about a mile down a gravel country road and up a slight hill with a big red barn in back, is the home of the Shryocks. Bob and Rosemary Shryock have lived in and around Callaway all of their lives.
"(Bob) was born about a mile from here," Rosemary said. "My father was a dentist in Fulton, and I lived there until I got married at 18, right out of high school."
"That's right," Bob added. "My grandmother's house was here on this land, but we tore it down and built a new house right on top of it."
When they first began to date, Bob and Rosemary were attending Fulton High School. But, like many couples at the time, World War II got in the way.
"From 1943 to '46, I was in the Merchant Marine," Bob said. "I went all over the world. The furthest away from Missouri I ever got was Calcutta, India."
Bob and Rosemary continued to date throughout his service.
"I wrote to him every night," Rosemary said.
When Bob returned from the war in March 1946, Rosemary was still in high school. That didn't stop Bob from popping the question.
"I don't think our kids have ever heard this story," she said. "We were out parking on St. Louis Road that night. We were sitting there in the car, and he asked if I could love him the rest of our lives. I said 'Yes,' and he pulled out the ring."
Three months later, Bob and Rosemary were married. Rosemary said the wedding was a quiet affair in her parents' home.
"It was just close friends and family," she said. "After that, we had a little luncheon. Then it was off to our honeymoon."
After returning, Bob got down to finding a job while Rosemary raised their children.
"I did a little work around places in Fulton," Bob said.
Added Rosemary: "I think he did about half a day at the shoe factory."
Finding city life wasn't for them, Bob and Rosemary moved to their current farm.
"We moved out to the country," Bob said. "To right here. We have been right here ever since, farming this land."
The Shryocks have two sons and two daughters, but it's their sons who have taken over the family business.
"I retired about 10 years ago," Bob said. "My sons farm the land now."
All together, the Shryocks have four children, 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. They said while things haven't always been easy, their love has endured.
"We have made it work," Rosemary said. "We don't know what we would do without (each other)."
The Shryocks have been married 70 years.
If you know of any Callaway love stories you would like to share this week, please let us know at [email protected].
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