Alva Review-Courier -

It's a small world for sure. What are the odds that a girl raised in Wyoming and another girl raised in Driftwood, Oklahoma, would be graduates together at Driftwood High School; become sister-in-laws and be married to those brothers and each couple celebrate wedding anniversaries over 50 years; and both women have 90th birthdays in May of 2020?

Well, Alyce Ferrell of Kiowa, Kansas, and Ruth Ferrell of Burlington did it. As high school classmates they probably never dreamed this would happen or that their 90th birthday celebrations/receptions could not be in their churches with family and friends due to COVID-19.

Alyce turned 90 Saturday. Her daughters Vickie and Beckie decorated her front porch and lawn with balloons and happy birthday signs. Some signs said to honk and wish Alyce a happy birthday. It was certainly noisy along Alyce's section of Main Street all day with honking horns. Everyone that stopped enjoyed birthday cupcakes on the lawn.

When members of her church choir appeared on her lawn to sing "Happy Birthday" Alyce said, "I knew it was going to be a good day, but this is even better than I expected!" As the choir director Cathy Cox placed a silly pink hat on Alyce's head that was covered with Happy 90th Birthday messages, the graceful lady politely posed for pictures, but said, "I never did wear hats!"

Alyce was a Miller and her parents were originally from Ingersoll and Driftwood. A railroad job had taken the family to Wyoming. When the war was over, Alyce said her dad was laid off from the railroad and he returned home with his family to farm. At age 16, she came from a large high school to a class of five, including Ruth. There she met Tommy whom she married in 1949. "We were married just three weeks short of 69 years,"Alyce said. He was a lifelong farmer and she was bookkeeper at the Kiowa IGA (now Hometown Market) for 31 years. "I saw lots of changes," she said.

Tommy and Alyce had two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Longtime members of Kiowa's Congregational Church, Alyce was a tireless worker as one of the Pilgrim Daughters and was an integral part of the annual fall bazaar for years – she has helped organize more funeral dinners through the years than she can count and much more.

Alyce is famous for her delicious pies – especially lemon; the slices of it disappear even before the meal is served at church dinners. She's known to surprise her church choir with treats for no reason except that Alyce is "a good person," as stated by her longtime friend Norma Jacobs.

"I can't bake pies like I used to, but I still do some cooking. The girls help me," Alyce said. Her fondest memories are of "raising our girls." It's a compliment to Alyce that her daughter's friends "stay in touch with me."

Alyce's advice is to "Always consider the other person because they have a side to their story."

When asked the secret to her longevity, Alyce said "no smoking or drinking," and added, "I've always been active just doing average activities. All the exercise I get now is walking around the yard.

"Now I enjoy just sitting on the front porch watching the world go by. I've just lived a basic life – nothing out of the ordinary."

Ruth Ferrell

Ruth Ferrell was a Nossaman who grew up south of Driftwood. She married Tommy's brother Bill Ferrell in 1949 and they had celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary before he died in 2003.

Ruth is quite ill but able to stay in her home at Burlington with round-the-clock care. Her 90th birthday is May 31. Ruth and Bill had four sons: Danny, Dennis, Monte and Mick. He said his mother "was a wonderful Sunday school teacher and knows her Bible." She's a member of the Driftwood Christian Church.

When Alyce and Tommy Ferrell (center) got married in 1949, his brother Bill Ferrell and Ruth who said "I do" the same year stood up with them at their wedding. Alyce and Ruth graduated together at Driftwood and both have 90th birthdays in May of 2020.

Burlington woman Marci Hyde reaffirmed Mick's comment and said, "Ruth's knowledge of the Bible is amazing!" Marci's daughter Bayli has been one of Ruth's caregivers. Marci said that despite Ruth having dementia, she loves to sing her favorite hymns and knows every word by heart to "Amazing Grace," "It is Well with My Soul," and "Jesus Loves Me," to name a few.

Ruth's daughter-in-law Sheila described her as "a good, good cook," and then with a chuckle added, "What choice did she have raising four boys?!" Those four sons gave Bill and Ruth 11 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Ruth has always been a homemaker and is a member of the Wheathearts Extension.

When asked some other things Ruth was known for, Marci listed several things, "her quick wit," "starting prayer chains," "speeding through town!" "giving out full-size candy bars at Halloween."

Alyce said although the brothers and their families were busy with their own activities, through the years they always stayed in touch with one another.