John and Mary Lou Stewart celebrate 50th anniversary at Blyth Lions Park
BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN
On Saturday, Aug. 23 - 50 years to the day after they were married - John and Mary Lou Stewart of Blyth welcomed friends, family members, neighbours and more to Blyth Lions Park to mark their golden anniversary.
It is fitting, perhaps, that John and Mary Lou marked such a special day at the park where both have spent so much time and expended so much energy, building it up to what it is for the community and its youth as long-time Blyth Lions Club members with rich histories of public service and volunteerism in Blyth. They welcomed many close to them to the park to celebrate and even funded a day of free swimming in the Lions wading pool for the young people in attendance.
The story begins, however, way back on Aug. 23, 1975 when John and Mary Lou were married at Whitechurch United Church by Rev. Wilena Brown. The daughter of Robert and Pauline Adams of RR5, Lucknow and the son of John T. and Ruth Stewart of Blyth were joined at the wedding by maid of honour Janet Adams, Nancy Stewart, Marilyn Cook and Colleen Adams, as well as best man Warren Cook, Donald Stewart, David Adams and Robert Cook.
After the wedding, the happy couple honeymooned in Niagara Falls and around southwestern Ontario before returning to Blyth, where they have lived ever since.
John began his career with Lawrie Decorating from 1973, remaining there until 1980 when he entered the world of municipal government between 1980s and his retirement in 2006. After that, John pitched in at the Blyth Décor Shoppe from 2006 and 2012. After 2012, John took a more active, higher-level role with Lions Clubs International between the years of 2012 and 2021, though he had been an active member of his local club for many years beforehand.
Mary Lou worked as a sales clerk at Bainton’s Old Mill from 1974 to 2020, while also working as an educational assistant between 1993 and 2013. She retired in 2020, but continues to work with Blyth’s Hotel Lux in her spare time - a position she first took in 2023.
John and Mary Lou have three daughters: Pauline in 1977, Margaret Ann in 1979 and Bonnie in 1983. They have four grandchildren: Pauline and Chris Marschall’s children, Liam and Piper, and Bonnie and Michael Bromley’s children, Robert and Jack.
As mentioned, both have been members of the Blyth Lions Club for many years, remaining active even today, and also lend their time and talents to the Blyth United Church and the Blyth Legion.