Eugene Melvin Henderson was one of six known children of Charles R. and Maggie (Herdes) Henderson. Eugene was born on February 16, 1906 in Louisville, Illinois.

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Velma Blanche Bissey was one of five known children of George Harter and Alice (Fulkerson) Bissey. Velma was born on May 16, 1905 in Wayne County, Illinois which is just south of Clay County, Illinois.

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Eugene and Velma were married on November 6, 1924 in Louisville, Illinois. At that time, Eugene would have only been 18 and Velma 19. They were to spend their whole life in the Clay and Wayne County area.

They started their family early and had their first daughter, Alice Pauline, within their first year of marriage. They were to eventually have four other children: Elmo Eugene, Catharine Louise, Mary Ruth and Richard Ray. Both Elmo and Catherine were to die within weeks of their births. Elmo at one week and Catherine at six weeks.

Eugene was a farmer all of his life and for a time during the late 1940s he served as a Highway Commissioner. He often smoked and anyone who new him will remember the can of Prince Albert that he always carried in his shirt pocket. He had a calm, easy going personality and great sense of humor. Anyone who knew him liked him.

Velma shared some in the farming responsibilities and spent much of her time taking care of the home and children. She would spend hours canning and preserving vegetables and other garden produce. She also had a wonderful sense of humor and has a unique laugh that would make anyone grin in return. She loved to garden and looked forward each year to spring time so she could plant and grow another crop.

Eugene died on a Friday, July 7, 1978 at 1 a.m. in his home. He was 72. He and Velma had celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary four years earlier - 1974. At the time of his death in 1978 he had seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Eugene is buried in the Zif Cemetery, near Clay City.

Sadly, we also just recently lost Velma. She died at her home in Clay City, Illinois on October 24, 1998. She was 93 years old. She will be dearly missed. She is survived by a son and two daughters; seven grandchildren; eleven great-granchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. Velma was also buried in the Zif Cemetery.