Frank and Kathy Stinnett, posing at Kathy's office at the Grant County Courthouse last week, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary last November. Kathy's sister Laurie and Frank's brother Charlie share the same anniversary.

When the McGuire sisters met the Stinnett brothers, it was a “double match” made in heaven.

On Nov. 13, 1977, Kathy McGuire married Frank Stinnett and Laurie McGuire married Charlie Stinnett in a double wedding ceremony.

Both sets of siblings grew up on Humbolt Street in Canyon City, and Kathy and Laurie were friends with Frank and Charlie’s sisters.

“I met Frank on Valentine’s Day,” Kathy said. “He gave his sister and me a ride to school to Grant Union.”

Through the girls’ friendships, Laurie also met Charlie.

The two couples courted, and Kathy said when they decided to tie the knot, it was a short engagement.

“They (Frank and Charlie) went elk hunting for two weeks, and we made wedding plans,” Kathy said.

Laurie recalls her friend Cindy Kowing Davis made the wedding cake. Kathy’s dress was made by Bobbie Officer, and Laurie had earlier driven with Charlie to Ontario to buy her gown.

“We each had a bouquet of red roses,” Laurie said. “It was simple.”

Kathy added she and her sister stood in as bride’s maids, and the brothers were best men for each other.

Pastor Milo Franke officiated the wedding ceremony at the Assembly of God Church in John Day on what was the last day of the elk hunt.

“We always say that last half day of elk season is the definition of love,” Kathy said.

Both pairs honeymooned at the Kah-Nee-Ta Resort in Warm Springs.

Years have passed.

Kathy is now the Grant County justice of the peace, and Laurie is secretary and educational assistant at Seneca School. Frank is a retired plumber, and Charlie a retired contractor.

The couples’ 40th wedding anniversary was three months ago. No matter what their anniversary date is, the Stinnetts always celebrate on the last day of the elk hunt.

When asked how they made it this far, Laurie said every circumstance is different, but for her, marriage has been “like sailing a ship.”

“You have rough times and good times and in-between times,” she said.

Laurie said, while Charlie was watching TV recently, he said to their son, “Well, we don’t fight that much” — and Laurie added, “It’s not unhealthy to disagree.”

Frank said staying together is a series of compromises.

“You’ve got to listen to what they say,” he said. “You’re going to have moments — you’re two individuals — but you have to think of the other person.”

He added the marriage vow isn’t just to each other.

“That vow is to God,” he said.

They each added that it helped to marry a good person.

Kathy and Frank have one daughter and two sons, and Laurie and Charlie have one daughter and three sons.

“The first two were born a month apart, and after that it was a stair step,” Laurie said, adding her last son was born a few years later.

Kathy said the best result of siblings marrying siblings has been seeing their children grow up together.

“They are as close as brothers and sisters can be,” she said, adding, “We camp together and celebrate holidays together.”

Valentine’s Day traditions in the close-knit family continue.

Although they didn’t have a double wedding, Kathy and Frank’s sons also married sisters.