Dying man renews marriage vows with 'purely wonderful' wife of 72 years from his hospital bed



With just days left to live Vernon McAlister made his dying wish come true by renewing his wedding vows with Sue, his wife of 72 years.

Mr and Mrs McAlister took part in the ceremony at Hospice of the Upstate in Anderson County, South Carolina, USA, reports IndependentMail.com.

After having a dream that his wife wanted to marry him again, Mr McAlister asked the nurses to help him stay alive a few more days so they could celebrate their 72nd anniversary together.

Vernon and his bride can't take their eyes off one another as they cling together during the simple ceremony

Dying wish: Sue and her husband Vernon McAlister renew their vows at a hospice in South Carolina

Mr McAlister broke his hip three weeks ago and doctors expect him to live just a few more days.

The couple - she is 87 and he is almost 93 - first met when they worked on Vernon's father’s farm in Central, a town in South Carolina. They married when he was 20 and she was 15.

'My father told me she would make a good wife,' he said.



'I couldn’t have imagined how right he was. She is just purely wonderful. She is a jewel.'

Two years ago Sue survived a battle with stomach cancer and credits her husband's support as crucial.



Mrs McAlister said: 'He has taken care of me my whole life.'

Bride Sue wears pink as Vernon dressed for the occasion in a suit and tie - with a box of tissues on hand for when the proceedings became emotional

The pair marked the occasion with an understated cake

'He has loved me and respected me and cherished me the way he said he would when I was just a young girl and he was just a young man.

'There is nothing to be nervous about when you are walking toward the person you love with your whole heart.'

Mr McAlister is a retired agronomist and the couple have five children together.



Their sons Tony, Phil, Van and Don McAlister and daughter Anita Floyd were all present at the ceremony.

'They are a testament to love,' said Floyd.



The ceremony was conducted by family friend Bill French who told the couple they were an example to the world.

'When you took those vows all those years ago no one could have known how long that walk together would be,' said Mr French.