Johnathan and Audrey Reynolds 1963 England to 2013 Alaska

1963 Audrie Courtship.tif

      Taken the day before Johnathan’s flying back to USA, during the week of the 1963 London World Congress. Within that one week Johnathan had to convince Audrie that she should marry him. She finally said “Yes” dependent on parental approval.

1963 Congress Outside RAH.tif

      Over 6000 Bahá’ís came from all over the world, many in native costume. Before the opening of the Congress they first gathered in the Royal Hotel to meet. It was there that Audrie & Johnathan met. He recognized her immediately from a vision he’d had of her some years before. You may want to see the Bahá’í billboard in the background. Many Two-Decker busses in London carried posters about the Congress.

1963 UK Wales Honeymoon 24.tif

      They stayed at a “Bed & Breakfast” near Caernarvan for the honeymoon. A very beautiful place.

1963 UK Wales John on Honeymoon.tif

      Many gardens to explore. The shoulder bag is Audrie’s and served for many years. These were days of wonder!

1963 UK Wedding Outdoors.tif

      After the Bahá’í wedding program. This old black and white building named Stanley Palace was several centuries old. We never counted the numbers of guests but a guesstimate might say between 70 and 100. One woman came to “Vet” Johnathan to see if he was a man fit to marry Audrie. He passed the test. The love for her from them all the guests was a powerful and living presence.

1963 Wedding, Margaret, Audrie, John, Olive, Hellaby.tif

      The wedding was after the London Congress where Johnathan & Margaret had met. Margaret, a not-yet Bahá’í shares a flat with Audrie who holds regular firesides. At first Margaret left for the fireside evenings. Eventually Margaret declared and is a strong Bahá’í. Audrie is her usual radiant self. It is obvious why everyone loves her. Several men come to Johnathan after the wedding and suggest that do not want to hear that she is unhappy. Olive Rogers, Audrie’s mother is an absolute lady and she shares much love. Bill Hellaby was a clergyman and gave that up to become Bahá’í.

1964 Aug 7 Newspaper Audrie Cooney, children in tipi.tif

      Audrie lived in a tipi for a week with an adjoining tent with Bahá’í literature available for the many visitors. Coonie was a great attraction to everybody and children were fascinated. Here he is a very young raccoon, enjoying the children. He played with our 4 kittens, they jumping up and down from furniture and Coonie laboriously climbing up and down playing with them until he got tired. Then, WHUMP! He would fall asleep in the middle of the kitchen floor and they would all join him making a pile of fur.

1964 ND Audrie Rising Missouri River.tif

      The U.S. Corps of Engineers had built a dam south of Fort Yates, which meant that the Missouri River rose. Here stands Audrie on the west bank of the river with her smile that was so much a part of her. Everybody that met her loved her. She radiated love for all mankind, attracting hearts and minds of countless people everywhere she went.