FINDING LOVE AGAIN: Wedding bells to ring for Gordon Raney and Mary Starling at the Madison Senior Center

It wasn’t quite ‘love at first sight,’ but Gordon Raney and Mary Starling, members of Madison Senior Center, nurtured a bond between themselves. They have set a wedding date in March.

Gordon is 87 years old, while Mary is a bit younger at 80. “I thought that he was too old for me” at first, Mary said. They met casually in August 2025 at Madison Senior Center.

Unfortunately, Gordon became quite ill with a urinary tract infection and had to be admitted to a hospital. His illness delayed any chance for Gordon and Mary to get to know each other better. However, Gordon’s determination did not falter, and he did make sure to relay his phone number to Mary.

“I’m not saying ‘it was love at first sight,’ but it almost was. Mary is such a charming lady,” Gordon said.

“I went to the senior center’s lunchroom (with all those OLD people), Gordon said jokingly. “I sat down beside Mary and tried to charm her. It didn’t work.”

Gordon admitted he’s “sort of a shy person. The only way that I could get to know her was to write a letter.” He used endearing vocabulary with words like “mesmerize” and “adoration.”

“I told my daughter to look at my letter, and she changed all those good words,” Gordon said. But he kept his original verbiage. “

“I carried the letter on me at the senior center while I was trying to find Mary,” Gordon said. Gordon’s plan depended on catching Mary for Bingo Day at the senior center. “That day, I had a luncheon date with another lady. When I left that luncheon, I said to myself, ‘It’s 12:45 p.m., and Mary will be in Bingo.’”

“Gordon met me at the door as I was leaving Bingo at 1 p.m. He asked, ‘Are you Mary Starling?’

Obviously, Mary said ‘Yes’ to Gordon’s question. “You have been served,” Gordon said jokingly as if the letter were a court summons. Mary described Gordon’s letter as “romantic.”

Since that time, Gordon said, “It was been a wonderful few months” knowing Mary.

“We’re old enough to know not to wait any longer,” Mary said. “Gordon has a really good personality, and we just get along. We laugh a lot.”

Gordon and Mary’s wedding date is March 21 in a small church in New Market, the community where he formerly lived.

“Both of us have been married twice before,” Mary said. Currently, they are combining all household belongings to fit into Gordon’s house.

Gordon retired from Lockheed Martin in 1998. Gordon has two daughters, Jill Clemons and Lynn Knox; one stepdaughter; one stepson; 13 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Mary worked with Lanier Collections, a debt collection agency, for 20 years in Savannah, Ga. Mary also has two daughters, Lisa Scala and Shelly Zigler; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Gordon was born in Cullman, and his family lived in several Alabama towns; he moved to Huntsville in 1953. Mary’s hometown is Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

After his career as an industrial artist, Gordon still likes to paint landscapes. “Since I met Mary, I have not done any painting,” he said about reserving time for her.

“I like to sew and cook. I enjoyed line dancing before I got arthritis,” Mary said.

The soon-to-be newlyweds will honeymoon in the Florida panhandle and stay in Fort Walton. They already have plans to travel . . . he wants to visit Montana, and Mary has her eyes set on Ireland.

The staff of Madison Senior Center includes Levoneia Ayers, Senior Center Superintendent; Vicki L. Kanik, Arts and Crafts Worker; LaWanda Mason, Senior Activities Coordinator; Rachael Burrus, Program Coordinator; Ashley Harris, Senior Center Maintenance II; Jessica Culligan, Receptionist; and Sharmalita Hines, Program Coordinator of Food Service.