All of us have our own love stories. Some people have to endure heartbreaks, while others have found their soulmates.

To love and be loved may be one of the most beautiful things that we could experience.

For James Garner, a famous American Actor, love began when he saw Lois Clarke.

It was love at first sight.

It all started when James met the stunning Lois at a friend’s barbecue.

Like in the movies, James’s world slowed down and his eyes focused on that beautiful woman in front of him.

He mustered up some courage.

With all his will, he asked Lois for dinner and she said yes.

In the memoir that James wrote in 2012, he said:

“I fell in love for the first and last time on August 1, 1956, at an Adlai Stevenson for President barbeque. That’s where I met Lois Clarke. It was love at first sight. The thunderbolt. She was as beautiful as she was sweet… It was a barbeque and I ended up in the pool with the children.”

It got hot and heavy, fast.

For two weeks straight, the two dated each other.

Then they got hitched.

On August 17, 1956, just two weeks after their first meeting, Lois and James tied the knot at a courthouse in Beverly Hills.

When the word got out, everyone was shocked.

James’s own family was angry and opposed the marriage. For the whole Garner clan, James’ decision was absurd.

The lovers had “nothing in common.”

According to them, the couple was just caught in the moment and marriage shouldn’t have been decided so soon.

Among the notable differences that Lois and James shared were their different religions.

Lois was Jewish and James was a methodist.

James was also Lois’s second husband.

Aside from that, James was really tall, standing at 6’3″ compared to Lois’s 4’8″.

One was an introvert and the other was an extrovert.

Lois considers herself a dreamer, and her husband was a realist.

They were different and in love.

How could two people so different be so in love with each other?

Even though everyone was against their love story, they held each other’s hands and followed their heart’s calling.

Their love left no room for others to dictate their future.

James said:

“None of the naysayers had stopped to consider that Lois and I complemented each other. What they saw as weaknesses, we saw as strengths.”

It’s true. There’s no perfect partner.

But if you will focus on your partner’s weaknesses, your marriage won’t work.

However, if you will see those differences as strengths and use them to complement each other, then you’ll fit perfectly, like a puzzle.

The lovebirds married, and they welcomed their baby girl they named Gigi. Soon, James adopted Lois’ firstborn Kim.

Now, the family of four is complete.

Some said that their marriage will have problems, and James said they did. For him, their marriage wasn’t perfect, but they worked hard for it.

They did separate, for a time.

He shared that back in 1970, he and Lois parted ways for about three months.

Then, rumors spread that James was already dating a guest star on The Rockford’s show.

James denied the rumors. After some months, he and Lois got back together.

Their vows lasted almost 60 years.

James said:

“Lois and I were never in serious trouble. Ninety-nine percent of the problem was the pressures of Rockford. It wasn’t us, it was me needing to get away to get my head together.”

It was a beautiful love story.

Unfortunately, on July 19, 2014, James died at age 86 of natural causes.

James and Lois’ love story started when they dated for only fourteen days. No one thought their marriage would last even for a year.

Almost sixty years later, they have proven all the naysayers wrong.

Death didn’t stamp it out, either.

Learn more about the beautiful love Lois and James shared in the video below!

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Source: CNN, annasumner, explore newsner, Wikipedia