Couple renews vows for 50th wedding anniversary

Surrounded by their four children and their spouses, five grandchildren and several lifelong friends, Canyon Lakers Randy and Mavis Schutz celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a vow renewal on Dec. 29 in Palm Desert. A longtime friend officiated the vow renewal ceremony.

“We did a cake cutting with a replica of our wedding cake and matching the picture of 50 years ago,” said Mavis. “We had the greatest day.”

The group dined at the Lavender Bistro in La Quinta later that evening. “They even put our wedding picture and two recent pictures on our menus. said Mavis. “We had such an amazing time.”

Randy and Mavis met at San Diego State University in 1968 and were married in Pasadena, Mavis’ hometown, in December. Randy left Jan. 7, 1969, to report to Quantico, Virginia, for Officer Training School with the Marine Corps. Mavis then joined him in Beaufort, South Carolina, where she taught school and he worked as a classification processing manager.

The couple moved to Fullerton, then Anaheim Hills and 26 years ago to Canyon Lake. They have four children, Derrick, Evan, Jessica and Roman, all of whom from graduated high schools in the area. Mavis retired as the director of activities at Temescal Canyon High School and Randy was a manager for a medical sales company. Both have been very active in the community, including playing golf. What is their secret to 50 years of marriage? “Happy wife, happy life,” said Randy.