CARTHAGE, MO.--- Gloria Leeson has no fear when it comes to live bait. She shouldn't, she's been working at Bud and Gloria's Bait Shop for 50 years in Carthage.
"A woman can always out fish a man," states Gloria.
Unfortunately Bud passed away in 2000, but the business carried on and this year mark's the 50th anniversary. Meliss Shumaker is their daughter and the next generation to help run the shop. She says her dad would be happy with the milestone.
"He would think it's really awesome, because he'd have more grandchildren work here and it would allow him to go fishing more," states Shumaker.
The bait is actually imported. They have worms form Canada, leeches from Minnesota, and crickets come in the mail, and they once had a accident.
"This guy calls me up and he says, I got crickets all over the post office," states Gloria.
Bud and Gloria were married for 41 years and it was literally because they were married on their first date.
"He took a quarter out of his pocket and laid it on the table, and I bet you a quarter you won't marry me. I put a quarter down and I said, I bet I will."
After that they went to find a preacher.
"It was 3 in the morning and we went to this preachers house, he knocks on the door and says will you marry us? He says son, you know what time it is?"
So, they had to wait until the morning to get a marriage license, but there was a snag.
"To fill out the license he didn't know my last name. He said, hey what's your last name?"
Say what you will, they knew they didn't want to waste any time.
"It worked, we were married for 41 years until he went to be with the Lord."
"A woman can always out fish a man," states Gloria.
Unfortunately Bud passed away in 2000, but the business carried on and this year mark's the 50th anniversary. Meliss Shumaker is their daughter and the next generation to help run the shop. She says her dad would be happy with the milestone.
"He would think it's really awesome, because he'd have more grandchildren work here and it would allow him to go fishing more," states Shumaker.
The bait is actually imported. They have worms form Canada, leeches from Minnesota, and crickets come in the mail, and they once had a accident.
"This guy calls me up and he says, I got crickets all over the post office," states Gloria.
Bud and Gloria were married for 41 years and it was literally because they were married on their first date.
"He took a quarter out of his pocket and laid it on the table, and I bet you a quarter you won't marry me. I put a quarter down and I said, I bet I will."
After that they went to find a preacher.
"It was 3 in the morning and we went to this preachers house, he knocks on the door and says will you marry us? He says son, you know what time it is?"
So, they had to wait until the morning to get a marriage license, but there was a snag.
"To fill out the license he didn't know my last name. He said, hey what's your last name?"
Say what you will, they knew they didn't want to waste any time.
"It worked, we were married for 41 years until he went to be with the Lord."
