Harvey and Margaret Dobson Martin of Sequim celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Jan. 1, 2009.

A seven-day Mexican cruise in January is planned to celebrate the occasion. The Martins met at Panama Central School in Panama, N.Y., during the 1947-1948 school year, after he returned from serving a year in the occupation of Japan. The couple eloped on New Year’s Day in 1949 to his sister’s house in Buffalo, N.Y.

They made their home in Bear Lake, Pa., and after five children and 21 years of marriage, they moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, in 1970.

Mr. Martin was an electrician with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers for 20 years, after 16 years as an independent contractor. He retired in 1984 and the couple moved to Sequim. Mrs. Martin was the proverbial "domestic engineer."

They have been actively involved with their church and enjoy traveling. They have taken trips to Russia, China, Spain, Japan, England and several other European countries.

They also have driven the Alaskan Highway to visit family and friends at least 20 times.

The Martins’ family includes children Alan and Gloria of Fairbanks, Alaska; Sherry of Queen Creek, Ariz.; Caryl of Garland, Texas; and Lynda of Sequim; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.