Jim and Loretta (Brent) McDonald of Napa celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Sept. 8 through Sept. 10 with three events, beginning with a dinner hosted by their son, Bob McDonald, on Friday at the Red Hen Cantina for family and extended family. On Saturday, Larry and Susanne McDonald hosted an open house in Jim and Loretta's garden, complete with food, wine and line dancing with many friends and family. Guests enjoyed looking at memorabilia, including their wedding clothes, letter sweaters, yearbooks and many photos of their life together. Their daughter and son-in-law, Debra and Mike Callihan, hosted a re-confirmation of vows, with Dave Burns officiating, followed by a lovely luncheon in the gardens at Copia. Jim and Loretta were especially honored by having Loretta's father, Kermit Brent, from Colorado and great-granddaughter, Avry Goodnaugh from Alaska in attendance along with many relatives and close friends from Colorado, Oregon and Louisiana.

Loretta and Jim were married Sept. 10, 1956, in Arriba, Colo. They met in third grade when Loretta's country school consolidated with the school in Arriba where Jim attended school. They were able to attend the prom in their sophomore year and dated steadily until their marriage after graduation.

Jim graduated from Western State College in Gunnison, Colo., taught school and coached at Fountain/Ft. Carson schools, was principal at West Grand High School, Kremmling, Colo., before moving to Napa in 1969. He was a teacher, principal and coach in Napa until recently retiring from teaching adult school classes through the Napa Unified School District and Napa Valley College. His interests are line and ballroom dancing, woodworking, golf, fishing and travel.

Loretta worked for the city of Napa Water Department until becoming the attendance secretary at Vintage High School for 17 years, retiring in 1994. Her hobbies are photography, tole painting, gardening, genealogy, line and ballroom dancing and travel. Both Jim and Loretta cherish time spent with their children and grandchildren.

Debra and Mike Callihan live in Gunnison, Colo., Larry, Susanne and their children, Kyle, Brent, Brendan and Ashley are in Rocklin; Bob and Patricia McDonald and their son, Ian, live in Girdwood, Ark.; their daughter, Chelsea and Neal Goodnaugh, and granddaughter, Avry, live in Anchorage, Alaska near Richardson Army Base.