On Sept. 10, 2011, (yes, that’s 9/10/11), Annie Borders and Steve Hearon were married by their pastor, Lindsay Murphy, in a 5 p.m. ceremony at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church.
The bride’s attendants were Tonja Pekic, maid of honor, and four brides’ matrons, including sisters of the bride: Julie McCue, Conifer, Colo., and Jane Swaney, Bloomington, Ill., and daughters of the groom: Stephanie Burnett and Rebecca Ellestad. Attending the groom were Rick Brown, best buddy and hunting partner, Blaze Pattison, son of the groom, Michael Ellestad, son-in-law of the groom, and, doing double duty as groomsman and walking in the bride, Alan Burnett, son-in-law of the groom. Molly McCue, the bride’s niece, and Hailey Sheldon, “niece” of the groom, served as candle lighters and junior bridesmaids, and Russell Sheldon, Jr., “nephew” of the groom, as the errant ringbearer.
Special family members and guests included Annie and Steve’s mothers, Audrey Tinervin, 82, of Estes Park, Colo., and Bobby Hearon, 91, of Issaquah, plus Stafford and Nancy Lombard, of Keaau, Hawaii, who introduced the couple, as well as many other family and friends who traveled to attend.
Since the weather cooperated, eight special cars from the groom’s and best man’s personal car collections were used to transport the wedding party to the reception at the VFW Hall. A special heron sign for the back of the couple’s 1964 SS Impala convertible was painted by Kate Taylor. It was modeled after the original art created for the wedding invitations by the bride’s niece, Emily McCue. John Frazier provided an array of delicious smoked meats for the wedding dinner.
The groom’s house band, Woody and the Boneheads, entertained with their usual oldies rock and roll, plus they learned some country hits for the occasion, including “I’ll Try” for the couple’s first dance, “Stand By Your Man,” for the bride to sing at the groom’s request, and “Forever and Ever Amen,” for the groom to sing to his bride.
Following a belated honeymoon in Troncones, Mexico, the couple welcomed their first grandson and resides at the groom’s home on Mercer Island.
