Kelly and Connie Smith of Palmerton recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.

They were married in the United Methodist Church in Aquashicola by the late Rev. Richard Jones on March 4, 1978.

Mrs. Smith, formerly Connie Dieter, is the daughter of Marie Dieter of Allentown and the late Harvey Dieter of Palmerton. Her husband is the son of Dot Gursky of Palmerton and the late Ralph Smith, also of Palmerton.

Kelly and Connie have three children. Sons Jake Smith, husband of Shana of Palmerton, and Joshua Smith, husband of Casey of Jersey Shore; and a daughter, Jenna, wife of Dan Magarelli of Hummelstown.

They have five grandchildren: Taylor, Bryce, Brett, Ava and Charlotte Smith.

The couple celebrated their anniversary with a party on April 15 at the Eldred Township Community Center in Kunkletown with over 90 family members and friends in attendance, including best man Rich Hrusovsky and maid of honor Lisa (Turko) Green. Others in the wedding party who were able to attend were Brad Wilkinson and Linda (Smith) DeSousa.

The Smiths also celebrated their daughter-in-law Shana’s 40th birthday, which fell on the day of their party.

The couple has attended Bethany Wesleyan Church in Cherryville for over 30 years. Pastor Scott Weldon led the dinner event with prayer.

Kelly is employed by Behr Process in Kutztown for 18 years, and Connie is a Thirty-One consultant for the past five years, after retiring from over 20 years with the Charley Brown Nursery School in Palmerton.

A trip is planned to see the life-size Noah’s Ark in Kentucky with their church.