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Grand Canyon couple unites<br>in emotional, special ceremony

GCNP — The sacred world of two people being united in marriage seems to have been diluted in the modern world. There are unpleasant statistics showing high divorce rates. Stepfamilies have become the norm in American society. And there was even a game show matching a complete stranger with a multimillionaire.

Kendall Kachinhongva and Phyllis Ann Yoyetewa were married Dec. 31 in Laughlin, Nev.

But although there are those sad and strange stories, every once in a while, there comes along a couple that warms the heart. This past New Year's Eve, a wedding took place on the Colorado River at Laughlin, Nev., between two Grand Canyon residents.

Phyllis Ann Yoyetewa, who works for the National Park Service as an interpretive ranger, and Kendall Kachinhongva, a longtime Grand Canyon resident who formerly worked in the local school's maintenance department, united in marriage on Dec. 31. Tears were flowing freely at the ceremony.

"That was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, absolutely," said Carol Martinez, a friend of the family who attended the wedding.

Why was there special meaning behind this particular wedding? Kachinhongva is terminally ill.

"We had been together before ... almost eight years," the bride said. "Then we split up for seven years. We got back together again, it'll be about four years in April."

The couple had a child together, Kendall Kachinhongva Jr. Although Yoyetewa had other children, it was her first marriage at age 40. The groom is now 46.

"We just felt like it was time for us to finally do it at our old age," she said.

Yoyetewa, who has lived at Grand Canyon since she was 2 weeks old, said her husband is "pretty much day-to-day," when it comes to his illness. "He has his bad days and his good days," she said. "We're hoping that he'll eventually clear up."

One of the good days had to be the wedding day. About 150 people showed up for the ceremony, which began at 10:30 a.m. and lasted most of the day. Children and grandchildren, friends and other family took part in or watched the event. The rings were specially made for the couple by Watson Honanie.

Afterward, there were two receptions.

"We had originally planned to just go with the cruise, but we said, 'what are we going to do with all the relatives after the wedding?'" Phyllis said. "Not many of them gamble. I had tried to get a later cruise, but the only time available was at 10:30 a.m. I thought we'll go ahead and have a reception then. Then I remembered my grandfather."

Phyllis' grandfather, Donald Longhoma, was a member of the American Legion. Another longtime Grand Canyon resident, Longhoma worked at Verkamp's for 34 years. Phyllis grew up in the small house that stands behind Verkamp's just yards from the rim of the Canyon, living there with her grandparents. Longhoma's wife was Edith.

"I remembered here at the old Legion, they used to do parties and stuff," Phyllis said.

So, an American Legion hall at Laughlin was secured and the party continued. The couple remained in Laughlin for another week, enjoying themselves with the various types of entertainment there, such as a movie and magic show.

Kachinhongva, who is full-blooded Hopi, proposed to Phyllis on the North Rim. That held special significance for Phyllis, who is Hopi and Apache, because in all her years at Grand Canyon, it was her first trip to the North Rim. They decided on a wedding in 2000.

Unfortunate family circumstances kept postponing any wedding plans, however. First, Phyllis' grandmother became ill and died. The wedding was then planned for April, but then her grandfather also died. News of her future husband's illness then followed.

"It was a heckuva year," she said. "We decided we were going to finish it off with a bang."

And that they did — a special wedding to bring in the new year.

"There were a lot of tears," Phyllis said. "Everybody's reaction was — finally. They were good tears."


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