Gary and Evelyn Helms waltzed into the News-Aegis office…well not exactly.

At ages 80 and almost 83, respectively, they may not be as spry as they were in their youth, but they still have a spring in their step that only happiness can bring.

“We met in 2015 and I asked her [Evelyn] to teach me to dance,” Gary said. “I’ve been dancing ever since.”

The couple dances regularly at the Pell City Senior Center, which offers hot lunches, chair aerobics, line dancing, table games, pool tables, ceramics, and a variety of activities for seniors over the age of 60.

“We were dancing together right off,” Evelyn said. “I never did professional dancing, I just loved to dance.”

Having common interests is something that the couple has attributed their happiness to. They agree that common interests and viewpoints have made for a peaceful relationship.

“It’s a pastime for us” Gary said. “It’s always a good time and we like doing something we love together.”

The couple married not long after their first dance in 2015, at a country-themed wedding where the bride wore white cowboy boots and hat and the groom had on blue jeans and a black cowboy hat, with friends and family there to celebrate their second chance at love. 

Gary, who has been battling cancer and taking medication for pain, still lights up when looking at his wife and talking about their shared love of dancing.

“When I dance, I forget everything…” Gary said. “I just love to dance.”

The couple hopes to inspire others to continue dancing, no matter what age or what their circumstance.

For more information about activities at the Pell City Senior Center, located at 801 Comer Ave., Pell City, contact 205-338-6589.