MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Elaine and Richard Hocking, formerly of Lafayette, marked their 50th anniversary with a party thrown by their children. The couple celebrated with a dinner cruise in the Catabwa Queen on Lake Norman in Mooresville, with friends and family from Franklin, North Carolina and New York.

Elaine, the daughter of Ethel Hemlock and the late William Hemlock, and Richard, the son of the late Stanley and Cora Hocking, were married Aug. 29, 1959, at the Hamburg Presbyterian Church.

Richard retired from Ames Rubber in Hamburg in 1990, after 35 years. He also worked for Titon Building Products in Pineville, N.C., as inside salesman, retiring in 1992.

Elaine worked for Michael's Jewelry in Franklin for 21 years. She later worked at the Peppermind Christmas Shop in Charlotte, N.C, as decorator, retiring in 2000.

The couple has two sons, Gary Richard and his wife, Cathy, and Jesse William and his wife, Stephanie, and four grandchildren, Karli, Kelsey, Ayden and Emily Kate.