A woman has finally married the love of her life after her mum outlawed her relationship because she didn't want her daughter dating a black man. Jeanne Watts, formerly Gustavson, has tied the knot with Stephen Watts, 73, after tracking him down in May 2021 after her mum passed away.
The 69-year-old, who was divorced with no children, knew Stephen was the one for her after meeting him in 1971 as a freshman at Loyola University, in Chicago, America. She told People: "He was my first love. He was my true love." The loved-up couple secretly dated for seven years throughout the 70s - but their relationship ultimately came to an end as a result of her mum's racist views.
Her mum went "ballistic" after finding out her daughter had been dating Stephen behind her back - and ordered her to put a stop to it right away.
She added: "She didn't want this relationship to happen at all. I was completely overwhelmed by everything.
"She was always my mother and I always loved her, but it affected our relationship for the rest of my life."
When the couple discussed marriage, Jeanne admitted she was too "afraid" to take things further knowing she would lose her entire family.
After graduating and starting a nursing job a long commute away, she called Stephen up one day to call things off.
She told him: "I love you, but I just can't do this."
Her few short words marked the start of a 42 year long period where they lived completely separate lives with no interaction with one another.
In this time, Jeanne went on to marry another man but this ended in divorce, with her knowing deep down he wasn't the one.
But after her mum passed away, she started searching for Stephen from her home in Cedar Mill, Oregon.
She explained how she couldn't find a scrap of information about him on social media, claiming there was "virtually no trace of him".
But finally, she came across a mailing address for his niece in April 2021 and wrote her a letter asking whether she knows of his whereabouts.
Jeanne added: "She told me he was in a nursing home. That's something I had never in a million years imagined."
She called the nursing home to speak to him - but a staff member told her he didn't have a phone bedside his bed.
She decided to write him a letter instead - but it went unanswered.
Not wanting to give up, Jeanne called the nursing home once more only to be told he "couldn't talk".
After a month of trying and with so many unanswered questions, Jeanne took the risk and travelled to Chicago to speak to him in person.
"Was he okay? Was he married? Would he forgive me?" she questioned.
Jeanne was worried about how he'd react to seeing her, especially as she'd tried to get in touch with him three times with no avail.
But as soon as she walked into his room, he recognised her instantly and started to tear up.
He said: "She is wonderful. She is my heart and soul."
Just three months later, in August 2021, Stephen moved into her Oregon home - and popped the all-important question shortly after.
The happy couple married at home in front of about 65 guests in October last year - with them agreeing it was a long time coming.
Jeanne added: "I gladly took his last name. I've wanted it for a long time."
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