Love story: Late-life romance blossoms for Rick and MJ Pansie

Rick Pansie, 71, felt sure love had passed him by.

MJ Tamplin, 70, had decided happily ever after wasn’t in her cards.

And yet on Dec. 14, the two celebrated their first wedding anniversary.

“Our story is a huge miracle, and we both know how lucky we are,” said MJ, beaming.

Rick nodded.

“I never dreamed this would happen,” he said.

The 1967 Lewis and Clark High School grad enlisted in the Naval Reserves, and served two years of active duty during the Vietnam War.

When he returned to Spokane, he joined the family business, Spokane Tin and Sheet Iron Works, and found hobbies that kept him busy.

“I got into old cars and antiques,” he said. “I spent 14 years restoring a 1927 Ford.”

In 1978, he purchased the house next door to his mother.

He had a home, a great job and enjoyable hobbies, but couldn’t seem to find anyone to share them with.

“I dated a lot of ladies, but none of them were interested in old cars or antiques,” said Rick.

After watching many of his friends marry and divorce, he settled into his bachelor lifestyle, finding like-minded friends when he joined the Dukes Auto Club 32 years ago.

MJ, a Walla Walla native, found love only to lose it.

While living in San Francisco, she married her first husband and gave birth to their daughter, Heather. The marriage lasted just four years, but she and her ex-husband remained close. When Heather was 10, her father was killed in a wreck caused by a drunken driver.

MJ decided to move to Pullman and enroll at WSU. She graduated in 1993, with a degree in child and family studies. While pursuing her degree, she became engaged to a divorced man with two teenage sons.

“My daughter was happy thinking she was going to have a family,” said MJ.

The relationship fell apart following the tragic drowning death of her fiancé’s 17-year-old son.

“The grief unraveled him,” she said. “He called off the wedding. It was just devastating.”

After that heartbreak, MJ decided to focus on her daughter, and when her three grandchildren arrived, she lavished her love on them.

“I resigned myself to the fact that I would grow old alone,” she said.

When she broke her ankle and needed months of extensive physical therapy, she moved to Montana and stayed with her brother and his wife.

When her ankle healed, she couldn’t decide whether to return to her hometown or move to the west side of the state where her daughter and grandchildren lived. In the midst of her indecision, an old friend living in Spokane offered her a place to stay, so she decided to move here temporarily.

“I was 66, but I still needed to work,” she said.

An experienced caregiver, she accepted a job providing companion care for seniors, and began assisting Margaret Pansie, Rick’s mother.

“I tell everyone I fell in love with Margaret first,” MJ said.

Rick lived next door, checking on his mother often, and taking her out to dinner every night.

A loyal WSU Cougars fan, MJ watched the games at Margaret’s house, and Rick began coming over to watch them with her.

When Gonzaga’s basketball season started, he watched those games with her, as well.

“It’s more fun to watch the games with you than by myself,” he told her.

In fact, he thought everything was more fun with MJ.

“The first time I met her, I wanted to hug and kiss her, but I didn’t,” he said. “I’ve never felt this way about anybody.”

MJ had given up on romance, but she enjoyed spending time with Rick.

“He was so easy to talk to, and so kind,” she said.

One evening, he asked her over to his place to show her his beloved Ford, and his eclectic collection of antique jukeboxes, neon signs and gas pumps.

“I loved all his stuff!” MJ said.

And though Margaret suffered from dementia, she tried her hand at matchmaking. Rick asked her if she’d mind if MJ joined them for dinner on Friday nights.

She didn’t mind, and one evening she said, “MJ, you know Ricky loves you.”

MJ brushed the comment aside.

“We’re just friends,” she said.

When Margaret moved to an assisted living center, MJ continued to visit her on Friday evenings. Naturally, Rick was there.

“I just felt so comfortable with her,” he said. “She’s such fun to be with. We joke and laugh together.”

More than a year passed since they met and Rick finally told her, “When I first met you, I wanted to hug and kiss you. I love you, MJ. Will you marry me?”

MJ wasn’t sure what to think.

“It took me a while to process,” she said.

Then one night as they were leaving after visiting Margaret, MJ stumbled and Rick took her hand.

“Something happened,” she said, her eyes welling with tears. “I hadn’t held hands with anyone in years. It was just so sweet. I felt safe, like I wasn’t alone.”

She agreed to be his bride.

“We planned a June wedding, but my friends said, ‘What are you waiting for?’” MJ said, laughing.

So, they had a courthouse wedding on Dec. 14, 2018.

Margaret attended.

“I know you’ll take care of my Ricky,” she told MJ.

Margaret died in April, and a photo of their three left hands intertwined, has a prominent place on their mantle.

MJ credits their happy companionship to their age.

“We grew up the same way,” she said.

And growing old together is proving blissful for them.

“She’s such a joy to be with,” said Rick.

They’re looking forward to taking a belated honeymoon cruise aboard a paddleboat on the Mississippi River.

“To have love again in your life when you think you’ve missed the bus on it, it’s wonderful,” MJ said. “Never give up hope! You don’t know what’s around the corner.”