Velma Entjes and John Gibson Marriott celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on January 27, 2019. At the time of their marriage, John was a graduate student in neuroscience at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Velma joined him there as he completed a PhD degree. In 1973, they moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to launch John’s 30+ year career as a research scientist in the pharmaceutical industry. While in Michigan they raised three children; Mark (Michele), Nicole Fitzsimmons(Gavin), and Matthew. Velma also began her career in early childhood education there, continuing it when they returned to Utah in 1994, teaching kindergarten in the Weber School District for 15 years. John finished his research career with a pharmaceutical company in Salt Lake.

They are both now retired and reside on the family farm in Warren, Utah. They have three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.