Miami Herald building
 
Paul and Lisa Smith stand on the snow-covered deck behind their home in southern Columbia. The Smiths, who met while they were both attending MU, have been married for 24 years. JOHN HOOK/Missourian

By NICHLOE WADE
news@columbiamissourian.com

They don’t think marriage is tough, and they never, ever fight. Meet Paul and Lisa Smith.

They have been married for 24 years, and they have learned how to communicate and respect one another. These qualities have kept their love alive, the couple says.

“People say that marriage is tough, but I don’t think it is,” Lisa said.

The Smiths were introduced in the fall of 1981 by mutual friends in the cafeteria between Hatch and Schurz halls at MU. Male friends of Lisa’s had been giving her rides to the Church of Christ in Columbia before she met Paul.

Once the two got together, Paul was the man to give Lisa rides. The rest is history.

A year of dating, visiting the astronomy observatory and study breaks watching animal operations at the Veterinarian School — that was the backdrop to his proposal.

Paul asked Lisa to marry him during a walk in the Woodland Floral Garden, which used to be near the Agriculture Building on campus.

He was nervous, wanting to say and do all the right things.
“We went for a walk and stopped at a park bench. I proposed to her there,” Paul said.

“I didn’t cry,” Lisa recalled. “I think I was expecting it; it was my birthday.”

After their sophomore year, the couple married on June 18, 1983.

Since their wedding, a mix of faith, family, mutual respect and thoughtful gestures have kept their marriage solid. Lisa, 45, a stay-at-home mom to their four children, and Paul, 44, a property manager, said their favorite thing about being married is just having such a close friend to share life with.

“Marriage is awesome,” Lisa said. “Paul is very kind, very sweet.”

“She is a wonderful, beautiful person. She’s an excellent mother and wife,” Paul said.

With four children to care for and love, Paul and Lisa’s life revolves around them somewhat. All of their kids participate in band or orchestra, and the Smiths said they love going to the children’s concerts.

“And of course listening to them practice at home,” Lisa said.

Their faith has resonated through their lives. As a family, they sing and worship at home, as well as at church, where their closest friends are members.

They say their life goal is to spend eternity in heaven. It is extremely important to both Paul and Lisa to be able to help each other, their family and others, to attain that goal.

“We took our marriage vows very seriously,” Lisa said. “The vows we made were a promise to each other and to God.”