Toots & Terry at the Bonfire 

Curly, Terry, Blue & Toot's Dad

Toot's ready to ride to meet her husband to be.

Terry & Toots with both dads after the vows

Mr.. & Mrs.. Terry Irwin

Terry & Toots and Family

Terry & Toots with Family & Friends

On the afternoon of June 12, 2010, under beautiful sunny skies, Terry Irwin, alias “Boundary Hunter” and Deanna Benson, alias “Toots Morgan”, got “hitched” at Elk Pass Ranch located in Newman Lake, Washington. 

“Boundary Hunter” dressed in his finest Sunday clothes with colt 45’s strapped to his hips and astride his favorite steed “Buzzy”; rode out of the south to meet his” bride to be”.  “Toots” dressed in her beautiful white dress, parasol in hand with her derringer barely showing around her small waist, rode out of the north astride her favorite steed “Cooper” to meet her “husband to be”.  They met each other and slowly rode off into the west to their impending nuptials.

Paul Jerome, minister, fellow shooter and great friend of Terry & Deanna’s, did the honor of marrying them in front of God, family and friends. Terry and Deanna’s fathers stood by, shotguns in hand; to make sure that “Boundary Hunter” didn’t try to make a break for it!  After exchanging vows, and rings (which were attached to the halter of their new 4-legged baby “Tater”), the newly wed couple rode off side by side, hand in hand, to start a new life together as husband and wife.

Once the Knot was tied, and many pictures taken, some great vittles (or in other words good food), was served up by all the wonderful folks who attended the affair.  After the happy couple had their fill of food and spirits, they toasted one another with fine bubbly and the traditional “cake in the face”, (well, actually in the mouth), folks then took the opportunity to sit under the shade of the trees and canopies, visiting and reminiscing about the good old days.  A few energetic souls got their trusty steeds from the stable and enjoyed a trail ride on winding trails through the beautiful forest adjacent to Elk Pass Ranch, including the bride and groom.

As several folks said their good byes and began to mosey on back to their homes, a few of us old (and young) cowboys and cowgirls sat around the warmth of a monstrous bon fire to watch the sun set over the mountains and enjoy the spectacular view of the valley below as the stars began to twinkle in the night sky.  A few folks did spend the night and awakened on Sunday morning to share in a cowboy breakfast and church service.

Yaw know folks it really don’t get much better than this, when cowgirls and cowboys get “hitched” in the mountains of northeast Washington.