Carol Jean "Penny" Emery, daughter of Evart Leroy (1917-1996) and Lorraine J. (?) (1919-1987) Emery, was born 17 May 1943 Michigan.  She attended Okemos High School with the Class of 1961.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Monday 26 February 1962

OKEMOS GIRL'S WEDDING COMPLICATED IN VIETNAM

Miss Carol Jean (Penny) Emery is getting her bridal trousseau together for a March 17 wedding date.  And like all pretty young girls she is involved in a delightful flurry of prenuptial activities.

The only difference is that Penny teaches English in Saigon, Vietnam, where her father, Evart L. Emery, an M. S U. faculty member, is in charge of service operations on the MSUG (Michigan State University Governmental) project.  And this brings up problems that she never would have encountered while living at home in Okemos.

Her parents recently announced her engagement to Sp/5 Livingston Ainsworth Henderson, a private security officer for the United States army under Gen. Eggertston at MAAG in Vietnam.  He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Horace Henderson of South Carolina.

First and foremost, there is the problem of security.  Americans are not allowed out of their houses alone at night.  They must travel in groups of four or five or be escorted by security guards.  This, of course, cramps dates, American-style.

Penny once was "lost" from her parents for two days during a long skirmish inside the city.  She was safe at a girl friend's house right next to the palace, but there was no way to let her parents know.

SHE CAN'T SHOP

Next, there are no stores carrying ready-made bridal finery.  When Penny made up her mind about the style of wedding gown she wanted, she went shopping for material, selected exquisite white embroidered silk, then took it and a magazine picture to a French tailor who is now working on the gown.

As for her bridal veil, white kid gloves, satin slippers and even her prayer book, she had to write home to her sister, Connie, Mrs. Douglas Federau of Okemos, who shopped and mailed them to her.

Connie and a group of Penny's friends also held a gala personal shower for Penny, wrapped up the gifts and sent them parcel post to Vietnam with best wishes.

WEDDING CAKE MIX

Another problem that came up for bride-elect Penny also has been solved by her sister.  It was the wedding cake, which Penny wanted in American tradition.

"The French cakes," she wrote, "taste terrible and are so high-priced that it costs $60 to feed $50 people."  (French cakes are highly laced with wine and brandy.)

So Connie shipped out 10 boxes of cake mix and Mrs. Emery will bake her daughter's wedding cake.

The most different thing about Penny's wedding ceremony in Vietnam will be the ceremony.  For although the Emery's are members of Okemos Community church, here, Vietnamese law requires both a civil ceremony and a French Reform church ceremony.  Security guards, of course, will be among the witnesses.

EUROPEAN HONEYMOON

Honeymoon plans for Penny and Officer Henderson sound as glamorous as any young couple could hope for, however.  They will fly to Europe where the bridegroom will be stationed for the next four years.

The Emerys, who are one of the eight couples from Michigan State university, still stationed there, will be starting back to M.S. U. and their Okemos home on June 25.

They will be happy to return, they have written friends, although their stay there has been interesting in many ways.  Small bombings are in progress in Saigon at all times.  Driving outside the city has not been permitted since 1960.

Even more eager to return home than his parents, is Dick Emery, 18, who is looking forward to the freedom he hasn't been able to enjoy as a teenager there.

Both Penny and Dick attended the American Community school, a correspondence type  of school, sponsored by the University of California.

Livingston Ainsworth "L. A." Henderson was born 15 February 1936 South Carolina.  He died 27 February 1988 Polk County, Florida.  Penny succumbed to cancer 20 November 1997 Caldwell County, North Carolina.  L.A. and Penny were interred Catawba Memorial Park, Hickory, Catawba County, North Carolina.