A 67-year-old Knoxville man will tie the knot for the first time in February. Shelby Mills, a charter member of the Farragut Lions Club will wed Patricia Cox of Knoxville, whom he met through a friend.

"The unique thing about it was that her sister was one year behind me in school and we both attended the same school," Mills said.

Mills and Cox unknowingly knew many of the same people, lived in the same community, and attended churches which were two miles apart. The couple soon found that they both love to cook, enjoy working in their gardens, and are both animal lovers. The two even cheer for the same sports teams.

"We dated for two years before we decided to get married," said Mills. "Everything just fell into place."

One might wonder, after going 67 years without being married, why would Mills choose to do so now?

"I knew I wasn't getting any younger," said Mills. "After going through a lot of health problems for a couple of years, I thought I was left on this earth for some purpose. Maybe it was to meet Pat."

According to Susan Robertson of the Farragut Chapter of the Lions Club, a reception was held on Jan. 29 to honor Mills. The couple will exchange vows in a small ceremony Feb. 9, 2008.