Terminally ill man marries, despite Greene County rules

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A man hospitalized with terminal cancer and heart problems was granted his dying wish to wed his girlfriend Friday night, after Greene County waived its policy requiring him to appear in person for a marriage license.

Dale Wiest and Jacque Kerrick exchanged vows at Cox North in Springfield, where he remained hospitalized. The ceremony was allowed to go forth after the county's recorder of deeds agreed to meet with the couple at the hospital to fill out paperwork.

It brought an end to a struggle that began Aug. 20 when Kerrick went to Recorder of Deeds Linda Montgomery's office on her own for a marriage license.

She was told Wiest must accompany her. Trouble was, he was unable to travel.

Montgomery said it would violate a county policy requiring applications to be made at the courthouse due to liability concerns.

She had a change of heart Friday evening. Not only did it fulfill Wiest's wish, but it allowed Kerrick to make good on a promise she made in 1992 when Wiest first proposed. Kerrick stipulated that he first had to pay a $120,000 debt to the Internal Revenue Service.

After making the final $275 payment three weeks ago, Wiest was hospitalized.