Good Samaritan Shopper

[Lone Gunman]

Shopper Pays for Marine's Engagement Ring



TYLER, Texas - A Marine who's planning to marry a Texan got an early Christmas present: A fellow shopper picked up the tab for a $3,000 diamond engagement ring after the two struck up a conversation in a jewelry store.

The 54-year-old Dallas woman who paid for the 1-carat, princess cut diamond ring wants to remain anonymous, Helzberg Diamonds spokeswoman Stacey McBride told The Associated Press on Friday.

The woman's father was in the military, her brother was a Marine who died in Vietnam and her nephew just got back from Iraq, McBride said.

Marine James Lynaugh, 28, of Patuxent River, Md., was shopping Thursday at the Helzberg Diamonds store at a mall in Tyler.

Lynaugh and the anonymous shopper discussed their mutual military connections. Lynaugh opened a store credit account to buy the ring, then left with it.

After the other shopper paid for her items, she inquired whether Lynaugh's credit charge could be reversed. She didn't even ask about the cost of the ring, McBride said.

"So we were able to reverse that charge, and she paid in full with a check," McBride said.

A representative of the North Kansas City., Mo, company later contacted Lynaugh with the good news.

"He did say that he broke the news to his fiancee" that someone else paid for the ring, McBride said.

Lynaugh's fiancee is from Athens, about 40 miles southwest of Tyler in East Texas. The Marine also has family in Huntsville.

[K C Muffin]

what a great story to be able to tell your children. Kudos to that shopper!

[Made in the USA]

A representative of the North Kansas City., Mo, company later contacted Lynaugh with the good news.


There goes kcM with the Kansas City bling!! Maybe that's where she shops!!
Or maybe she owns the place, since she definitely knows her diamonds!!

[TexKan]

That is soooo sweet.....what a nice story! - That's it I'm hangin at the jewlery stores from now on!! Wonder how long it will take till they throw me out of Tiffanay's...LOL

[Made in the USA]

Probably until "Breakfast" there TexCan!!

[K C Muffin]

Originally Posted by Made in the USA

There goes kcM with the Kansas City bling!!

Don't I wish? It's been awhile since I've been in Helzberg's. Nice store.

Tiffany's is nice, too, but it's all about the name. You could probably get as quality a stone in, say, Helberg's, or any other store up here as you can get in Tiffany's - at half the price. I have some Tiffany's boxes in the basement, if anybody needs one. We got several gifts from there when we got married 5 years ago. They're just sitting down there. Don't know what I saved them for. Ought to be using them for Christmas gifts!!!