WESTMORELAND, NH – Being around for a century is truly an amazing feat. The longevity of the following individuals should be applauded!
At 114 years, 294 days young, Mary Josephine Ray was certified as the oldest person living in the United States. This past Sunday, she passed away after leading a very active and prosperous life.
“She just enjoyed life,” said her granddaughter Katherine Ray. “She never thought of dying at all. She was planning for her birthday party.”
Mary Ray was born May 17, 1895 was not only the oldest in the United States but was also counted as the second oldest person in the world. She’ll also hold the record for the time being as the oldest person to ever live in New Hampshire. Her husband passed away in 1967 and she is survived by two sons, eight grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.
Mary Ray has passed the baton of oldest person alive to Neva Morris. Morris is 114 years, 216 days old and she resides in Ames, Iowa. She was born on August 3, 1895 and has spent most of her life in Ames, Iowa.
She has spent most of her career tending a 224-acre farm in Ames with her husband Edward, who passed away in the 1960s. Her hard work raising chickens, hogs and dairy cattle helped put her four children through college at Iowa State. Morris also have eight grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and several more great-great grandchildren.
“She’s just a treat. She’ll be 115 in August. Isn’t that amazing?,” said Karen Greathouse, one of Morris’ caretakers at Northcrest Community.
The oldest person in the world today is Japan’s Kama Chinen at a ripe age of 114 years, 301 days. When you put that in perspective, it is truly amazing. Chinen has been alive for every single World Cup, both World Wars, 22 U.S. presidents and many more incredible events that we only hear in stories.
That is awesome!! I hope to be that old or older someday and pass on some REAL wisdom to happy people all around me 😉
She lived long enough to see queen latifah replace queen elizabeth!