Published: October 24, 2009 01:22 pm      

105-year old credits the Lord

Recently celebrating her 105th birthday, Blanche Ray was born in the country just outside Western Grove, Ark. on Oct. 11, 1904. She had five sisters and three brothers.

She moved to Big Prairie, now the army base in Savanna, when she was 12 years old. She later met and married Richard “Dick” Ray in 1920, when she was 16 years old. They were married for over 30 years before he passed away. They had three children, two sons and a daughter. They lived in Oklahoma most of their lives, except for the years they lived in California during the war.

Her lifetime hobbies include singing, playing the piano and organ, which she taught herself to play as a child, and square dancing. She also enjoyed working crossword puzzles until she became unable to see at the age of 103.

“I have been in church since I was 7 or 8 years old, and the Lord has been with me through thick and thin. I have to say it would be because of the Lord,” she said when asked what her secret to long life is.

Ray said she has 12 grandchildren, 20 something great-grandchildren, and more than 30 great-great grandchildren.

She added that she has enjoyed being a housewife, and continues to look forward to being a mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and a great-great grandmother.