Independence Day started early this year at 315 South Chautauqua in Sedan because Aunt Bessie Harman turned 100 years old on July 2, 1981.
Willard Scott announced on the "Today Show" that Sedan's Aunt Bessie has joined the select group of centenarians who live in the United States, a group with more exclusive membership requirements than most! Chris Cooke, Aunt Bessie's great-grandnephew from Montana announced the event locally by blasting off at least a thousand fire crackers. What a great day.
Aunt Bessie still celebrates her birthdays the same as always, with a few friends in for cake and a cool drink in the afternoon. Her birthday morning was taken up with phone calls from nieces from California and Oklahoma and Oral Roberts from Tulsa, Okla. Friends and neighbors started calling about noon with good wishes. Mrs. Frances Cummings baked the most beautiful cake (almost too pretty to cut) for Aunt Bessie's party.
While relatives across the country assisted in giving the party, Aunt Bessie was the star of the afternoon, greeting over 100 guests who came for her reception. She is truly amazing in the way she keeps her friendships so current. The secret of her longevity has evidently been to be a good friend.
More friends and relatives relaxed at a dinner given at the Christian church that evening. Most of her family was there: Dr. and Mrs. John Mac Butcher and Mrs. Helen Bonadies from Florida, Alice Keefe from Baton Rouge, LA, Dr. Tom Butcher from Emporia; niece, Mary Lowman from Manhattan; niece, Marian Cooke from Billings, Montana; grandnephew, John Cooke and his son, Chris and Carolee Martin from Billings, Montana, and grand niece, Pat Feisthamel from Browning, Montana.
The lovely dinner was served by Lorene Runyon, Micky Fisher, Lena Bell Jones, Helen Smith, Madeline Tresner, Emogene Chase, plus Paul Runyon and Hazel Pollet, and we had piano music to accompany our dinner by Roselyn Musgrove.
Thank you to all in making Aunt Bessie's 100th birthday such a joyous event. Our family has moved in many directions from the Butcher Falls home, and we depend on the good people of Sedan to take our places in Aunt Bessie's life most of the year. Once in awhile we come back to Sedan and move right in and you are all so very gracious to us. Aunt Bessie will be at home at Pleasant Valley Manor now, soon waiting to take up the conversation where you left it off.
Aunt Bessie visits with me regularly in letters which she pens beautifully to Browning, Montana, always full of encouragement and good thoughts which I appreciate. If I could visit with her daily, I would, because she has a wealth of wisdom in her one hundred years to share with you and she does. Thank you Sedan, for being Aunt Bessie's good friend.