"My very first memory is driving over the plank roads on my father's 160-acre homestead," remembers Lena Morgan. "The mud would ooze up in between the wood."

Lena is celebrating her 100th birthday this month at Merrill Gardens in Marysville.

She was the fourth child of Olive and John Fair from the town of Manor, near Battle Ground, Washington. Born on her Aunt Lena's birthday, she definitely inherited great genes. Aunt Lena lived to be 105 and Lena's mother Olive lived to be 104. Olive used to say, "I'm ready to go anytime, but I don't think He wants me yet."

Morgan remembers her father buying their first car. It was a 1919 Dodge touring car with leather side curtains that could be fastened on to keep out the bad weather.

"Dad told the kids they could either have a new piano or a new car," Lena said. The older children chose the car, later to be scolded by their mother.

Olive told the children, "You should have chosen the piano. He would have bought the new car anyway."

"I had a great time interviewing Lena for this article," commented Barbara Brotherton, Community Relations Director at Merrill Gardens. "She is very sharp"

Lena attributes "having all her marbles" to the fact that she loves to do crossword puzzles. Traveling is also one of her favorite pastimes, and she recalled a fond memory of a trip to Nova Scotia to visit Price Albert Island, and also a Mississippi River boat trip. Lena is a lifelong reader and loves to play bunko and pinochle.

Among her many interests are memberships in both the Fort Vancouver Genealogical Society and the Manor Grange.

"At the Grange no one has to pay dues after they are 80," Lena said. She was the chapter chaplain for 14 years before moving to Merrill Gardens in Marysville to be near her daughter, Diane Warrener, and her family.

Lena can't say enough wonderful things about her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

"A big smile shows from her heart whenever she talks about her family," Brotherton noted.

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