Surrounded by friends, Kathy Thorn celebrated her 100th birthday on Tuesday, March 19, at the River Oaks Place in Downtown Lenoir City.
Friends of Kathy traveled as far as Michigan and South Georgia to share the monumental day with her.
Born and raised in Pennsylvania, she and her late husband Stuart resided in the Pocono Mountains —where they spent many days skiing — as well as Carolina Shores — Kathy’s favorite place to live — before settling down in Tellico Village in 1998.
“Carolina Shores, that was one of my favorite places because it was near the ocean and I love the ocean,” Kathy said. “I never would have moved except for the hurricanes; it was so scary. We were six miles from the ocean but it still affected us.”
Kathy and Stuart met while working at the Sun Oil Company in Pittsburgh. She was a secretary for the company for 32 years, and he worked as a financial analyst for 34.
He was also their Union Representative.
‘HAPPY YEARS’
“I knew him for years,” she said. “Finally we got married, and we were very happy. We were married 44 years. … It wasn’t long enough unfortunately, but they were happy years.”
Before moving to East Tennessee, Stuart and Kathy visited Tellico Village every year for five years because some of their friends had moved into the newly built community. When they decided to leave Carolina Shores, it seemed like the perfect place to live.
Stuart passed away in August of 2007, and Kathy lived in their Tellico Village home until transitioning to River Oaks Place, a senior living community near Downtown Lenoir City two years ago this May.
“It’s nice,” Kathy said about living at River Oaks Place. “Of course I miss my (Tellico Village) home, but they’re very nice and, as you can see, they’re giving me a (birthday) party.
“Well, my friends are throwing it, but they’re cooperating so nicely.
“This is a very nice place,” she said, looking around at her two dozen friends and the “Happy Birthday” banner the River Oaks employees hung on the wall.
‘IF I HAD MY DRUTHERS …’
For her entire life, Kathy has enjoyed being active. From skiing with her husband to dancing with friends on the weekends, she said she has always enjoyed being active and being around people and her animals — she had five cats and one dog, whom she loved very much.
“What do I enjoy most?” Kathy said. “Music, dancing, and I love to sketch. I went to art school. I enjoyed sketching very much.
“I enjoy volunteer work, and I enjoy being active. I was active all my life.
“If I had my druthers, I’d like to be 24 again,” she said. “Because, when I was 24, I was living with my best friend. I had a very good job. I had my own car. I had plenty of friends, plenty of dates. I was just happy … happy, happy memories.”
Now at 100 years old, Kathy still strives to be as active as possible by joining the River Oaks community for daily games and activities. Her Tellico Village friends still visit on Sundays for Rummikub, Kathy’s favorite game.
Terry Schmid, Kathy’s previous Tellico Village neighbor and friend, said when they play Rummikub, they play for quarters and Kathy leaves them empty-handed every week.
“Rummikub is my favorite,’ Kathy said. “It’s so good for your mind. It challenges you. At my age, that’s important, believe me. Because you look around and you see some of the elderly people that have problems, and you’re grateful for what you have or what you don’t have, I should say.”
GOOD NEIGHBORS, ‘FANS’
For many years Kathy worked for the Good Neighbors Shoppe in Lenoir City. Her former colleagues said she was a great, friendly cashier who never made a mistake. She always took her time, talking with every customer as if they were a friend.
“I don’t know how long Kathy worked at the Good Neighbors Shoppe — she was there when I started — but she worked on my shift, which was Friday afternoon,” said Wes Hibbert. “Kathy never made a mistake. I told Kathy she could work on my shift as long as she wanted. I mean, she was good. She was good with customers. Some people thought she was a little slow, but talking to a customer and seeing them with a smile on their face when they leave is what she wanted.
“She’s a great conversationalist,” he said. “She’s 22 years older than I am, and she has a better memory than I do. She is blessed, and she has a very big fan club.
“She is not going to be lonely. She is just a magnificent person.”
During Kathy’s party, surrounded by her many friends, she wore a sash that said “Aged to Perfection” along with a feathered boa. Her friends provided chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting and engaged in hours of catching up and reminiscing on fond memories while some of Kathy’s favorite music played in the background — jazz and pop from the 1930s to ‘50s.
“I think it’s wonderful (to have everyone here),” Kathy said. “I wish I could talk more to each one of them.
“It’s so dear of them to throw this party for me. I’m very appreciative. I have very good friends, very loyal.”
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