Mary Shurn celebrates 100 years

Mary Shurn of the Pleasant Hill Community near Linden celebrated her 100th birthday July 3. Some 200 people came to celebrate with her.

The 200th birthday well-wishers had a special reason to be there. Shurn had taught for 43 years in the Linden-Kildare Consolidated School District. Her central subject matter, among others, had been home economics.

“Tenacity is what she represents to me,” said Pleasant Hill community member Flo Stephenson. “Although home economics is not taught today under the same title, Mary Shurn taught a home economics course that included so many things about life and how to live it.”

Shurn taught of being a woman, a career woman, not just cleaning. How to balance a checkbook and more, her admirers said.

“When I think of her, I think of a person who has staying power. Her students were coming back to recognize her for what she taught about life and what it took to be a productive citizen.”

Of the several speeches in her honor, one speaker summarized, “You are the one who make those of us following in your profession look and feel good.”

Adding to her “tenacious” description of the birthday party honoree, Stephenson remarked a day later, “Mary arrived walking by herself and left the same way. I bet she still has her driver’s license.”

Vonzear Mitchell and Carolyn Craver, both of whom live away, were the two who announced and planned the celebration party for Shurn held at the Fairview Community Center. The birth date of July 3 had been moved to the weekend of July 6 for convenience.