Woman born on Leap Day to celebrate turning 100 on her 25th official birthday
As the Leap Year rolls around, Oklahoma woman Mary Forsythe is about to turn 100, but it's really only her 25th official birthday celebration.
Born on Feb. 29, 1924 - she was last week recognized by the Centenarians of Oklahoma and awarded a proclamation from the city celebrating her 100th birthday. Since leap years come around every four years, she will technically celebrate her 25th birthday this year. The party got started a little early as the Sand Springs community gathered to celebrate Forsythe on her 25th birthday celebration.
"I always thought I was blessed," said Forsythe, who explained that in non-leap years, she would celebrate the occasion two or three times at different times. "It was so much fun. We celebrated whenever we wanted to."
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Forsythe is celebrating her 25th and 100th birthday (KOCO via CNN Newsource)She specifically remembers one year in which she went with her husband William Wayne Forsythe to a diner that offered free breakfast to anyone celebrating a birthday, on his birthdate, March 6. She said when the server questioned their story and she had her justification ready.
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"His birthday is March 6, and mine is Feb. 29. And there is no 29th on the calendar this year. So, mine is March 6," she recalled saying and so the couple ate for free that day.
Forsythe has spent her whole life in Sand Springs and is passionate about music and The Bible. She was married to her husband from 1942 until he died in 2011, and he was her high school sweetheart. "He was beautiful. He was handsome.... And he had a bass voice that won first in this state when he was in high school," she said.
The pair loved to sing and as an alto herself she often joined her husband to sing with banjo bands in the neighboring communities and at restaurants in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The mother of two, grandmother of five, and great-grandmother to a massive 11 children pursued multiple different careers, working as a secretary at a law firm, getting her real estate license, and becoming a published author.
Forsythe married her high school sweetheart (KOCO via CNN Newsource)Join the Mirror's SMS news service to get the biggest breaking stories delivered straight to your phone. Click here to subscribe
Her church will celebrate with her and they have a large gathering is planned. Forsythe said she is having a hard time slimming down the guest list - a popular member of the congregation. "No gifts, please. I don't want anything to store."
"Oh, it's just a fun time to live," she added, reflecting on the occasion.
"I'll tell you, it's a great time to live."
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