Marking another milestone Saxony Village's oldest resident plan

Turning 102 comes with its own set of pros and cons.

When she passed the milestone century mark in 2002, Mary Hunt received a proclamation and a visit from the mayor of Cape Girardeau. It hangs prominently in her residence at Saxony Village, a record for all to see and hope to achieve. Along with the proclamation came a celebration.

"It was a whopper of a party for a little woman," Hunt said. "I never did care much for parties."

Her feelings on the proclamation and party haven't changed much in the last two years.

Though she wasn't striving to reach any milestones, Hunt was the first resident at Saxony to reach the century mark and she still holds the record for oldest resident.

And she holds all those records while living independently in an apartment where she prepares most of her meals, does her own laundry and takes care of the day-to-day housework.

She'll mark her 102nd birthday on Sunday.

Born and raised in Reynoldsville, Ill. -- which she refers to as "a little town across the river" -- she remembers taking the Illinois Central Railroad to Cape Girardeau for shopping.

Moving on to Cape

"My stepmother would send me," she said. "I looked forward to going to Woolworth's."

After the train ride, Hunt would grab a hack -- or horse-drawn carriage -- and then a boat to make the rest of the journey to the Cape Girardeau riverfront. She married her husband, Elton, here in 1929, after meeting while they lived in the same apartment building in town. She and Elton moved to Flint, Mich., where he worked for Chevrolet, but they returned to Cape Girardeau and settled in an apartment on Middle Street where they lived for more than 50 years.

Elton worked at the International Shoe Co. until retirement, while Mary worked at Sears and the Broadway Fruit Market.

The couple moved to Saxony Village in 1998, and Elton died almost a year later in February 1999.

Though she no longer has any craft hobbies, Hunt still enjoys visiting with people and is a regular at the pinochle table.

A favorite food from her early years, ham and beans, will be served on Hunt's birthday. The meal may be the biggest joy of her day.

"When you set me down I'm a good eater," Hunt said. "There's nothing wrong with my appetite."

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133