Sikeston woman celebrates distant 102nd birthday

SIKESTON, Mo. -- It was brief and there was no physical contact, but a Sikeston woman who turned 102 on Wednesday was touched more than ever by a birthday celebration given by family and friends.

Despite social distancing and a stay-at-home order, Alma K. York was able to see family and friends and hear their birthday wishes from her front porch Wednesday afternoon.

York was greeted by a line of vehicles, honking their horns, and people shouting "Happy birthday, Alma!" and "We love you!" as she came out to her front porch. One by one, visitors left a card or sign in her yard. Then everyone joined in a singing of happy birthday.

"This is just something else -- a real surprise," York said as she watched from her front porch. "This is the biggest birthday I've ever had."

York was helped out to chair on her front porch by her daughters, Sandra York and Sherry Bohr.

"Thank you, all," York said. "I'm just so glad to see you all. I don't remember all the names, but I remember some. "I like people, and so I guess I feel good to see all of them here."

Sandra York, who lives with her mother, said three of her siblings -- a brother and two sisters -- have passed away, but she knew they're watching from heaven on their mother's birthday.

"They're looking down today and saying, 'Happy birthday, Mother,'" Sandra York said. "Thank you all for being here -- for mom having this birthday celebration. We're hoping she has some more of them; 102 is great and thinking she'll have more and we'll be careful and dp what we're supposed to do.

Mary Carr, who suggested the drive-by celebration because she'd seen them on TV and online, was among family and friends who kept their distance from within her vehicle but wished York a happy birthday.

"I didn't like the idea of a 102nd birthday passing by without a celebration of some kind," Carr said.

York and her family appreciated the gesture from the family and friends who participated in the celebration.

"We thank everybody for coming," Sandra York said on behalf of her mother. "We hope that you have a blessed day and we get to see you again next year."