One Woman’s Contribution – Elaine Ooley
Happy birthday, Elaine! Weldon Spring woman turns 106
“I don’t want to grow old. So I don’t act like I’m old. I refuse to do that,” Elaine Ooely said
WELDON SPRING, Mo. — We want to wish a happy birthday to Elaine Ooley from Weldon Spring. She recently turned 106 !!
Elaine Ooley is the definition of resilient. Here’s a short version of her amazing life story. She weighed just one pound when she was born and wasn’t expected to survive.
When she was just 4 years old, she survived the 1918 influenza pandemic in America. She went on to graduate high school during the Great Depression. And after that, she served as an aircraft dispatcher in the women’s Army Corps.
She said living long is thanks to good genes and an even better attitude.
“My long life is due to the fact that I’m positive in my attitude,” she said. “I don’t want to give up. I don’t want to grow old. So, I don’t act like I’m old. I refuse to do that. And I keep up with all the news so I can converse and am a people person. So, I believe in keeping busy, not feeling sorry for yourself, not worrying about your condition, cope with it, do what you can, and go.”
She didn’t have children but has tons of friends who all lined up to wish her happy birthday at the Breeze Park Senior Living Community in Weldon Spring. She calls the people at Breeze Park her family.
CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE.
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Military Humor – HOME FRONT “Saturday Evening Post” style
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Farewell Salutes –
Ena Andrews – Richamond, CA; Civilian, WWII, Shipyard welder
Robert Griffith – Berwyn, IL; US Army, 11th Airborne Division
Wilma Gregory – MN; US Army WAC, WWII, nurse
James “Hollie” Hollingsworth – Hephzibah, GA; USMC, Vietnam, !st Sgt. (Ret.)
Mary Horne – Fall River, MA; Civilian, Newport Naval Base, WWII
Katherine Johnson (101) – Civilian, NASA, Mathematician rocket trajectory expert
Betty Romesberg – Columbus, OH; US Army WAC; WWII, PTO, nurse
Peggy Simmons – Jonesville, NC; FBI, WWII
Morella Staggs – Gardenea, CA; US Coast Guard SPARS, WWII, radio
Edmund Torry – NYC, NY; USMC, 2nd Marine Division
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Posted on February 27, 2020, in Current News, First-hand Accounts, Home Front, Uncategorized, WWII and tagged 1940's, Army, aviation, Greatest Generation, History, Home Front, Military, Military History, Tributes, USA, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 119 Comments.
Attitude means so much and Elaine has the perfect attitude. Don’t act like an old person! That’s my plan. Hope I can have her attitude until I reach 100.
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Way to go, Bev! More people should think like that!!
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Reblogged this on quirkywritingcorner and commented:
Ms Elaine Ooley impressed me and I’m sorry it has taken me so long to share her story.
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No apologies necessary – you’ve shown people that it is worthwhile to get into the archives and dig around. I appreciate it!
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Don’t make ’em like that anymore.
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Quite a role model, I thought!!
Stay safe, Dennis!!
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I love her spirit! ❤
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Great role model, isn’t she?!!
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Off topic, but someone has just directed my attention to the sorry tale of Australian singer Cathy Wayne. Have you encountered this story before? I don’t recall a single article ever.
Cathy Wayne, shot onstage entertaining the troops in 1969.
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Her picture looks vaguely familiar, but the story does not. Thank you for sending it.
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Always a pleasure to read these stories gp, the passing of experience, memories and wisdom, one of ours recently passed, he was a RAAF Fighter pilot, so much history never to be repeated from that era.
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Do you happen to have the name of your RAAF pilot?
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Ken Wright
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Thank you.
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I dug up some articles on Mr. Wright, and yes, the world lost a good one there. I’m glad they promoted him to Flight Lt. while he was still around to appreciate it; surviving 3 years as a POW, he deserved more!
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He was certainly an iconic man within our community gp, not many of them left these days, cheers
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No Ian, there are not many left.
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Wonderful! Thanks for sharing Elaine Ooley’s awesome story- Happy Birthday, Elaine!
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Thank you for coming by to share her story, Bette.
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Wow, what a stayer, nice to see the celebration.
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Glad you liked it!!
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Nice to be inspired.
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What a wonderful lady,thanks for her story
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My pleasure, Mary Lou.
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Congratulations, Elaine, you’re one very special lady! Bit of a sore throat, though – now you’re getting on a bit, ever thought of giving up the cigarettes?
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haha, at 106, I doubt if Elaine is going to bother going through nicotine with-drawl.
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Thank you for sharing a bit of Elaine’s incredible story!
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My pleasure, Liz. I felt she was a fantastic example of that generation.
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Agreed!
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She is awesome. Thank you for sharing her story.
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It was certainly my pleasure, Leonie. Thank you for stopping by!
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Great story
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She is a great story!!
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Reblogged this on depolreablesunite.
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Thank you, Rick!
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👍an awesome reforestation of the spirit of life!💕
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That’s a great way to put it!!
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Happy Birthday, Elaine! She is like my grandmother Nan. Attitude is everything!
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They can still teach us!! Give my best to Nan!!
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Yes, they do!! I will give my best to Nan in my prayers.
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She is a real witness of historical events. God bless her!
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A treasure of a role model. Thanks!
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For sure she is.
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“My long life is due to the fact that I’m positive in my attitude…. So, I believe in keeping busy, not feeling sorry for yourself, not worrying about your condition, cope with it, do what you can, and go.”
A lesson for us all. What a remarkable lady. Many happy returns, Elaine! Thank you for sharing and for all your great posts.
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Thank you very much, Eddie, for stopping by. I totally agree with your comment, she’s quite the role model!
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What a great woman. Attitude certainly does make a difference. I know a couple of 40 year olds who have less life in them than my dining room table — and a few in their nineties who just keep ticking, like the famed Energizer bunny. Given today’s headlines, I thought it was interesting that she survived the 1918 flu. It can happen!
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Isn’t THAT the truth!!
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Such an inspiration!
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I totally agree!!
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Thanks for sharing her story! What an amazing woman….
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I so agree – I had to have her story here!
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“So, I don’t act like I’m old. I refuse to do that.” Sounds like words to live by to me! 🙂 –Curt
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Sounds like a plan!
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Love this post ❤️
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Happy to hear that!!
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Good for her —- but I don’t want to live a day over 100 ! Nice mention of her problem at birth . Sometimes those who start out with a challenge like that outpace the rest of us .
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I’d like to make it to 100, but I doubt that. No one in my family made it past 74. I think it would matter as to what kind of shape you were in at the time. No?
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Inspirational
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Thank you, Derrick.
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106? Well, she certainly doesn’t look it! Her philosophy certainly works.
By the way, I loved the cartoon about peace rumours too. Never been a great fan of butchers, though.
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Have you ever met a butcher that didn’t put his finger on the scale? haha Glad you enjoyed the post today, John!!
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She’s an inspiration to us all! What a woman!
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That she is, thanks!
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Great tribute to a grand old dame at 106! Gee I don’t know if I will live past 60 years at the rate I am going LOL!
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Sure you will. Put a smile on that face and hit old age head-on!
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Ha! I will try!!😉
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Wow! What a woman! 🙂
Happy Birthday, Elaine! We are so grateful for you! 🙂
Love the children’s questions! And her answers! 🙂
Thank you for letting us know about her, GP! She is a smile-bringer, for sure! 🙂
HUGS!!!
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MY pleasure! I was happy to capture her story!
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“I don’t want to grow old. So I don’t act like I’m old. I refuse to do that,” This is the way to live. Have written this on a sticky note and placed it on my computer.
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I think it’s a great mantra to live by!!
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Indeed, GP! Great view into the future. Hope we will have the same mood too. Michael
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You said it, Michael. With all that old age brings, she has a terrific attitude!
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:_))
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106!!!!! She looks amazing!
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Isn’t that incredible? I should look so good now!! 🙂
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Wow what an amazing woman! Thank you for spotlighting her here, GP.
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This was certainly MY pleasure, Christy. I think she is a perfect role model!
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I shared your post about Elaine Ooley who turned 106.🌸 Remarkable story! 🌸
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Thank you. She is a wonderful role model and the more that know about her – the better!!
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Yes, Happy Birthday Elaine. Thanks, GP.
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This certainly was MY pleasure, John.
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😊
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WOW! Good for her! What a remarkable lady! ❤
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I completely agree, Rachel!!
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She is an amazing person. Happy Birthday, Elaine Ooley!
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Thanks for stopping in, Lavinia. I think she’s a wonderful example of that generation!
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Wow! A positive attitude certainly contributes to longevity. She looks great for her age!
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Isn’t it something else?!! I should look so good at THIS age!! 🙂
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Well done to Elaine. She looks great for 106, better than many 70 year-olds. Nice tribute indeed, GP. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thanks, Pete. I think she’s an outstanding example of that generation!!
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What an inspiration. 1 pound at birth! Oh my.
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She was a fighter even then, eh?!
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Happy Birthday MS Ooley. What a great attitude. I’m pretty sure it does make a difference. Thanks for highlighting her special day, GP.
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Thanks for cheering her on, Dan. She is a terrific sample of that out-of-sight generation!!
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Great story! Great attitude! Great life!
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Great way to put it, DC!!
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These words of wisdom from the 106-year old lady. That’s the attitude we all should aopt wheter we are young or old.
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I agree, Peter. All the complaining I keep hearing doesn’t seem to do any one any good – just makes people sour.
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What an inspiring lady! 👍👍👍
She refuses to grow old. (Some people say that I refuse to grow up, but that’s a different topic …)
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Excellent cartoons today, GP!
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Growing old is eventually mandatory, but growing up isn’t. I think they might go hand-in-hand.
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What a super lady…and what a story!
I liked the cartoons…the butcher reminded me of a Giles cartoon with the customer asking ‘And how much would that be without your finger on the scales?’
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haha, I think I just may have seen that one. It’s always good for a laugh!! Thanks for bringing that cartoon up, Helen.
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What a well-lived life!
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Isn’t it wonderful to hear for a change?!!
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A positive attitude will take your far; she’s living proof. Thanks for showcasing such a lovely lady. 🙂
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My pleasure. My better-half caught her on the news one morning and asked me if I was interested. I wrote her name down and started researching!
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Obviously, the better half! 😉
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🙂
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This lady is an inspiration. Is she a friend? Thanks for sharing her story.
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No, I don’t know her. I saw her story on the news and went looking for information online to make the post.
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Glad you were able to share her story with us. She sounds like a hoot!
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Actually it was my better-half caught the story and asked if I was interested – I went for it!!
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That’s a good husband
You even listened.
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Young thinking has worked for her. She looks great, too.
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Isn’t that the truth?! I’d better quick change my mind-set!! haha
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Hurrah for Elaine Ooley! (Yes, she reminds me of Grandma Leora Wilson.)
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I thought you might see a resemblance!! I know she reminded me of my paternal grandmother!
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Thank you for sharing!
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