Mary Eliza (Lida) Young

newspaper article about her 102nd birthday. ( unsure of actual newspaper source)

Another milestone in the long life of Mrs. George. R. Parker was reached yesterday. Still quite active although her hearing and eyesight are failing her Mrs. Parker gaily celebrated her 102nd birthday and received congratula­tions from Prime Minister st. Laurent and Hon. Milton F. Gregg, minister of labor, and many oth­ers.

Telegrams and letters. of con­gratulations flowed into the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Noble on Woodstock Road for the spry, en­ergetic lady along with several bouquets and baskets" of flowers. One basket of flowers was receiv­ed from Lieutenant-Governor D. L. MacLaren and Mrs.MacLaren and another from Premier Hugh John Flemming and Mrs. Flemming.

Last evening Premier and Mrs.

Flemming called on Mrs. Park­er. Very happy to have the Prem­ier and his wife call she sat smiling on the chesterfield in the living ­room of the Noble home, chatting with Premier Flemming and Mrs. Flemming and' very willingly posed for photographs.

Many friends and relatives from Fredericton and outside the. city came to offer congratulations and the' big day was not celebrated without a birthday cake. The large cake was a present, from the ladies of the congregation of Wilmot United Church who also prepared tea for the many visitors through­out the afternoon and evening.

Mrs. Parker, the former Lida M. Young, was born at Taymouth March 15, 1854. In 1879 she mar­ried George Parker and moved to Millerton where Mr. Parker was employed as a government surveyor.

. She lived in Millerton until her husband's death in the late 1930's. While in Miller­ton she was very active in church work, was a Sunday school teach­er and a member of the Millerton United Church Missionary Society. She received flowers yesterday from the Millerton church.

Her daughter, Miss Bessie A. R.Parker of New York was present for the occasion arid Wednesday she received a letter from her son, James Herbert who resides in Kelowna. B.C. Mrs. Parker's third child, a daughter, died in 1927.

She is intensely interested in politics and. reads a lot, using a small magnifying glass. Mrs. Park­er still crochets and knit, two of her favorite hobbies.

. She has never missed casting a ballot since women were given the franchise; and a few years ago developed a keen interest in American politics and especially the career of President Eisenhower. She was happy when “Ike” announced recently that he would seek re-election for the head of­fice of the United States adminis­tration.

Mrs. Parker became interested in "Ike" when she visited her daughter in New York when she was 97. She. receives a New York newspaper so she can follow the career of President Eisenhower more closely, but always keeps with the things on the local front at all times.

When in New York Mrs. Parker took a great liking for television and now has one at home which she enjoys watching very much. She also enjoys listening to radio programs.