Maggie Suetta “Susie” Cockburn

Age: 100

Date of birth and birthplace: Sept. 28, 1909, in Tillman County, Okla.

Family: married Roy P. Hervey in 1934; daughter Hollace Hervey; married Barney Cockburn in 1946

Former occupations: Texas Employers Insurance Co., secretary; Cockburn Oil Co.

Education: Draughan’s Business College, Abilene

If I could change one thing in my life, it would be: to take better care of my vision and use the medications to prevent my going blind.

My favorite TV show: The Carol Burnett Show.

During the Great Depression: I was just starting to work. There was no money to pay anyone. My first monthly paycheck was $50 and I had to pay room rent, meals, buy clothing to work in and get to and from work by bus. I took an extra job as a carhop at the local drive-in. The staff fed me milkshakes and fat foods to put some weight on my skinny bones. They also took me home at night so I didn’t have to walk 15 blocks in high heels.

During World War II: I was working for Cockburn Oil Co., but on the side I worked at the local draft registration office, filling out cards for incoming recruits. I was also very concerned about the oldest son of my ex-husband (R.P. Hervey) who was stationed at Clark Field in the Philippines. He was declared missing in action in May 1942 and later died near Manila in a Japanese prison camp. But during the war there was no mention of where he might have been, so everyone worried about him.

My earliest childhood memory is: going into Frederick, Okla., to have my picture taken with my younger sister Bert. The studio was on the second floor and we just wanted to watch all the cars going by in the street below. When the photographer finally got a picture, Bert was facing the camera but her eyes were still watching out the window.

I wish I knew: how to play the piano. I tried early on but finally gave up. I bought a piano for my daughter so she could learn to play, but she didn’t do any better. She didn’t want to sit still long enough to practice.

Nobody knows: I took a class in agriculture in high school. When we moved from Oklahoma to Texas I discovered I had taken all the classes a senior was supposed to complete. So I took an elective in agriculture. I learned when to plant various crops, how to keep bugs off growing plants, what to feed cattle to make them healthy and all kinds of things every young woman needs to know!

I regret: not talking to my mother more about her family before I started doing research. She died in 1949 and took a lot of family knowledge with her. I found letters and pictures in a purse hanging on the bathroom door that had come from her Tennessee relatives. I had never heard of a lot of these people and her younger sister didn’t remember them. I had to do a lot of digging to put families together with the pictures I found.

The most important thing I have learned in 100 years is: to not expect too much of your body as it gets older. Every part of your body will betray you before it’s over with.

If you are 99 years old or older and are ready to celebrate another birthday, or if you have a friend or loved one who is about to celebrate a 100th birthday, please let the Denton Record-Chronicle know.

E-mail drc@dentonrc.com  or call 940-566-6861.