Woods Bay woman turns 103

Blanche Seccombe remembers horse and buggy travel and streets lit by gaslights but she still sees well enough to sew tiny beads into works of art.

Seccombe celebrates her 103rd birthday today at her home in Woods Bay.

With her youngest son and daughter-in-law Bob and Ruth Seccombe next door, she lives in her own home where she enjoys reading romance novels and playing cards.

"I don't watch very much T.V. anymore," she said . "There was a time when I couldn't miss 'Days of Our Lives.'"

Seccombe keeps her arthritis-free fingers busy threading a needle through the microscopic holes of seed beads. Recently, she rendered an American flag in beads.

She doesn't claim a healthy lifestyle contributed to her longevity. Aside from keeping up with five children, Seccombe said she wasn't that active most of her life.

Her diet wasn't optimal either.

"She eats bacon and eggs every morning for bacon," her son said with a laugh.

She began to mend her ways a little later in life. For years and years, she never saw a doctor except for the birth of her children.

"When I was about 90, I thought I'd better get a doctor and get acquainted," she said with a laugh.

Seccombe didn't need much doctoring until she broke her hip at 100 years old. Much to everyone's surprise, she recovered and walked out of Brendan House.

Seccombe began life as Blanche Coy in Los Angeles in 1901 when the scent of orange blossoms, rather than exhaust, filled the air. She traces the air's undoing back to her own family.

"My uncle bought the first car in Highland," Seccombe said.

But she remembers her family's horse and buggy transportation. Seccombe also recalls the glow of gaslights both inside and outside the house.

As the daughter of the director of horticulture in Highland, California, she benefited from her well-to-do family's acquisition of the latest in technology.

She recalls the elation of getting indoor plumbing after years of heating water for a wash tub bath.

"That was great," she said with a laugh.

Seccombe moved to Montana from California nine years ago. Along with her son and daughter-in-law, other local relatives include her daughter and son-in-law Evelyn and Ira Dahlin, granddaughter Mary Gallon and grandson Jim Schmidt.

Seccombe's descendants now include 22 grandchildren, 51 great grandchildren and 26 great, great grandchildren.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.