Sisters reunite in Oak Island for milestone birthday and memories
OAK ISLAND, NC (WWAY) — Three sisters traveled from different parts of the country to a Brunswick County beach town to celebrate one of their 100th birthdays, bringing their combined age to 300 years old.
“Wonderful,” Pat Johnson said and Merle Olson agreed.
“Such a wonderful thing there is that the three sisters can be together,” Maxine Parker added.
100 year old Maxine Parker loves dancing with her sisters 107-year-old Merle Olson and 93-year-old Pat Johnson. The sisters who grew up in Minnesota picked Oak Island to celebrate Maxine’s 100th birthday.
“Friends family reunion with my other cousins, everything, it’s just been fantastic,” Maxine shared.
Arm in arm they’ve enjoyed strolls on the pier and went to the beach to reminisce about growing up together.
“When all that stuff melted, then we had a little lake down there at the bottom of the hill,” Merle said and asked her sisters, “remember that?” They all laughed and said “it could get messy.”
Conversations turned to growing up with 5 other siblings in the great depression where they had to share a bed.
“Always two with a baby in between to make sure the baby didn’t freeze,” Maxine said.
“Well, I was the youngest of the girls and they all said I was so spoiled, I didn’t have it nearly as rough as they did,” Pat remembered.
Merle has enjoyed the warmer weather and spending time with those who she loves most.
“With relatives too and that’s really special,” Merle added.
The trip is extra special to Pat, who has been on an experimental drug for the past 5 years battling cancer.
“I’m just so happy that my kids are with me and that we’re all able, healthy wise, to get together and all our kids can get together. So you know it’s been a blessing,” Pat expressed.
And they say the key to living a long and happy life?
“Eat your vegetables and don’t sit on your butt,” Maxine said and they all laughed.
The eldest lives in with her daughter in Alaska in the winter months and in Minnesota during the summer.
Maxine lives in South Carolina and Pat lives in Minnesota.
