Two women had their 100th birthday last month at the Oaks.

Edna White, Oct. 4, 1909, said the secret to a long life is hard work.

"We had two dairies at different times," she said. "We milked cows, about 275 of them."

She said her favorite age was 50 when her family was at home and her first husband was still alive.

White didn't take many vacations, but remembers camping on the beach at Waldport once a year.

"I can't say many good things about getting old," White said. "I'd rather stay young."

Fran Warner, Oct. 21, 1909, said the best part about getting old is all the attention, and her 100th birthday is bringing a lot of attention.

Warner's favorite job was raising her son, Mike, who still takes her to church every Sunday morning.

She didn't do anything special to live so many years, she said.

"I was really surprised when they came and told me I was this age," Warner added. "I wasn't counting the years."

Gertrude York, Nov. 6, 1908, said her favorite thing about school was playing basketball.

"The best thing about getting old is meeting different people," York said.

She has two children and has traveled to many different places, including Yellowstone National Park.

York recalled the geysers and bison, though she said she did not see any bears during her trip.

Minnie Reeser, 104, said a lot has changed since when she was a kid and now.

"When I was growing up, we had no cars, no telephones, no radio, no television," Reeser said.

Although she loved all her studies in school, she said she loved history.

"Still do," she said.

Reeser took weekends away with her husband when he was alive.

"But after he died, my vacations were over," she said.

Reeser said the secret to life is keeping your mind clear all the time and asking questions.

The older she gets, the more friends she has, she said.

"They know you today and know you 50 years from today for the same reason," she said.