Grace Emenegger was born before electricity had arrived on her grandparents' farm in Nevada, Iowa.
On Wednesday, she celebrated her 100th birthday.
"I never thought I would live that long," she said with a wry grin.
For a centenarian, she still gets around surprisingly well, transferring herself from a wheelchair to a smaller, wheeled chair in her bedroom.
She's legally blind and somewhat hard of hearing, but still remembers her childhood and raising three children in Walnut Creek, Calif., with her husband, Keith.
Her son Rex relocated to the Bayfield area, and she came here to live close by 20 years ago.
She attributes her longevity to a healthy diet, and she never smoked or drank alcohol. She doesn't think carbonated drinks are good for you, either.
She expected to make it to 90 years, as her mother did, or 93, like her paternal grandmother.
She can still see images with her peripheral vision and enjoys visiting with the staff and residents at the assisted living facility.
"We love Grace," said Erin Youngblood, director of the facility. This week was another anniversary, as well - Evenings Porch opened three years ago on Oct. 13, 2014. Evenings Porch also was voted Best Assisted Living Facility in this year's Best of Durango and La Plata County awards, presented by the Durango Herald.
