Lois Todd Smart, born March 20, 1918, celebrated her 100th birthday at her home with family and friends on March 18.
Smart was born east of Pleasant View and lived there most of her life. She attributes her longevity to living and eating right.
She met her late husband, Clinton Smart, when she was only 9 years old at her schoolhouse, according to her daughter, Carlene Porter.
On his first day of school, Clinton wrote her name in the front of his boo, and said, “Lois Todd is the most beautiful girl in school,” Carlene Porter said.
Lois and Clinton were married at ages 18 and 21, respectively, and were married for 73 years before Clinton passed away at 94. They had three children, Carlene Porter, LaQuita Cramer and Kevin Smart.
Lois and Clinton raised a farming family until they moved to Arriola in 1993. Lois still walked 2 miles up and down a country road every day until she was 96. “I think that fresh air helped her keep a real good mind,” Carlene Porter said.
Her son-in-law, Bill Porter, said Smart has no health problems. “Mother Smart always lived by faith in God, and I am certain she has never taken any medication, so much as an aspirin,” Smart wrote in an email to The Journal. “She has no health problems, and no pain at all. Hard to believe, but it’s true.”
Porter also said she remembers the first time her mother acknowledged she might be getting old, at age 90.
Lois has a large family with three children, 13 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren. According to Porter, about 75 members of her family and friends visited Smart for the occasion.
Lois lives in Arriola at her home with her daughter LaQuita Cramer and is still quite independent. “She is an amazing woman,” Porter said.