Two of the oldest people in the United States (or pretty much in the history of time) died within hours of each other Sunday: Mary Josephine Ray (pictured, left), certified as the oldest in the country at 114 years and 294 days, died in Westmoreland, N.H., at a nursing home. A few hours later, Daisey Bailey (pictured) passed away in Detroit after a battle with dementia at 113 years, 342 days old. Clearly, an astounding coincidence. In case you’re counting, by the way, that makes the oldest person in the country now Neva Morris of Ames, Iowa, at 114 years and 216 days. The oldest person in the world is Japan’s own Kama Chinen, 114 years, 301 days. (I say there’s no way days even matter, much less years, when you’re a hundred and freaking fourteen. Morris has a son-in-law who is 90 years old, for God’s sake.) A moment of silence in reverence to these women (all women, incidentally) who have undoubtedly lived full lives, just by definition.
And yet the stories about super-old people are always the same. “She just enjoyed life. She never thought of dying at all,” Ray’s granddaughter, Katherine, told the AP. “She was planning for her birthday party.” Morris’ 90-year-old son-in-law told the news service she likes to play Bingo and sing “You Are My Sunshine” every day, which is adorable, but surely they have more interesting life stories than this. Something less cute must have happened to people who lived through two turns of the century and, like, all of the wars. Okay, except the Civil War, which had only just recently ended when these women were born. I wish these two could’ve maybe met on Facebook and had some good long chats about their lives. I would watch that Lifetime movie. Maybe we need to introduce Neva Morris in Iowa to Kama Chinen in Japan before it’s too late? Who’s with me?
Sad to see them both go. Glad they had long, fulfilling lives and hope they are resting in peace.
I appreciate all the hints these older people have for a longer life!
Bless both these women – sad to see them go.
is mccain and bob dole alive?
umm, the civil war ended like 30 years before they were born.
That’s like saying someone born in 1978 was born “just after” world war II ended.
Actually, New York’s oldest resident, Jane Gilsenan, also died yesterday at the age of 111. Wow.
World’s oldest person dies stories are a little bit funny to me because they happen constantly. The old person dies, a new oldest is crowned, but because they’re so old already, they die fairly soon after getting the title. I wonder what the record is for how many of these stories have happened in a single year. Although, them dying on the same day makes this much more interesting.
Now that would make a funny movie. Two old ladies trying to be crowned as “World’s Oldest Person” plot to kill each other. Let the hijinx begin! Betty White would definetly have to be cast!!
And how about 2007 Oscar nominee Ruby Dee? She must be pushing ninety by now.
OMG – that would be an amazing movie that I would totally see!
A 114 year old and a 113 year old met in person in 2007.
Yes,they both lived in Indiana.The 113-year-old died later that year just short of 114 and the 114-year-old died the next year at 115.