100th Birthday

Published 9:36 pm Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Crook

Claire Thomen Crook of Lynnwood is turning 100 on Sept. 26.

Crook was born in 1910 in Switzerland and moved to Oregon with her family as a small child. Her father worked in a Portland suburb until the family moved to St. Helens, Ore., and started their own dairy farm. Crook and her sister attended school and had to walk a good four miles every day.

After graduation, Crook studied to be a teacher and got her certificate right around the Great Depression. Crook eventually got a job in a small, two-room school just outside St. Helens. Crook quickly realized that she needed to a car. She answered an ad in the paper, and a man sold her the car and taught her to drive. They got married in 1941. There were gas shortages because of the war. Crook’s father gave them gas coupons and the couple traveled to Mississippi, George Crook’s home state, for their honeymoon.

Crook retired in 1975 and spent her time volunteering in the community. The couple also traveled after retirement, including trips to Switzerland. Crook’s husband died in 1995. She moved to Lynnwood in 2000 to live with her niece and to be close to family. In 2006, she moved to the Sunrise of Lynnwood, where she plans to celebrate her birthday.

The celebration is planned for 2 p.m. Sept. 26 in the Sunrise community cottage, 18625 60th Ave. W., Lynnwood. Cake, ice cream and drinks will be served. The Jazzberry Jazz Band is scheduled to perform. Please don’t bring gifts, just your good wishes.