Residents mark 100 years

Editor's note: This is the second story in a centennial series.

Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune

Lorene Martin's family gathers around her to listen to the memories she's had over the past 100 years she's lived. She celebrates her 100th birthday today with a grand birthday party in Portales but saw 100 Wednesday.

New Mexico shared its birthday with two Roosevelt County residents this year, as the three celebrated 100 years.

Lorene Martin of Portales saw a happy birthday on July 11 and the deceased George Peterson of Elida saw 100 June 9, passing 20 days later from natural causes.

While many will observe the history of New Mexico during its centennial, here is the background and history on Roosevelt County's own.

Lorene Martin timeline

• Born on June 9, 1912, in a log cabin in Eustace, Texas.
• 1924: Her family bought a 45-acre farm in Curry County. She helped farm and raise her family.
• 1931: Graduated from Pleasant Hill High School.
• 1933: Married her first husband Earl Donahey.
• 1934: Donahey died of appendicitis when their daughter Janet was 2-weeks-old.
• 1934-1939: Drove to Clovis to work at Woolworth's.
• 1939: Married second husband Floyd Martin.
• 1940: Had her second child, Butch Martin.
• 1940s to 60s: Moved around New Mexico from Clovis to Texico and eventually Roosevelt County, working on farms, a pump station and local Clovis stores.
• 1960s to 70s: Continued to work on the family-owned farm, irrigating and gardening. Her husband died in the 60s.
• 1970s to 90s: Lived in Portales, taking care of her family.
• Martin has been living on her own at Golden Acres in Portales since 1996.

Martin attributes her long life to staying healthy by not smoking or drinking alcohol and being active through farm work.

"I think she just didn't want to miss out on anything," joked her daughter Janet Pierce.

Martin's family said her growing family also gives her reasons to keep living.

"Them babies keep me going," Martin said.

Known for being an all-around super mother and grandmother, Martin has been described as the glue that holds her entire family together. She is known for her fried chicken and fried pies as well as being a strong farmer and seamstress.

At 100, she looks forward to weekly outings to Wal-Mart and Portales restaurant El Rancho. She also still cooks for herself and others, enjoys her nightly ice cream with her next door neighbor and loves visits from her family.

Her family says as long as the grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren keep coming, she'll have purpose to live.

George Peterson

• George Ernest "G.E." Peterson was born in Lamesa, Texas, on June 9, 2012.
• He married his first wife, Jo Borden, in 1932. They were married for 69 years until Borden's death and they raised five children together.
• The family moved to Elida in 1946 to raise Jersey cattle.
• In 1964, he sold the dairy and began raising beef cattle with his son, George.
• While living in Elida, Peterson served the community through the Elida School Board, the Elida United Methodist Church Board of Trustees and he spent eight years as a Roosevelt County Commissioner. He also served on the New Mexico State Dairy Board.
• At 89, Peterson married Cherie McCowen.
• Peterson died just 20 days after celebrating 100 years.

"He was an honest and honorable man," said Cherie Peterson. "Easy to get along with and a friend to everybody."

Although they had been friends for years, the two began seeing each other while she was in charge of game night at the Elida senior center.

Cherie said she and her husband loved to travel those last 11 years of his life. Their most memorable trip was to Niagara Falls.

She attributes his long life to his even-temper.

"He was laid back and he didn't worry," Cherie said. "He said he thought about things but he didn't worry."