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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels June 26, 2004 Party time By Steve Zimmerman Ashland Daily Tidings In the past 100 years, the automobile and manned space flight have come into being. And so have such fun things like Tupperware and rock 'n' roll also came into existence. And so did Bud Dyer from Ashland. Friday, Dyer celebrated his 100th birthday one month late with a huge birthday bash at Bud Dyer celebrates his 100th birthday Friday at Skylark Assisted Living Center. Dyer received a basket full of gift certificates from Ashland businesses and flowers. Photos by Satsuki Doi | Ashland Daily Tidings Skylark Assisted Living Center. Mayor Alan DeBoer was there to cut the 10-foot-long cake from Four and Twenty Blackbirds, and the residents of the center and the Rogue Valley had lots of prizes and fun. Skylark Administrator Kristin Sullivan said Dyer came up with the idea for the party. "We wanted to throw him a celebration but decided to have a party for everyone in the Rogue Valley," she said. "He is the oldest resident here. He was in the Fourth of July Parade last year as our oldest resident, and we hope to have him in the parade again this year." The party celebrated 100 years of history and Rogue Valley residents 98 years and older. But Dyer was the star of the day. He talked about what he most wanted to do during the past 100 years. "The thing I remember most was that I wanted to come to the Kenai Peninsula (Alaska), and that is what started it all," he said. "I have lived in Ashland about 35 years." Dyer said he has seen so much change that it has been hard to keep up with it all. The birthday party was the brainchild of the activities director at the center Melissa Krehbiel. She said keeping up with the people at the center is full-time job. "They are really easy to keep calm and collected as long as we have lots of entertainment and lots of balloons and bright faces," she said. "They are so delightful that there is nothing we wouldn't do for them." She said the residents are just like any other people in the community. "We make sure they get to leave when they want to leave and come when they want to come," Krehbiel said. "We take them to Seven Feather Casino for gaming, we go on picnics and all kinds of fun places. It is not the end, it is just assisting. And it is never depressing." Next year, it will be Frances Duffy's turn to celebrate her 100th birthday. She lived through one of the most dangerous times in Bay Area history. "I was born April 30, 1905," she said. "The next year was the earthquake. My mother and father, along with all the people in San Francisco, would have to go into the parks to get care. Everyone was so good to everybody. I know from what my parents experienced and told me." Duffy said the secret to her long life was that she didn't keep secrets and did everything in moderation. She came to Ashland from Los Angeles four years ago. When asked if there was one happening in her 99 years she was most awed by, she didn't hesitate to answer. "It is my daughter Claire White," she said. "I had one daughter. She was my first and only." DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams