Area woman is 100 years young

Opal Osborne is playing cards with three other people, but she's the one making all the moves. Every time someone forgets to play a card or misses an opportunity, she's quick to point it out.

Because she's playing a game of luck, the winner ends up being someone else, but it is clear that Osborne has all the skill.

"Considering her age, isn't she quick?" said Arlene Bishop, who's played cards with Osborne at Bonell for the past four years. "She can beat all of us."

Osborne was born on May 19, 1908. Two months later, William Jennings Bryan was chosen as the Democratic candidate for president at the Denver Arena Auditorium only to lose to William Howard Taft in the general election. Henry Ford built his first Model T in September and the Chicago Cubs won the World Series in October of that year. It was a long time ago.

"We had no refrigeration back then," said Osborne. "We had what we called a cave, which was just a hole in the ground, and that kept things cool. When I came to Greeley, it only went out to 25th St. Now look where it's at."

Osborne moved out with her family to Greeley after she graduated high school in 1927, after her father lost his leg at their family farm. Spending a childhood working and living on a farm must be part of the reason Osborne has lived for so long. Two of her siblings lived to be 98 and one of her sisters, Ida Reed, lived to be 103.

"I think being out in the open helped," said Osborne. "I used to help my father out in the fields, I drove four horses. I also think eating right helped. We grew our own vegetables, it wasn't processed like everything is today."

Osborne has been at Bonell for the past five years, and she stays active whenever she can, playing bingo and cards and whatever else is going on.

"She is very open to others and is very smart," said Bishop. "I remember when I was new here, she was very gracious to me. We had a lot in common. I was a farmer's wife, and she's was a farmer's wife. I milked cows, and she milked cows."

"She's a pretty good ol' gal," said Dee Webb, another player at the card table. "I kinda like her."

Osborne will celebrate her 100th birthday with her daughter and grandchildren at Bonell. Hopefully, it will be exciting, that's just the way Osborne likes it.