Skip to Content

‘Life has been good to me’: Woman celebrates 105th birthday

By Lily O’Shea Becker

Click here for updates on this story

    KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KSHB) — Friends and family gathered for a unique celebration on Saturday for a Kansas Citian who turned 105 years old.

“She’s not like your regular 105-year-old grandmother, if there is such,” said Mark Byrd, grandson of Mason Byrd.

Mason Byrd’s legacy stretches five generations, including up to 200 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and great-great-great-grandchildren.

“Well, they call me the matriarch, and that makes me important,” Mason Byrd said.

She claims her secret to longevity is love.

“The key to a long life is to take it easy, love your neighbor, love yourself,” she said. “I think love yourself comes first.”

Mason Byrd keeps an active lifestyle as well. She attends two water aerobics classes a week, cooks, does puzzles and wins Words With Friends.

“She beats everybody,” joked Otona Dahmer, daughter of Mason Byrd. “I stopped playing with her because she beats me.”

The 105-year-old continues to love life.

“We laugh all the time, you know, she’s a very happy person; I think that’s what keeps her alive,” Dahmer said.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Article Topic Follows: CNN - Regional

Jump to comments ↓

Author Profile Photo

CNN Newsource

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

KIFI Local News 8 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.

Skip to content