Lake Forest Park resident celebrates her 100th birthday - in her own home

Absolutely Mary Ellen Kerley will blow out her
birthday candles! She just stopped driving last year.

By Diane Hettrick

Don't mess with Mary Ellen Kerley in a Scrabble game. According to her grandson Alan, "She is aggressive and will challenge words she doesn't know ... if it is not in the Scrabble Dictionary than in her opinion it is not a word and doesn't count!"

Her 100th birthday is Wednesday, June 14th. She will celebrate it in her beautiful home in Lake Forest Park where she has lived since 1965.

Mary Ellen and her husband Harry Thorton Kerley moved to Washington from the Carolinas after World War II. Harry was one of the founding partners of Macpherson Realtors, which dominated the local real estate market in the the 1960s, 70s, and beyond.

They lived in Greenwood, then Shoreline, and finally settled in Lake Forest Park over 50 years ago. They were married for 61 years.

Four children were all born in Washington and most still live nearby. Geoffrey (Silverdale), Norma (LFP), Victor (Woodinville) and Pamela (Kenmore).

Mary Ellen has 10 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and 1 great, great grandchild on the way. Five of her grandchildren, including Alan, still live or work in Lake Forest Park.

Happy Birthday, Mary Ellen Kerley!