Community

108 Years … and Counting

Doris Morrison's 109th birthday is on July 10, and the longtime Colerain resident said her life has been an interesting one.

She is now residing in the long-term care facility at East Ohio Regional Hospital after a fall this past January.

Her grandson, David Morrison III who lives in New Mexico, and other family in the local area are taking care of Doris Morrison's house in Colerain.

"I've been involved in my grandmother's life most of my life. I'm 64," David III said Tuesday. "I've come back every year to be with Grandmother. The last six months I've been here three different times."

He leafed through memorabilia collected from the house, including numerous photos of notable points in his grandmother's life, news articles where she appears, and stories and poems she wrote, which he intends to use in portfolios for the family.

Originally Doris Stobbs, she was born at and lived her early life on Banfield Road, the current location of the Ohio Valley Mall. She married David Morrison in 1936, and they moved to Colerain Pike. Her husband died of bone cancer in 1973.

"Nobody knows how long they're going to live. She never dreamed she'd live 108 years or 109 years," her grandson said. "She has a very good mind. She can remember things. She doesn't get around like she used to. She was at her home for 83 years, since 1935 until the end of January."

David Morrison III has many fond memories of his grandmother sitting outside on her porch.

"She's just an amazing person to converse with," he said.

Doris Morrison was from a family of almost a dozen siblings. Her youngest sister, Barbara McFarland, lives near Columbus. The rest of her siblings have died. Their parents were Matthew and Lena Stobbs.

At EORH, Doris Morrison was happy to see her grandson when he arrived. She shared several memories.

"When we were kids, we rode the workhorse on Sunday for pleasure around the farm," she said, recalling a time when her father let her ride a mule, but she found the animal had no mane to hold on to. "He took off down the road, and me with my arms hanging down around the mule's neck. He called the neighbors: 'Stop her when she goes by!'"

She also recalls falling into the outhouse at age 4 while trying to save a kitten that had fallen in.

Among the things she is grateful for is her family.

"She sends me flowers every other week, my sister Barbara," she said.

She hopes to celebrate turning 109.

"I want a big party," she said.