HOULTON, Maine – Doris Harbison celebrated her 100th birthday May 12 with a family gathering at Madigan Estates nursing home.
She was born on May 12, 1922 to John B. and Laura Purington Currie in Woodstock, New Brunswick and grew up on a farm with 10 brothers and sisters. She attended Bedell Country School. She met and married Harvey Harbison in 1944 and moved to Houlton, raising two daughters, Janice Searway and June Fitzpatrick.
After Harvey died in 1954, Doris went to work at the Boston Shoe Store in Market Square. She fit shoes for generations of residents in the Houlton area who trusted Doris to know just what they were looking for. She instilled in her family the importance of good shoes for healthy feet.
After retiring from Boston Shoe Store, Doris went on to work at Town and Country for another 11 years. Doris never drove a car and likely her years of walking to work contributed to reaching this 100-year milestone.
She is a skilled card player and many of her friends spent time with ‘the girls’ at her kitchen table for some competitive games. She also taught the next generation of great-grandchildren how to play “Chicken Foot” dominoes and honed their rummy skills. Doris was always a familiar volunteer for the Episcopal Church, St. Martha’s Guild, the Hospital Auxiliary, and at the voting polls.
Doris Harbison (center) was joined by family for her 100th birthday May 12 at Madigan Estates nursing home.
(Courtesy of Kelly Martin)
Doris has five grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren and she never missed a birthday wish for each of them. Along the way, she has gathered many other honorary grandchildren and is known to most people as ‘Nana’.
She is famous for her chocolate chip cookies and ‘Nana Cookies’ – a secret recipe of bite-size shortbread cookies with pink frosting and sprinkles. It was not unexpected for the honorary children, friends of her own grandchildren, to get a call to come pick up some cookies or to be greeted at the door with a box of sugary treats.
She is also a talented knitter, with every family member from daughters, grandchildren, spouses and great children cherishing a handknit Christmas stocking.
Many of Doris’ 10 siblings lived into their 90s and she and her sister, Nan Miller, lived next door to each other until recently when Doris moved to Madigan Estates to keep the staff on their toes and ready for conversation.
