100-Year-Old Shares Birthday With George Washington

Sharing a birthday with George Washington and all the patriotism that goes with it, a Wildomar woman was joined by 75 of her closest friends and family members in Murrieta Tuesday as she turned a century old.

A surprise party was held fittingly in the Patriot Room at Richie’s Real American Diner in Murrieta.

“I didn’t know a thing about it,” 100-year-old Marguerite Purcell said. “I thought I was going out to lunch with my four children.”

Due to their mother’s undying love of her country, Purcell’s children asked everyone to stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance.

“She is very patriotic, so in everything we do we have to salute the flag,” said her daughter, Alice Ann Goecke.

Purcell was joined by her four children--three sons and one daughter--and many of her friends from the United Methodist Church of Murrieta in celebration of her 100th birthday, where guests enjoyed banana splits.

“I wanted to show my mom, you have a room full of friends and I don’t ever want you to lament about not having friends again,” her daughter said.

Other guests included her doctor, Pervaiz Channah, who was seated next to her.

“She came to my practice five years ago. I’ve learned more from her than I’ve done for her. I asked what her secrets are,” Channah said, noting that one of her secrets was a good attitude.

“I love everyone who is here. They are wonderful people,” Purcell said about her guests, adding that she had about four more parties in her honor to attend this week.

Later Tuesday night, Purcell would be taken by limousine to Pechanga Resort and Casino. Son-in-law David Goecke said she goes to the casino regularly, where she plays the slots.

The Murrieta Fire Department also assisted in wishing Purcell a happy birthday. When they first arrived though, they were called right back out on an assignment. They came back a short time later to help her blow out her candles.

Life Story

According to family accounts, Purcell was born Amelia Marguerite Sherriff on Feb. 22, 1911, on a farm outside Des Moines, Iowa. It was during the middle of a blizzard so the doctor could not travel to the family home. Instead, women from neighboring farms helped bring her into the world. Her four older half sisters, however, loved the name Marguerite, and so she has been called for most of her life.

Family members attributed her continued good health to being raised on farm fare such as bacon, ham, eggs, sausage and “good old lard.”

She moved quickly through school, and entered Iowa’s Drake University at age 16. She became a schoolteacher and taught kindergarten for eight years in Iowa.

She married Jerome Purcell in 1937. That same year, the couple loaded up their 1934 Chevrolet and headed out west for a visit. Stunned by the ocean, the couple decided to stay. They made their permanent home in Bell, Calif., and Purcell continued to teach until she was 62.

Six years ago, her husband passed on. She moved to Wildomar to live with her daughter and son-in-law, where she remains today.

“I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve been blessed. I’ve never had any worries about my children,” Purcell said about motherhood.

Of all that she has lived to see, there is one story she will continue to tell, which pays tribute to her own mother. In 1882, a band of Native American Indians came to the family’s home and took her mother, Baby Alice, from her cradle. Area farmers gathered together to help find the baby.

“We are glad they found Baby Alice or we wouldn’t be celebrating today,” her children said.