Gladys Gotts

Previous story: Turning 105 before Mother's Day, Gladys Gotts shifts to overdrive

Gladys Gotts sat quietly in a wheelchair outside her room at Superior Woods Healthcare Center in Ypsilanti.

She wore a pink baseball cap, studded with tiny rhinestones in the shape of Mickey Mouse ears and clenched a tissue in her hand as she waited for her son-in-law, Bob Richards, to wheel her out into the residents’ common area.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Dorothy Richards, 80, of Canton, shares a moment with her mother, Gladys Gotts, of Superior Township. Gotts turned 107 years old on Friday.

“She likes him best,” Gotts’ daughter, Dorothy Richards said of her husband. “They like to tease me and give me a hard time.”

Gotts rolled her eyes and shooed her hand at her daughter, while Richards just chuckled.

As she waited, Gotts remained calm and still but was ever aware of her surroundings.

Jennifer Delano, supervisor of assisted living at Superior Woods, said Gotts is observant and funny.

“She surprises you,” Delano said. “And she’s so sharp.”

Gotts, who was born in Silverwood, Mich., in 1905, turned 107 years old on Friday. She will celebrate this weekend with her children and grandchildren and her fellow residents at Superior Woods, where she has lived for the past seven years.

At the close of what has become an annual birthday party, Gotts tells her guests, “See you next year.” And Richards has started to believe her.

When asked if she is afraid this will be her mother’s last birthday, Richards said, “No.”

“I'm convinced she's going to live forever. Now I just worry I won’t be there for her.”

Richards, who will be 80, suffers from heart problems as did her father, Percy, and older sister, Betty DeKarske. Percy died from heart disease in 1955 and DeKarske died of a heart attack in 1980.

Richards said she knows her memory also is not what it used to be.

“Just an effect of getting older, I suppose. Although my mom’s memory might be better than mine some days.”

Delano said finances can be a problem for families dealing with two aging generations. Also, mentally and emotionally it can be difficult to care for a frail parent after one hits 80 and has his or her own worries about aging, Delano said.

Richards said she personally tries "not to think about it."

Delano said at Superior Woods, the staff is seeing more people living into their 100s. At one point last year, the senior and assisted living center had four people who were all older than 100 at the same time.

Richards said Gotts often asks about people she used to know growing up and how they are doing.

"But all of her friends are long gone," Richards said. "I used to hesitate about telling her they died. But she really wants to know, so I try to be honest with her and to find out when she asks."

Richards said Gotts' health has always been extraordinary. She rarely was sick, aside from migraine headaches, and never took medicine, Richards said of her mother.

Gotts grew up on a farm and married a farmer. Richards credits Gotts' all-natural farm-fed diet for her health. However, in the past year Gotts' appetite — even for her once-favorite "farm feast" of roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy — has slowly dwindled, causing her weight to drop.

Gotts now often asks her daughter why she is still alive and Richards responds, "I guess (God) is just not ready for you yet."

Richards admits sometimes she questions why her mother is still here as well.

"I really don't know," Richards said. "But I know there is a reason, we just aren't privy to it. ... I just try to enjoy the time I have with her."

Staff reporter Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.