Longtime Downey resident celebrates 100th birthday

DOWNEY — Marjorie Marie Hale celebrated her 100th birthday at her longtime Downey home over the weekend.

Hale has lived in Downey for more than 73 years, first arriving from Iowa in 1951 after her husband, Thomas, was hired by North American Aviation. Thomas passed away in 2014.

She has lived in the same house on Tecum Road for 64 years.

The couple had four sons, Tom, Dan, Carl, and Don, and a daughter, Ann.

Hale worked as a teacher at Downey Unified School District from 1951 until she retired in 1990, but continued to substitute for several years after.

She is also a long-time and active member of Downey First Presbyterian Church.

When asked what her secret to her long life was, she said she takes it “one day at a time.”