SHAWNE K. WICKHAM
New Hampshire Sunday News Staff

September 12, 2009

A Westmoreland woman is now believed to be the oldest person in the United States -- and second-oldest in the entire world.

Mary Josephine Ray, who lives at Maplewood Nursing Home, turned 114 years old on May 17.

Ray, who was born on Prince Edward Island, Canada, became the oldest U.S. resident after the death Friday of a 115-year-old California woman who was considered the oldest person in the world.

Gertrude Baines' death also means Ray is now the second-oldest person in the world, behind a woman in Japan who is just one week older, according to the Gerontology Research Group, which verifies claims of extreme old age.

Ray's granddaughter, Katherine Ray of Westmoreland, said her "Gram" is nothing short of "amazing."

Aug. 4, 2009: NH woman thought to be world's third-oldest 

 LINK: 

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Aug.+4%2c+2009%3a+NH+woman+thought+to+be+world%27s+third-oldest&articleId=26b3f02a-d3cc-4d8f-abf7-9e9467eec18a

"She's just spry for her age. Even though she's in a wheelchair, she's strong."

"She's very smart and sharp still," she said.

Ray said she stopped by to tell her grandmother the news Friday, but she was sleeping and Ray chose not to wake her up. But she said she doesn't expect her to get too excited.

Granddaughter Kathy Ray and son Donald Ray get a laugh from Mary Josephine Ray in July, shortly after she celebrated her 114th birthday. (BOB LAPREE)

"It doesn't faze her that she's that old," she said.

As for Kathy Ray, she finds the whole idea "sort of mind boggling."

Among her grandmother's favorite pleasures are the Boston Red Sox, Hershey's Kisses and ice cream, Ray said. And she plays cards on Thursdays with a friend who visits her at the nursing home.

Kathy Ray said her grandmother underwent medical testing that found something "very, very rare" in her DNA. "She'll never have cancer or heart problems," she said.

"She'll just die of old age."