Anne Schable to Celebrate 100th Birthday with Open House November 9

Anne Schable will celebrate her 100th birthday with an Open House on Saturday, November 9, from 1-4 p.m. at the Atwood American Legion, 323 N. Missouri St., Atwood. The community is invited to help Anne celebrate this special day in her life.

By Doris Elmore
Staff Writer

When people talk about getting old, they have to leave Anne Schable off the list. Annabel Marie (Anne) Morris was born on November 11, 1924 to Martie & Pearl Morris near Elwin, Macon County. If you do the math, you will see that Anne will turn 100 years old on November 11, and will be guest of honor at an Open House on Saturday, November 9, from 1-4 p.m. at the Atwood American Legion, 323 N. Missouri St., Atwood. The community is invited to help Anne celebrate this special day in her life.

Anne has one living brother, William (Bill) Morris, South Shores, Decatur. She has three sisters and one brother deceased, along with her parents. Anne went to country schools. Her parents moved to Douglas County and Anne graduated from Tuscola High School in 1942.

She was active in sports & GAA in high school. She was the recipient of the Gold Intramural Award for being involved in most sports that girls could participate in at that time.

Following high school Anne got a job as a telephone operator in Tuscola. At that time Atwood had to pay for long distance calls through Tuscola. This was during WWII.

Anne married Paul Eastin of Tuscola on April 8, 1943. They were married on a Thursday and he left for the service on Sunday morning. She joined him in June where he was stationed in Ft. Lewis, Washington, D.C. She traveled by train to Chicago, then to Tacoma, WA. She was not allowed to live on base at that time. Three weeks later Paul went on bivouac to Oregon. Anne hopped a bus and went to Seattle. There she got a job at Boeing Aircraft and bucked rivets on B17 planes. The rivets had to be replaced if it didn’t pass inspection. Following this job, she was put out on the floor to write Boeing requisitions for parts and had to go to the warehouse to get them.

In November Paul went to Medford, Oregon and Anne followed. While in Medford, Anne worked at Harry & David Bear Creek Orchards. From there they went to San Diego to Camp Pendleton in 1944 but didn’t stay due to size and crowds, so moved on to La Jolla, CA. In July, 1944, Paul left from San Francisco to go overseas. He was in the Battle of Leyte in the Philippines.

Anne returned to Elwin and lived with her grandmother and worked in the office at Houde Hershey in Decatur. She found out later they were making a part for the atomic bomb.

Paul was in the invasion of Okinawa and received the Purple Heart & Bronze Star. He returned in April, 1944 to Springfield, MO Hospital and discharged in November of 1945. Anne says he was never well once he returned due to injuries and shrapnel. She added that the group he was in in the service were together for three years and were like brothers. Anne is still in touch with their children.

Paul and Anne moved to Tuscola and started farming in 1947. They lived on the Bourbon Road for seven years. They moved to Mattoon for five years but still farmed. They moved to Douglas County and lived in the Atwood area south of Garrett when Paul became ill.

Anne has lived a very interesting life and had some interesting experiences with her jobs. She helped Paul on the farm and raised their children. Anne & Vera Phalen were the first women bus drivers in the A-H School District. She drove for five years (1965-1970) for Elva Williams Bus Service. Anne was Paul’s sub. He drove the bus for several years. Anne and Paul decided to move into town where she lives today in the Oaks subdivision. Paul died on Halloween, October 31, 1979.

Anne and Paul had four children: Janet & (John) Livengood, Lyle (Marsha) Eastin, Joy Eastin and Lavonne Long.

Following Paul’s death Anne said it was lonely, but friends made life bearable. She played cards and board games with friends, belonged to the Lake Fork United Church of Christ since 1963, member of the Atwood American Legion Auxiliary and she is an antique buff.

She started seeing Bob Schable in 1986 and they were married in 1988. They had a happy life until Bob died in 2009.

When I asked Anne about interviewing her for an article, she smiled and said, “What makes me special to write an article?” She said she didn’t feel old until people started wishing her a Happy 100th Birthday. Anne is a beautiful lady full of life. She lives in her own home, does her own driving and is very active in the community. She always enjoys happenings around town and is a big supporter.

Living to be 100 is quite a feat, but Anne does it well. Let’s just say she is 100 years young, because that describes her personality. Happy Birthday Anne, Enjoy your birthday!