Christmas girl celebrates a century

In 1917, Carl and Oreta McCaughin celebrated Christmas with a new baby girl, Anita. One hundred years later finds Anita Wise (who goes by Carol) going strong and continuing to share her birthday with the baby Jesus.

Nearly 20 members of her family traveled to the Clark Fork Valley Hospital Long Term Care in Plains to spend last Christmas and celebrate her 100th birthday party with Carol, who opened presents and visited with relatives that came from around the state to share the experience with her.

"She is a Christmas Carol and has never complained about having a dual birthday," said Rebecca Bradley, Carol's granddaughter, who traveled from Blaine, Wash., with her husband, Howard, to share in her grandmother's Christmas birthday. She is the oldest of the 21 residents at the long term care.

"She says she always got an extra present as a child on Christmas day," said Rebecca. "As a devout Christian, it pleased her to share a birthday with Christ," she added. Rebecca was among family that traveled from Billings, Bozeman, Missoula, Helena and Las Vegas, Nevada, for the celebration. The only Sanders County residents were Carol's only surviving daughter, Peggy McArthur, her husband, Bill, and their son, Travis, who live in Trout Creek. The youngest at the party was her great grandson, 15-year-old Kaiser Wise of Helena.

Rebecca said her grandmother had a good time and enjoyed opening her presents, including two new knitted hats. "She just loved her new hat from Becky (Rebecca); she took the old one off and threw it on the floor and put the new one on," said Peggy. Rebecca said that although she fades in and out, her birthday was a good one and she recognized everyone.

For becoming a centenarian, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock sent her a special framed document to commend Carol on reaching 100 years old. "She was tickled pink about receiving that certificate," said Peggy, who travels from Trout Creek every week to spend time with her mother.

Carol was born in Winifred, Mont., and graduated from Lodge Grass High School in 1936, the same year she married James Lee Wise. They had three children: Peggy, Gary and Wendall, who went by "Skip." Carol also had a dozen grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great-grandchildren.

Rebecca said that other than brief stays in Washington and Idaho, they spent most of their lives in Montana. Carol's husband was a police officer in Lodge Grass in the 1940s and in Lewistown in the 1950s. He later worked for the railroad before passing away in 1973. Carol then moved to Billings, which she called home until 2007, when she moved to Thompson Falls to be closer to her daughter. In 2016, she moved into long term care in Plains.

"Carol is known for her wit and sense of humor," said Rebecca. "She has been an inspiration for her entire family." Peggy also noted that her mother always had a great sense of humor. "She was quite a prankster in the old days," said Peggy, who recalled a story about a trick her mother pulled on her father while they were dating in high school. Carol had his clothes while he was running a race. During the competition, she tied his pant legs and arm sleeves together in knots. On another occasion, she hit him "right between the eyes" with a snowball. "He told me he had to marry her so she'd stop picking on him," said Peggy.

"Carol has persevered through losing a husband, her oldest son, Skip Wise, youngest son, Gary, and granddaughter, Carol Wise," said Rebecca. "She never waived in her faith and continues to be an example to all who know her."