Hitting the century mark, Scott Ely celebrated his 100th birthday with family and friends at the Township Community Hall building in Calvert on March 28.
More than 101 people were on-hand to witness state Rep. Eugene Yaw R-Loyalsock Township, present Ely with a proclamation from the state House and Senate to mark his personal milestone.
Born March 21, 1910, Ely spent many days working on his family farm, which he bought from his mother and father John and Mary Eddy Ely, in 1943. His daughter, Marilyn Ely, said she remembers her father working in the fields with a team of horses.
"The horses were his joy," she said.
Marilyn said at the end of the day, her father would lift her up and let her ride them back to the barn.
"Those memories are something that will stay with me forever," she said.
In 1935, Ely married Ruth Albert, who passed away 19 years ago; the two were married for more than 56 years. In addition to their daughter, the Elys had a son, Wayne. He has two grandchildren, Sara Garske and Mark Ely, and three great-grandchildren, Alan and Joshua Garske and Scott W. Ely.
Although the party was not a surprise, Ely was "taken aback" and a bit overwhelmed by the number of people who showed up to celebrate the occasion, including his 104-year-old sister Anna, who recently celebrated a birthday March 25.
"I didn't realize I had so many friends," he said. "I've had a good life."
According to Marilyn, people of the community all pulled together to help organize the event and celebrate Elys amazing accomplishment.
"It was a total community effort," she said.
According to Marilyn, her father liked to joke around that he never made it far in life, because he still lives in the same house he was born in. Friends and family of Ely disagree.
"My father is a wonderful man," she said. "He did his duty, took care of his family and was a great provider."
Although Ely still resides in the same house, he enjoyed traveling with his wife after retirement. The two took several vacations including trips to Hawaii and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.
In addition to being a good provider and taking care of his family, Ely is very involved in his community and church. He is a member of the Beech Valley United Methodist Church in Calvert, which his grandmother helped to establish. The Rev. Marie Lewis, who was one of Ely's Sunday school students, addressed the crowd and spoke of the impact he had on her life.
"He was a wonderful influence," Lewis said. "I went to the altar under his instruction and later the ministry."
Lewis said the community in which they grew up is a good community with good influences. She said the area is lucky to have people like Ely and it was through him that she realized she needed God in her life.
Ely was a past member of the Grange and the local 4-H conservation district. He also served as a township supervisor and attended business school.
Another characteristic Ely is known for is his resourcefulness and ability to fix things.
According to family, he could "fix anything and make it work."
Marilyn said her father also is always good to people and, in return, people are good to him.
"It's important for him to be kind," she said. "It speaks of the man he is."
In regard to her own retirement, Marilyn said she may want to hold off because of her family's long history of living well into their golden years.
"I very well may live for another 40 years," she said.
In regard to her father, she said he is doing great and looking forward to celebrating his 101st birthday next year.
