DAR surprise 90-year-old with birthday party

The Comfort Wood Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution met for lunch on Feb. 27 at Pat-A-Cake of the Square.

After lunch they went to a local nursing home facility to celebrate another member's 90th birthday with a surprise party.

Susan Slaughter Story was born Feb. 27, 1918 in the old Caney Hospital, which was a two story house. Her parents were George A. and Audrey Elizabeth Slaughter.

Her father had purchased 2,000 acres of land in the Crescent area and was building a house, which was not ready when it was time to come home from the hospital.

They stayed in the Plaza Hotel on the square until it was completed.

Instead of walking the four miles to school, Story was taught at home one year. Her grandmother was teaching in Glen Flora and furnished them with teaching supplies.

Her sister, Gene Slaughter Jackson, Comfort Wood recording secretary and Story graduated in the first graduating class of 1936 from Crescent High School.

Together they went to Texas State College for Women, now Texas Womans University. Story graduated June 3, 1940 with a degree in foods and dietetics.

Her first position was as dietician at the Municipal Hospital in McAllen.

After her mother's death on July 28, 1946, Susan moved back to Wharton and was hired as dietician at Rugeley Blasingame Hospital.

She met and married Thomas Polk Story on June 20, 1964, who was an English teacher in Boling and at Wharton High School.

They liked his summers off to travel, which they did from coast to coast. She became the dietician of the Boling Independent School District and director of all the district's cafeterias. She retired from the Boling School District in 1983.

Polk, as he was nicknamed, passed away in May of 1991. He helped several Comfort Wood members with their DAR Applications.

Story held many offices and served on many committees during her 39 years as a member of Comfort Wood. The date of her acceptance was Feb. 2, 1969.

In 1971 Comfort Wood assisted in establishing the Mary Rolph Chapter in Bay City, which Story helped start. Representing their chapter was Donna McCrosky Johnson, who is also president of the Gulf Coast Regent's Council of Texas Daughters of the American Revolution.

Guests and honoree were served English-style pastries.