Tressie Dan turned 100 years old on Monday, April 27, 2026 and was honored with a Citation of Celebration from the State of Oklahoma by Representative Tim Turner, House District 15, and Senator Bryan Logan, Senate District 8.

First she was honored by Creek Nation with cake and ice cream and the FAIC Fire Department also had a community breakfast in her honor. Then her family had a big BBQ birthday celebration as did her church family the following day. Then last Friday, Peoples National Bank surprised Mrs. Dan once again with a beautiful cake trimmed in purple (Tressie’s favorite color), cards, punch, balloons and flowers. She was tickled pink with all the celebrations and enjoyed cards filled with hundred dollar bills that she plans to save up to go toward a much needed walk-in shower.

Her citation read how she has been a lifelong resident of McIntosh County, living in the Pierce area with 11 siblings (seven brothers and four sisters) and contributing to the spirit and history of her community for many years. She told family and friends that she remembered when her younger brothers climbed into a tree and then the older brothers pulled the limb back and turned it loose, making the other brother go flying into the air. And one time one of my brothers wasn’t listening to my daddy after he told him not to do whatever it was, and they took off around the house. Then my one brother said, ’Did he get you?’ and my other brother said ‘Nah, I put the speed on.’ But then I told him eventually he still had to come inside and daddy would be waiting. We laughed but he didn’t.”

At the tender age of two, Mrs. Dan lost her mother during childbirth of one of her siblings and so her grandmother Mary stepped in to help. So, from the young age of nine years old, Mrs. Dan diligently contributed to her family’s livelihood by picking cotton, pulling bolls and chopping cotton for fifty cents a day.

“I can remember going to Council Hill to pick cotton and when we would go up to the scales daddy would just figure it up in his head because he was good with numbers.”

She also remembered gathering pecans with her siblings to sell to neighbors.

“All of us went to school south of Pierce in a little building and then we went to school where the church was for a bit. I didn’t go to high school but made it through eighth grade like many others back in the day. I can also remember when we got bad weather and it flooded across the 10,000-Club Bridge and we were just wondering how we were going to make it through to get home. But we always figured it out.”

As an adult Mrs. Dan worked at Fountainhead Resort Lodge on Lake Eufaula in the 60s. She cleaned rooms and worked in the kitchen, earning seventy-five cents an hour and demonstrating a remarkable work ethic throughout her entire life. She stated that she was sad to see the old lodge torn down and to see so much history lost.

When asked what has changed the most in 100 years, Mrs. Dan said, “A lot of things have changed. I can remember we used to come to town in a wagon and park behind the grocery store. We couldn’t go into the café back then but now we can go into all the places. I’m glad that’s changed, especially for my children and grandchildren.”

Mrs. Dan raised six children (five daughters and one son) with love, wisdom and discipline. Then she was blessed with 22 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren that have brought joy and fulfillment to all her days.

Mrs. Dan stated she enjoyed fishing and gardening when she was younger and especially loved all the flowers she had received for her 100th birthday.

She attributes her long and fulfilling life to trusting God and treating others the way she wants to be treated. She is grateful for the Godly values that have guided her through a full century and hopes these same values will continue to inspire others.

“I feel honored to have lived 100 years and to now be called a centurion.”