Jean Gordon
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 1:00 pm
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Mrs. Dot DeBrule sat in a recliner in her room at Fair Haven Forest City and shared a few life stories.
On Thursday, May 8, the perky, ever smiling, kind and funny Mrs. DeBrule celebrates her 100th birthday. Friends and family will come by for cake and best wishes.
Arriving in her room, one of the first things she says is she needs hearing aids and is legally blind in one eye. She uses oxygen but other than that, no one would imagine her to be 100 years old. There were no complaints.
Mrs. DeBrule smiles a lot and is glad to be celebrating another birthday.
A Rutherford County native, she and husband Dever DeBrule were married not long after graduating from Cool Springs High School.
He was a World War II veteran and was overseas when their first child was born, said Mrs. DeBrule. They have two children, Teresa Gunther of Florida and a son Larry DeBrule who lives in Alabama. There are four grandchildren.
After the couple was married, Mrs. DeBrule became a homemaker and he began a textile career. She joined the Home Demonstration Club in Rutherford County. After moving to Siler City some years later, she became part of the Home Demonstration Club there and continued with projects and classes.
In Rutherford County she volunteered at Rutherford Hospital as a Pink Lady where she spent many hours with patients bringing them cheer. She spent her working career as a payroll clerk with BC Moore's in the Carolinas.
The couple returned home to Rutherford County 69 years ago after living in several areas due to Mr. DeBrule's work. He passed away when he was 94.
Mrs. DeBrule was 92 years old when she fell at home and broke her neck. Doctors first told Mrs. DeBrule, due to her age and health, they couldn't do surgery. But when they began to evaluate her situation, they found there was no reason not to operate. She had the surgery and eight years later is doing well at Fair Haven.
When asked the reason for her longevity, she said "Trying to eat right, never smoked, no drinking."
On her bed was a large Bible and other devotional books. She reads her Bible every day and her favorite verse is, "Just taste and see that the Lord is good". Psalms 34:8.
She reads other books friends bring her, "without bad words" she was quick to say.
When the couple's children were young, "we took them different places," she said. They went to Washington, DC, traveled to the mountains and the beach. "Mountains are my favorite."
Looking back over her life, Mrs. DeBrule said although she lived during the Great Depression, "It didn't seem too bad. We gardened for our food and killed pigs" for meat. She remembers being sad when President John Kennedy was killed in 1963.
Raised in the First Wesleyan Church, she and her husband were regular church-goers. Her favorite song is, "Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to sing."
She also enjoyed going to the movies and her favorite was "Gone With The Wind."
"The Secret Storm" was her favorite soap opera. Today she only watches the news and Jeopardy.
Mrs. DeBrule loves dark chocolate and her favorite vegetables are cauliflower, carrots and collards. She drinks tea, coffee and she drinks some water if it is "cool."
Although she's also had a heart attack, has a pacemaker and has had blood clots, but says she's blessed.
"I believe it was the Lord's will for me to come over here. I wouldn't be here without Fair Haven" she said.
CNA Barbara Hamilton walked in the room and suggested, "If you are going to get your picture taken, you might want to get the curlers out of your hair."
Linda Hardin, a sister-in-law, who visits often and helps care for Mrs. DeBrule, suggested that would be a good idea.
Mrs. DeBrule began taking the six curlers from her hair and after brushing her hair, said she was ready.
Around her neck Mrs. DeBrule wears a silver necklace with a cross, a gift from her son. It's a treasure and a reminder of her faith.
Mrs. DeBrule added another reason she has lived to be 100 is following God's commandment to "Honor Your Father and Mother."
That's a good thing, she said.