Illinois woman Mary Laughead celebrated her 112th birthday

The Gerontology Research Group (GRG) is pleased to announce that Mrs. Mary Laughead, one of the oldest resident in the U.S. state of Illinois, has celebrated her 112th birthday on 3 May 2026 in Olney.

Mary Laughead was born as Mary Burkett in Flat Rock, Illinois, USA on 3 May 1914, in a house built by her parents Hugh and Lois Burkett. She worked as a secretary at an insurance company, and would also support her husband on their farm whenever she could.

A keen traveller, Laughead visited every U.S. state except North Dakota, driving in a hand-cranked Ford. She witnessed the building of Route 1, distinctly recollecting the explosions made when creating the roadway.

Laughead lived independently until the age of 105 in the house she was born in, at which point she moved into an assisted living facility. Up until then, she continued to mow her own yard. In May 2024, she attained supercentenarian status, marking the occasion at a local cafe with numerous family members and friends.

Laughead’s age was verified by GRG-UK Correspondent Oliver Trim, and validated by the GRG on 17 May 2024, two weeks after her 110th birthday.

Mary Laughead currently lives in Olney, Illinois, USA at the age of 112. She’s currently the third-oldest known living person in the U.S. state of Illinois, after Doris Noreen (born 15 September 1913) and Elizabeth Werrenrath (born 28 January 1914).

Happy 112th birthday to Mrs. Mary Laughead! We wish her a good health and a long life!

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I’m happy to say Mary celebrated her 112th birthday yesterday (May 3rd). A big Happy Birthday to Mary. (Facebook post)