Croutcher celebrates 100th
Family travels from around the world to Porterville
Between 45 and 50 people attended the celebration for Jeanne Croutcher’s 100th birthday party on Saturday at First Christian Church in Porterville.
There were beautiful flower arrangements, a table of photographs and photo albums, as well as presents, and best of all relatives from near and far who had gathered to celebrate and have a marvelous time together.
“What more can you ask for,” says Jeanne, “I’m amazed to have all these good people come to visit for my 100th birthday.”
Five generations of family members gathered to celebrate together; including five greatgrandchildren, three grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter, Everly Lutes, who is 18 months old.
Family traveled from Nebraska, Illinois, and Germany to attend Jeanne’s centenary. Her grandson Mike Croutcher traveled from his home in Linden, near the town of Giessen.
The secret to Jeanne’s longevity is clean and healthy living, her faith in God, and her positive outlook on life, and she “see’s the good in everyone,” says granddaughter Doreen Croutcher Hair.
There were photographs taken all afternoon with “Grandmother Jeanne,” and lots of laughing. It was marvelous seeing family members who hadn’t seen each other in years renew their friendships. You could tell how much fun people were having by the happy expressions on their faces and constant conversations in the room.
“Doreen and Gary. They’re the best,” says Jeanne. Doreen and her husband Gary Hair are Jeanne’s caregivers, and she lives with them.
“Gary is her favorite person in the world,” says Doreen. “I love having Grandma around, it’s so cool. She loves to laugh. I am amazed at her. She is the strongest woman I’ve ever met. She lights up the room,” says Gary with a huge smile.
Jeanne was born and raised into a prominent family in New Orleans and when she turned 18 went to work selling tickets at a circus while it was in town. She fell in love with a trapeze performer, and they later eloped, knowing her father would not approve. She tried to hide it from her father, but her mother found out and told Jeanne to pack a bag and off she went with her husband traveling with the circus. Eventually they ended up in Porterville and raised a family.
Jeanne’s nephew Ronald Koch said Jeanne was born and raised in New Orleans, and married James Irvin Croutcher who was a “flier” on the trapeze in the circus, alongside his brother Clarence who was the “catcher” in the “The Flying Le Claire’s. The Croutchers made annual visits to New Orleans for as long as they were physically able.
“I’m eternally grateful for the love of my Aunt,” says Koch, who is from
Bloomington, Ill.
The Croutcher brothers joined the circus at a young age when they became involved in the YMCA says John French, a relative.
Great-granddaughter, Hannah Lutes and her husband James, said, “We are all so happy and blessed to be able to spend so many years with our great-grandmother. She has made sure that we have great memories together.”
“I think it is wonderful for Doreen to organize the birthday celebration for her grandmother Jeanne. She’s always been a wonderful grandmother
to my children, and their children,” says daughter-in-law Ronnie French.
“There are more Croutcher’s here than I’ve ever met in my life,” said Mike Croutcher. “My grandmother has been a wonderful grandmother, and has been a great influence on my life with the many summers I spent with her.”
Jennifer Croutcher of Paso Robles said her grandmother was an amazing woman, and she was very lucky to be part of the Croutcher family with her three teenage children.
Family friend Elaine
Joyner of Porterville said she’d gotten to know Jeanne through family events and says, “She has more energy than I do, and has a great happy attitude and loves life. We should all aspire to that.
She has embraced us as if we were family and always makes us feel welcome.”
There were wonderful 200 year old family photos of Jeanne’s family in New Orleans, that included her parents, siblings, and grandparents and pictures of her greatgrandparents from the time of the Civil War.