Miriam P. Stoyer, aka “Mim,” who turns 106 years old on Sept. 14, made it clear during a recent interview that she “is not calling it quits” anytime soon.
“Calling it quits! That’s not me!” she exclaimed after reading the article of an interview she did 11 years ago in 2003 upon her retirement at age 95.
Mim, a resident of the Keystone Villa at Fleetwood since it opened in October 2010, enjoyed the recent attention of the interview that reflected on her long life.
Almost as incredible as her 106 years, are the 69 years that Mim was employed full time by the Berks County Assistance Office in Reading.
Her niece, Linda Yanchocik, of West Lawn, said her aunt is now the oldest living state employee.
At age 95, Stoyer was still driving to work each day — in her red Buick — from West Lawn into the city and the Berks County Assistance Office on Court Street.
The headline of that 2003 article read, “Calling it quits” and “Miriam P. Stoyer retiring after 69 years as state worker.”
Yanchocik recalled that it took three years of persuasion from family before her aunt would retire at age 95.
“She loved going to work,” said Yanchocik adding that it is what kept her aunt going. “No one could talk her into retiring at age 92 or 93 — that was her life,” said Yanchocik.
“If I wasn’t working there, I’d be working at home, and I’d rather work there,” said Stoyer.
She said that she did “everything” in the office, from keeping records to typing, as well as learning three different computer systems since 1982.
When asked why she was such a good employee, Mim said, “I did what I needed to do. Her advice for the younger generations: “Mind your own business.”
Stoyer’s retirement in 2003 was honored by a visit to Harrisburg and the opportunity to meet then Gov. Edward Rendell and sit at his desk.
Stoyer is the oldest of three other sisters and three brothers: Margaret, Stewart, Clarence, Mary, Ken, and Mildred, the youngest, who was Yanchocik’s mother.
Mary is 103 years old and lives in Reading. Ken is 87 years old and lives in Wyomissing with his wife, Lillian.
Mim and her husband, Wayne, traveled extensively and also enjoyed dancing at places such as Rummy’s (Tavern) Polynesian House, near Reading, in the 1930s and 1940s.
They had no children. Wayne passed away in 1967.
Stoyer and her sisters often went to dinner together, with Stoyer most likely sporting her favorite red shoes, red purse, and red nail polish.
Yanchocik said they often visited the Dutch Apple Dinner Theater in Lancaster.
She said her aunt has always enjoyed watching television, particularly game shows such as “The Price is Right” and “Wheel of Fortune,” as well as the TV series, “Walker, Texas Ranger,” that ran from 1993 to 2001.
On her 106th birthday, Stoyer will be surrounded by her family and the friends that she has made at the Keystone Villa in Fleetwood.
Donna Rice, marketing director at Fleetwood, said Stoyer has already requested her traditional chocolate birthday cake with icing and, of course, red decorations.
Keystone Villa at Fleetwood is a retirement community offering Independent Living and Personal Care. For more information, call 484-637-8200 or visit www.KeystoneVilla.com.
