First Person: Santa Rosan pays tribute to Mom, 100

My mother, Zella Brisbin, was born in Yale, Okla., on July 3, 1915. She lived in the country outside Oilton, Okla., where her father worked as an oil well maintenance for some 40 years. She is the middle of three girls whose mother died when Zella was 14.

Her mother was the one who brought so much happiness into her life with her playful manner. Once she was gone, Zella’s father more or less let the girls raise themselves. He provided money, and they managed the household.

The girls knew he loved them, but he was emotionally distant.

Left to themselves, my mom and her older sister learned to drive at an early age on back roads in an old Model T Ford while their dad was away at work. She also learned to cook by reading articles, recipes and asking questions. She became a very good cook.

In high school, she developed a love of sports. She was a pitcher for her baseball team and captain of her basketball team. Once out of the house, she went to college for a short time and then went to work as a secretary. She had several offers of marriage, and at age 27, she became engaged. Her future seemed clear.

However, about this time she met my father, who was on leave from the Army, and they fell madly in love. She broke the engagement and was soon married to Rex Brisbin.

She wanted very much to start a family, and within a short period she had two boys - me and my brother, two years apart. She thought she wanted a large family till we came along. We were not easy ... two was enough.

Zella was always committed to making our home a special place. She and my dad liked to garden. One summer, she canned 400 or so jars of vegetables and fruit. Our house was always very clean, with tasty meals, and she provided a lot of love and humor.

They moved to Santa Rosa in 1962. She was married to my father for 63 years until his death at age 90.

My mother developed a very strong faith that has sustained her throughout her life. She gives God credit for her long life and inner strength. She currently lives independently at Vigil Light Apartments in Santa Rosa, and we celebrated her 100th birthday with a party and lots of people who flew in for it.