Margaret Taylor says there’s no secret to her longevity, only the promise to be thankful for each passing day.

“I thank the good Lord when I get up each morning,” said the longtime Auburn resident. “I’m thankful to Him for each and every day.”

Taylor has lived through many of them. On Tuesday, Taylor celebrated her 102nd birthday with family and friends at the residential care AA Adult Family Home in South Auburn.

“She’s just a sweet lady,” said her friend, Alice Pergakis. “I don’t know what makes her special, but I’ve never meet another person quite like her.”

Appearing fit and sharp, Taylor belies her age. She spent part of her birthday vividly recalling some fond days while growing up on the family’s dairy farm in Minnesota, the second youngest of six girls born to Norwegian immigrants.

On the farm, she learned the values of responsibility and hard work.

A strong and intelligent woman, Taylor worked for the Selective Service during World War II. She studied at a business college for one year and worked as a schoolteacher.

Taylor married and moved to Auburn in 1945. She worked in several capacities for Boeing over a 15-year career before retiring.

Taylor was married twice, each time losing her husbands – Adelbert “Buck” Taylor and Don Bandy – to tragic early deaths. She raised two sons, Jack and James. James still lives in Auburn.

She also has been blessed with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Not to mention plenty of friends.

“She’s always been kind of a mom to me,” said Paulette Boonprom, a fellow Minnesotan who lost her mother at an early age and befriended Taylor in Auburn several years ago.

Over the years, Taylor has remained active in the community. She enjoys tending to her flowers, her garden, traveling, reading and cooking.

She also has enjoyed good health along the way.

“I never smoked and had a cocktail once in a while,” she said. “I enjoyed each day as it came.”