Surrounded by family and friends, Mary Rice shared memorable stories and laughter while exchanging some friendly fire.

The impromptu gathering became a tease party.

“You’re just a feisty old lady,” said Charlaine Rice, Mary’s sister-in-law. “You usually don’t have any cross words for anybody.”

Proud Mary slowly leaned over in her chair and stared at the woman.

“No, but do you want to start now?” Mary said with a grin.

As far as Mary is concerned, the family-friendly ridicule sessions keep her young – especially today at a tender age of 103.

Rice – the good-natured matriarch of a longtime Auburn family – celebrated her birthday last Thursday. Family and friends held a large bash in her honor at Rio Blanco Family Mexican Restaurant & Cantina two days later.

“I’m doing fine,” she said. “Surprised? I am, to be this old. I lived a wonderful life. We had a good life, an ordinary life. We didn’t have a lot, but we had a lot of fun.”

Mary has touched so many for so long with her love and wisdom.

On the surface, Mary appears to be a quiet, behind-the-scenes, independent woman. But she has plenty of internal fight. The spunky, stubborn side has helped make it possible for her to live this long. She remains mentally sharp and relatively fit.

“I guess it’s the Irish and the English in me,” said Mary, whose father was Irish and mother English. “I know how to fight.”

Mary grew up and attended school in Ballard before she met and married Frank Rice in 1931. They moved to Auburn a year later and began to raise a family of their own.

Her husband worked as a truck driver for Auburn Dairy Products for many years before retiring. Mary, meanwhile, stayed home to raise three children.

“She was always willing to give of herself to others,” said her oldest son, Frank. “And she always had a strong feeling for family.”

Along with family, Mary and her husband found time to raise cattle and tend to horses on a ranch they bought in Buckley.

Her husband passed away from cancer in 1994. Mary, herself, faced cancer 23 years ago, but family helped pull her through it.

Mary has enjoyed embroidery, crocheting and baking. She has a wide collection of trinkets and other collectibles. She loves to satisfy her sweet tooth with M&M’s and Oreos. She is known for her legendary cakes and treats, notably her “icebox” cookies. She is also known for having a good sense of humor.

She was a charter member of the Auburn Eagles Auxiliary and was active in the Green River Saddle Club.

Today she lives comfortably at Parkside Retirement Center. The third oldest of 10 children, Mary is one of two sisters living today, the other being Clarice, 85. She is surrounded by 11 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 15 great-great-grandchildren.

And how does Mary want to be remembered?

“For being a good wife, a good parent,” she said. “My husband and I worked together to be good parents. I couldn’t have done it alone.

“Being a good wife and good mother – that’s a very important thing to me.”