Friends fill Lodge to celebrate 100th birthday

Canyon Lake’s Lucille Blood celebrated her 100th birthday, Roaring 20’s style, at the Canyon Lake Lodge Saturday with dozens of tables of family and friends honoring the centenarian.

More than 100 guests helped Lucille celebrate with live entertainment, a chicken dinner and an open bar.

Six months ago, Lucille said she decided to plan her own party after her children said they wanted to put one on for her. She said she had a vision for what she wanted for her 100th birthday party and wanted to be the one to plan her big night.

Canyon Lake’s Lucille Blood poses with the Honey Taps dancers at her 100th birthday celebration at the Canyon Lake Lodge Saturday. Roaring 20’s was the theme for the night and more than 100 family and friends turned out to honor the centenarian. Photo provided by Karen Hopson.

On the top of her list was a theme of the Roaring 20’s. She wanted a live band and dancing girls, so she hired the Honey Taps. The group provided the entertainment and would go around carrying platters while wearing feathered boas after performing and tap dancing. The Honey girls also taught some dance moves for those who wanted to join in.

Lucille said the evening was everything she could have imagined. The only thing missing, she said, was her son Jay and his wife Mary. Jay just finished radiation and chemo treatments and the family thought it would be best for him to stay home in St. Augustine, Florida due to the pandemic.

Lucille said everyone dressed in Roaring 20’s costumes and the tables were decorated accordingly. She said she got everything she wanted: the band, the dancing girls, party favors and an evening of celebration.

Lucille was the first of eight siblings in her family to turn 100. Some of her sisters reached 99, she said, but none made it to 100. She said when she decided to plan the party six months ago, she knew she might be cutting it close, she said with a smile…but, with her good health she was confident she’d make it.

In addition to her Canyon Lake friends, families from Arizona, Iowa and Washington came for the celebration.

Lucille was born on Dec. 17, 1921.