Vina Boyer
Those who complain of boredom should follow Vina Boyer who is nearing her ninety-fifth birthday for a few days. She lives alone, goes to town, the grocery and on all needed errands, besides keeping her house and washing- on the wash-board- all but the largest pieces of household linens. In her free time she cuts out quilt pieces accurately and sews them together to form perfect junctures. In all likelihood she has pieced a thousand or completed piecing a double-bed size double-knot top for a niece's boy.
Vina was the oldest child of Henry and Mary Wilburn Berna who were living in Van Buren, Arkansas when she was born December 12, 1887. By the time the father decided to move to Witte Ville, Indian Territory early in 1895 to work in the mines, there were five in the family. The first baby born in the mining town was her brother who came March 3, 1895. The president of the mine was so pleased with this event that he asked that the baby be named Henry Witte. Unfortunately the mother died May 25 of that year. The saddened father took his small children back to Arkansas where they first lived with his wife's people and later with his father's folks.
Before the year was out "Grandfather's brother, Wes Berna, visited from Texas. We went back with them, crossing the Red River in a covered wagon, using a ferry pulled by ropes that look one wagon at a time." The family arrived in Dublin, Texas and stayed with an uncle, Henry Berna for a while.
"Father married Dora Brown in 1897. To this union were born twelve children which made a family of sixteen children. We lived on a farm and always worked hard. But, working early and late we always had time to go to church, traveling in a wagon. My brothers and I went to the Christian Church at Edna Hill, Texas. We walked three or four miles to a one-room school house where one teacher taught thirty-two to forty students at the same time. Sometimes it was so cold we cried while our hands were getting warm."
On September 30, 1914 Vina married William Dennis at Proctor, Texas. They came to Oney, Oklahoma in December of that year with Dee and Della Applewhite. The women and children came on the passenger train while the men rode in a box car with the livestock and household goods.
Eight years later he died and she lived with her brothers near Oney until 1929 when she married Allen Boyer. They moved to Geary and lived there until he died in 1959. She moved here to Carnegie in 1963 in relatively good health and able to care for herself. Her mind is clear and she can move about freely. Her only handicap is failing hearing. She never had any children of her own, but her host of nieces and nephews love her dearly and are very proud of her. They hosted a big gathering to celebrate her ninetieth birthday last year, and someone watches to check on her often.
She says, "I think God for my long life and I have enjoyed every minute of it."

The Carnegie Herald, Wed., Dec. 23, 1987
She's thankful for a 100 years
Not many have experienced the joy of 100 Christmas holidays but one Carnegie resident thanks God for letting her live a long life of which she says she's enjoyed every moment. Vina Boyer celebrated her 100th birthday Saturday, December 12, 1987 among friends and family in her home.
During the festivities Vina opened gifts and enjoyed special letters from several dignified U.S. Officials such as President Ronald Reagan, U.S. Senator David Boren, Governor Henry Bellmon and NBC New Correspondent Willard Scott of the "Today Show."
Lunch, cake ice cream and punch was enjoyed by all attending the celebration. Pictures were taken and the party was preserved through video taping.
Vina was born to Henry and Mary Berna, December 12, 1887 in Van Buren, Arkansas. Vina was the oldest of four children. Her mother died in 1895 when Vina's brother was only three months old. At that time, the family went back to Arkansas and stayed with her mother's folks, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Wilburn. Then they lived at her father's place in Arkansas.
Crossing the Red River in a covered wagon using a ferry pulled by ropes that took one wagon at a time, they arrived in Dublin, Texas in August of 1895, where they stayed with her father's Uncle Henry for a while. Vina's father then married Dazy Brown in 1897. To this union were born 12 children which made a family of 16 children.
They lived on a farm and always worked hard says Vina. But working early and late they always had time to go to church, traveling in a wagon to a Christian Church in Edna Hill, Texas.
As youngsters, Vina and the other children walked three to four miles to a one-room school house where one teacher taught 32 to 40 students at the same time. She remembers when "Sometimes it was so cold we cried while our hand were getting warm."
Vina married William Dennis at Procter, Texas on September 30, 1914. They moved to Oney, Oklahoma that December with Dee and Della Applewhite. Della and Vina came on the train while the men traveled in a box car with the stock and household goods. Vina was married only eight years when her husband died.
She lived with her brothers until 1929 when she married Allen Boyer. They moved to Geary and lived there until he died in 1959.
Vina moved to Carnegie in 1963 where she now lives and cares for herself during the daylight hours. What a gift life should bring to those who deserve it.
Those helping Vina enjoy her 100 years of livelihood were: Stella Berna; Mr. & Mrs. Darrell Berna, Dwayne and Kristi; Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Morris, Scott Morris; Betty Buie and Jerry Buie, all of Oklahoma City. Other out-of-town guest included Mr. & Mrs. Gary Stout, Sr., Gary Stout, Jr., of Guthrie; Debbie Wilbank and Spencer of Edmond; Mr. & Mrs. Rex Simpson, Christian and Sommor; Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Simpson, and Michael Spencer of Pomona, Kansas.
Are residents included Dorothy Lynch, Doris Rexroat, Rhama Weaver and Mr. & Mrs. Herman Deonie of Carnegie.