Doris celebrating 100 with the gang at the Pierpont Racquet Club.
Doris and John Cowart came to Ventura in 1951. John taught at Ventura high school for 33 years and Doris was an RN for the same doctor for 30 years. Doris is a lifelong exercise lover. She walked to work her entire career. Since she only worked part time, there were many hours devoted to fun activities.
In 1977 Doris and John joined the Pierpont Racquet Club and she was one of the regulars swimming at the Club. She believed you shouldn’t drive to exercise so she would walk to the PRC from Sunset Street above Ventura high school to swim her mile, and then she would walk back up the hills to home. She also loved to ride her bike. She had many bikes over the years because she wore them out. She said she put more miles on her bike than her car. She loved to ride to Santa Barbara and back which is a 60 mile round trip and again she would ride back up the hills to Sunset Street.
She wanted to ride across America in 1976 for the bicentennial. The problem was she couldn’t find anyone to go with her and at that time there were no organized group rides.
Another interesting experience with Doris was her organizing the kids in the neighborhood along with her 2 daughters and hiking up to two trees carrying gallons of water, shovels to tend to the trees.
For the last five years, Doris has been going to the DeAnza pickle ball courts five days a week to watch her daughter play. She said it has given her a new lease on life. So many new friends and she really enjoys the laughter and giggling on the Courts. One of her secrets to longevity is to stay positive, laugh and have fun each and every day. She says every day is special.
