Helen Kuhn Cotton of Canfield, left, hosts longtime friend and classmate Marjorie McAnlis Miller of Portersville, Pa. The two, both 95, are the last surviving members of the Mount Jackson, Pa., Class of 1946.

CANFIELD — In the year 1928, Calvin Coolidge was the president of the United States. That year, two babies were born who grew up to become schoolmates and friends: Marjorie McAnlis and Helen Kuhn.

Today, both 95, they are the only surviving members of the graduating Class of 1946 from Mount Jackson High School in Lawrence County, Pa., which borders Mahoning County.

Today, Helen lives in Canfield and Marjorie lives about 40 miles away from her in Portersville, Pa., just east of Lawrence County. The two friends got together recently and shared memories from their past and reflected on their lives.

HELEN KUHN COTTON

Helen grew up in Enon Valley, Pa., and attended every grade in the Mount Jackson school system, where she and Marge met. The women remained close friends.

Helen met her husband, Clarence Cotton, in high school and they married in 1946 after he returned from serving in World War II. They lived on the farm in Enon Valley, Pa. They welcomed two sons, the oldest of whom is deceased. She also has two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Clarence died in 2016.

Helen’s hobby of sewing, knitting and crocheting has kept her busy over the years, and she continues to enjoy doing those things today. She knits hats and scarves for veterans as well as hats for preemie babies in the hospital. She also likes to give her handmade items as gifts to her children and grandchildren.

“I remember watching my mother knit and crochet in that rocking chair,” she said, pointing to a rocker in the living room of her home. “She had me knitting, crocheting and sewing before I left school.”

Helen also had a hair salon in her home, and cut and styled hair for 20 years. Her clients were usually neighbor ladies and friends.

“Living on a farm, we had neighbor boys who didn’t have the time to go into town to have their hair cut due to their farming responsibilities, so I cut their hair.”

Helen’s favorite president was Franklin D. Roosevelt, and she was active in the Moravia Presbyterian Church.

Helen had a twin sister, Hazel, who died in October 2022. “It is very sad to lose a sister. We talked to one another every day.”

MARJORIE MCANLIS MILLER

Marjorie McAnlis grew up in New Galilee, Pa., and attended a one-room schoolhouse for eight years. In the ninth grade, she enrolled in the Mount Jackson school system, where she met Helen.

Marge was active in 4-H and by the age of 10, she belonged to the 4-H sewing club, flower arranging group and raised pigs to be judged at a fair in Pittsburgh. She went on to become a leader in the 4-H organization for 54 years.

“4-H develops confidence and respect,” she said.

Marge received the Community Citizen Award from the East New Castle Grange for her outstanding work in the community.

Marge grew up helping her brothers on the farm, where, among other jobs, she drove a tractor.

She married her first husband, Carl McElwain, in 1960 after meeting him at a farmers’ meeting. They lived on the farm in Portersville and had one daughter; she now has four grandchildren.

Carl died in 2000. She then married her second husband, Clair Miller, who died in 2020.

“If you’re busy helping people it takes the focus off your grief,” Marge said.

She traveled extensively with both husbands in their motorhome. She continued that adventurous spirit when she recently rode a motorcycle for the first time.

While in school, Marge and Helen played on a basketball team together and were in the same sewing class.

Marge was active in the New Galilee Presbyterian Church and then after she got married, the Reformed Presbyterian Church. Her favorite president was John F. Kennedy.

Helen and Marge attended four or five high school reunions over the years. While they come from a graduating class of 75, now it is just the two of them.

What advice do they have for those who hope to make it to 95?

“Keep going. Don’t sit down and wait — stay busy,” Marge said. “Stay active, have a hobby or be in a club. Have a purpose.”

Helen said, “I made it to 95 staying busy with my family and my church. I am thankful for my family, my friends and my church.”