Submitted photo More than 85 family members made the trip to Canfield for the 100th birthday celebration of Audrey Martin on June 12. A parade of city vehicles drove past her house in honor of the occasion.

CANFIELD — Audrey June Hall Martin of Canfield had an exciting day on June 12 when she celebrated her 100th birthday with more than 85 family and friends, and with a parade of city vehicles driving past her house on Montgomery Lane.

“It was my idea for the parade,” said son Ray Martin. “The city heard my mother was turning 100 and they jumped on it.”

He said police, public works and zoning vehicles, along with Cardinal Joint Fire District vehicles, paraded by her Canfield home on Montgomery Lane on June 12 with sirens and horns sounding out a big birthday celebration.

City Manager Dave D’Apolito said it was during lunch break and the city personnel were giving their time to make it a special day for Audrey.

Ray said his mother started life just south of Canfield. Born in 1926, Audrey began life in Washingtonville. She attended Leetonia High School and graduated in 1944.

Her husband Anthony had dated her prior to World War II, but when the war broke out, he enlisted and served his country, returning home in 1947. That year, he married Audrey, moved to a home in Boardman, and their first son, John, was born in 1948.

“She had a simple life,” Ray said. “She was a stay at home mom and was all about raising her children.”

She went on to have six more children with Mary Ann in 1950, Sandy in 1951, Anthony in 1953, Linda in 1957, Raymond in 1959 and James in 1962. Ray said she lived in Boardman for 46 years before moving to Canfield.

“She lived 70 years of her life in two residences,” Ray said.

She lost her oldest son John in 2015 and her husband Anthony in 2016. Besides her six surviving children, Audrey has 16 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

For her big 100, she had family members coming from all over.

“We had nearly 85 family and friends at the celebration at my sister’s house on Montgomery Lane,” Ray said. “They drove and flew in from Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Florida and Georgia.”

Her son James led a karaoke session and Audrey sang along. It was a long day for Audrey that lasted from noon to 9 p.m. on June 12.

“She thanked everyone for coming and sharing her special day,” Ray said. “She even sang songs, including a favorite called ‘Mother.'”

Another highlight of the day was when Canfield Mayor Don Dragish showed up to read a special proclamation declaring June 12 as “Audrey June Martin Day.”

“When the mayor found out she couldn’t attend the next City Council meeting, he came to the birthday celebration to deliver the proclamation,” Ray said.

The proclamation was again read at the Wednesday city council meeting by Council President Christine Oliver and officially read into the minutes. Ray and Linda Martin were on hand to accept the proclamation and the city arranged to have Audrey’s high school photo displayed on the info board during the reading.

Ray said he is proud of his mother and the life she has led.

“She is really sharp and has a good mind,” he said.

He added she is still an avid sports fan and loves all the Cleveland teams, including the Indians (now Guardians), Browns and Cavaliers.