Ames Woman Now Officially America's Oldest

Neva Morris talks with a friend, Frank Schneider, at her 110th birthday party at Northcrest Community Center in Ames in August 2005. (AP Photo The Ames Tribune/Jon Britton)

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By Richard Pratt

Story Created: Mar 8, 2010 at 9:28 AM CST

Story Updated: Mar 8, 2010 at 9:30 AM CST

WESTMORELAND, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire woman certified as the oldest living American has died, leaving an Ames woman as the nation's oldest person.

Mary Josephine Ray died Sunday at a Westmoreland nursing home at age 114 years and 294 days old.

The Gerontology Research Group says that until her death on Sunday, Ray was the oldest person in the United States and the second oldest person in the world.

The title of oldest living American now goes to Neva Morris of Ames, Iowa, who is 114 years 216 days.

The oldest person in the world is Kama Chinen, 114 years 301 days.

Ray was born in Prince Edward Island, Canada. She moved to the United States at age 3.

She lived for 60 years in Anson, Maine, and moved to Westmoreland in 2002 to be near her children.

A funeral is set for Thursday in Madison, Maine.

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