WILLIAMS, CA (MPG) – Marie Spooner, a longtime Colusa County resident known for her generosity, community involvement, and enduring spirit, celebrated her 105th birthday this month at the home of her friends Jon and Juliann Cheney.
Born Jan. 17, 1921, in Willows, Spooner has spent more than a century deeply rooted in the communities of Glenn and Colusa counties. She was raised on her parents Barney and Polly Alves’ dairy farm near Butte City and grew up in the Portuguese Catholic community of the Central Valley. She attended Glenn County High School and was crowned Queen of the Princeton Portuguese Festa at age 17, a moment she has often recalled as a highlight of her youth.
Spooner later married John Azevedo, and the couple operated a dairy and diversified farm near Maxwell while raising three children. After his death, she continued running the ranch for a decade. She later married Chester Spooner and moved to Williams in 1997, expanding her family and community ties.
Well known in Williams, Spooner worked for two decades at Fouch’s Drug and has been an active member of Sacred Heart Parish for more than 80 years. She is also popular for her homemade apple pies, which became highly sought-after items at local fundraisers, sometimes selling for thousands of dollars.
Now 105, Spooner continues to be celebrated for her kindness, strong work ethic, and lasting impact on generations of family and friends.