How to live to be 100

Want to know the secret for a happy, healthy 100 years?

Well, according to 100-year-old Wesley Caufield, it's making sure only sweet sounds come out of your mouth.

"Music has always been a passion of mine, I think it's kept me young at heart," said Caufield.

And when Caufield (shown above with his daughter Barb and dog Champ) isn't using his favourite mouth organ to make sweet sounding music, he's been known to use his kind tongue to say something sweet.

"He's the nicest man in the world," said Barb Caufield. "My father has always been a gentleman. I have never heard him utter a bad word about someone."

Caufield has spent the entirety of his 100 years in the Sault Ste. Marie area and never desired a move elsewhere - which he credits due to the natural beauty of the Sault.

"The Sault is such a beautiful place," he said. "The things I've always liked to do best are hunt and fish. I love the outdoors which is probably the main reason I've lived here my whole life."

While he's resided in the Sault area the last 100 years, Caufield wasn't actually born in the city or country for that matter.

Caufield was born on Jan. 7, 1912 in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan while his parents were visiting family friends.

He spent his childhood working at his father's farm on St. Joseph's Island before moving to the Sault in 1935 to work at Algoma Steel.

Caufield worked there as a pipe fitter for 40 years and thoroughly enjoyed his work experience.

"I loved to work there and they loved me too. I worked with some really special people," he said.

Caufield’s fondest memories of the Sault over the past 100 years are of his time spent hunting and fishing in the wilderness with his friends.

He said his earliest memory is crossing the International Bridge - but not in the way you might think.

"I can remember walking across the ice into Sault Michigan when the river was frozen over in the winter," he said. "It was a long walk but I'm one of the few people left who's done it."

In addition to hunting and fishing, Caufield has always enjoyed entertaining family and friends with his guitar and mouth organ.

The person he loved to entertain most was his beloved wife June; whom he was married to for 58 years before she passed away in 1998 due to complications from a stroke.

Caufield has two children (Barb and Wayne), two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

He lived on his own until 2005 and when Caufield couldn't any longer, his daughter Barb moved home from Alberta.

"I would have never done it any other way," she said. "I've really been so privileged to have the number of years that I've had with my amazing father."

Caufield said he was flattered when Mayor Debbie Amaroso presented him with a certificate honouring his 100th birthday in January.

The whole experience helped Barb realize just realize how respected her father is.

"Respect is something you have to earn, no matter who you are," she said. "It's remarkable to see the number of people who say they respect my father. Nobody has a bad word to say about the man."