GHPD's 'Mom' Celebrates Her 80th Birthday

employees celebrated the police department’s services specialist Marline McClane’s 80^th birthday on Monday with a potluck lunch.

The party, organized by McClane’s partner Debra Yerry-Eason, was supposed to be a surprise, but McClane said she accidentally found out about it after someone had left the folder with party details at the police station.

“I’ve known about it for a week or so, but I didn’t know what day it would be,” she said, who happened to have forgotten her lunch on Monday.

Sporting a colorful garland, McClane enjoyed her early birthday party with a cake, flowers and hugs from her coworkers.

McClane has been with the for the last 22 years, making her the eldest employee at the city.

“I have these great people at the City of Gig Harbor. They’re like my second family to me,” she said.

McClane, a mother of five boys, is celebrating her actual birthday on May 13, Mother’s Day.

The grandmother of 13 grandchildren said she’s expecting her 13^th great-grandchild in July.

As for her secret to longevity? Enjoy life with a lot of humor.

“You’ve got to laugh a lot. You’ve got to have a lot of fun,” McClane said. “Laugh at things. Even if they don’t seem funny, you laugh anyway.”