Lottie Pylant, 95, crowned queen at the 2008 Missouri Health Care Association Ms. Nursing Home Pageant, believes that although life in unpredictable, it can be "Cherries Jubilee" if you remove the pits.

The theme of this year's pageant was "Let your Beauty Shine."

Born Aug. 31, 1912, at Buckhorn, Mo., Pylant's childhood memories include mischievous fun such as twisting the tails of calves and swimming in a swimming hole.

Later she moved to St. Louis and fell in love with the city.

Unlike most young women in her era, Pylant chose a career over marriage and a family and was employed as a secretary and office manager at a national insurance company for more than 40 years.

She married Dr. Kelsie Pylant after a long courtship. The couple traveled extensively, visiting Cuba before the imposition of travel restrictions, Yugoslavia, Spain, England, Italy and Russia, as well as Hawaii, Alaska and New York.

Pylant's memberships included the Scottish Rites, Temple Club (Shriners) and Eastern Star.

She moved to Golden Living Center in New Madrid, Mo., last year. At the facility, she is a member of the Red Hat Society, Garden Club, Prayer Group, Trivia Team and Residents' Council.

The Missouri Health Care Association is a trade association for nursing and residential care facilities in Missouri and represents more than 300 facilities across the state.