McDonald's employee surprised on 90th birthday

LIVONIA, Mich. (WJBK) - A longtime employee of a Michigan McDonald's got a huge surprise birthday party from her co-workers and customers as she celebrates her 90th birthday.

Mary Brooks has spent the past 27 years working at the McDonald's in Livonia. On Wednesday, she turned 90 years young and her co-workers and customers marked the occasion with a party to let her know how much she means to them.

The 90-year-old was caught off guard Wednesday by shouts of 'Surprise' and 'Happy Birthday!' The surprise party was organized to celebrate her years of hard work and a life well-lived. She's not showing any signs of slowing down.

"You can't get rid of me!" Mary joked.

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Mary found more than a place where she loves working - she said she found a family at McDonalds with employees and customers alike.

"I gotta meet with the whole gang over there, we got a whole gang all of our own over there. There here, look at them!"

Years of coming in early and getting to know customers has made Mary a special employee from the start. She's done almost every job at restaurant - and knows how to get things done.

"Hey, there isn't anything around here I can't do! I take my time, I do what I have to do," Mary said.

Mary's hard work isn't unnoticed by her McDonald's family. Paul Hammer owns the franchise and says Mary is as much a part of McDonald's as the Big Macs she serves.

"Mary's amazing, she has so much energy and we have so many customers that come in to see Mary. They come in almost every day," Hammer said. "She knows what to do, she's been here so many years. So we're very, very fortunate to have her, she's part of the McFamily."

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Before her 27 years at McDonald's, she spent 37 at Western Union before she retired. After just a year off, she took the McDonald's job.

She says she doesn't want to just sit at home and still works five days a week - with no plans to retire.