MORRISTOWN, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Reaching 100 years old is a mile-stone very few reach, but for one East Tennessee Woman, her life's passion has kept her going.

It has been a tradition for decades, to hold Evelyn Bryan Johnson's birthday party at the Moore-Murrell Airport in Morristown, because she still works there as an operator 5 days a week.

"For many years, like 50 of them, I'd come everyday, 7 days a week," she said proudly.

It all started as a hunt for a hobby, when Evelyn got the idea to learn to fly. "It was love at first flight, and about 65 years later, which is along in now, it still is."

But the hours of flying made her want to encourage others, "So I thought I'll just get an instructor rating and teach people to fly, never realizing I would enjoy it so much."

Known as "Mama Bird" she has dedicated her life to flight and got the opportunity to travel the world. "Over the ocean most of the time, but as long as the engine kept running it didn't matter if it was over the ocean or land."

But a car accident is what could have taken her life, instead it took her left leg. And, her eyesight is failing, so she hasn't piloted a flight in about 3 years, but her high-flying tales still motivate.

"Saying that they'd read my book, "Mama Bird," and said it gave them inspiration that they didn't have to sit down and curl up and wait to die."

Mama bird's secret to a long-life, is simply do what you love.

They recently tore down the airport terminal, that was named after Evelyn, but Wednesday they broke ground for a new building, and Evelyn hopes she'll celebrate her 101st Birthday in her new office.