92-year-old woman adopts 76-year-old daughter

It’s never too late to be a mother and 92-year-old Muriel Clayton has proven that.

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Mary Smith, who is now 76, has been Clayton’s “daughter” for more than sixty years – just not officially.

Growing up, Smith knew Clayton as her fun-loving older cousin who she got along with great, but due to a family tragedy, the dynamic was forced to change, USA Today reports.

“Her father passed away and her mother was ill, so she was not able to take care of Mary,” Clayton said.

So without a second thought, Clayton took Smith into her ever-growing family, and since then she has been one of the children.

Over the next six decades, Clayton carried a secret dream to one day have Smith legally be her daughter. But out of respect for her birthmother, Clayton chose not to act on it until her mother passed away.

“I just wanted her to be mine,” said Clayton.

The secret came out this year, one day before Mother’s Day, when Clayton had Smith over to her North Dallas home.

“I’ve been thinking about adopting you… how do you feel about that?” she asked.

Her “little face” lit up said Clayton told USA Today, prompting a little laugh out of Smith.

“Little face… isn’t that sweet!” Smith said with a chuckle. “That was exciting news!”

This week, inside Dallas County Court, the two officially became mother and daughter by law.

Now Clayton has the legal documentation to prove what she already knew.

“My life has been a beautiful picture, but one piece was missing,” said an emotional Clayton. “And that was Mary. And now I’ve got that piece in place.”

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