When I walked into the Cassville Democrat office that October day in 1970 and was greeted by Kathryn Mitchell at the front desk, sitting there with her Bible in front of her, I thought this would probably a good place to work.

Shortly after that, Bob and Sue Mitchell came in all excited about a new church building site where they had just been for a ribbon cutting for the First Christian Church. I told them my friend Mildred Hare over in the Standard Mutual Ins. office told me there might be an office position opening up because Johnnie Edie was leaving to have a baby.

Although I had no knowledge of newspaper publishing, I did have a background in bookkeeping and what a busy office was like, which was my previous job in Colorado where I had been employed as the school district’s executive secretary and bookkeeper for several years.

So, Bob and Sue offered me the position, and I accepted it, but I didn’t realize at the time it would require much more than just bookkeeping. I would also be a typist and proofreader, do ad sales and design, learn page designing, bill for advertising and handle subscriber circulation, all of which required very drastic changes when we entered the world of computers sometime during the 1990s.

Frankly, it never occurred to me that I would be doing all that and more for the next 52 years, but it has finally come time to say goodbye.

I will be leaving this office on Aug. 31.

Due to the nature of this business, it was a good thing that I really do like to work and stay busy, and I have had a lot of enjoyment doing it. I have really enjoyed doing the “Through the Years” column for the past several years. I also handled all the legal notices for both the The Monett Times and the Democrat, as well as the obits. I’ve been here through four different owners: the Mitchells, for 25 years; the Schlichtmans, until 2004; then Rust Communications; and in March, the paper was purchased by CherryRoad Media.

I will always be grateful to all my former employers, and it has been an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to work with so many really nice co-workers through the years, many of whom I have developed friendships with which I will always cherish.

And, I would be remiss if I didn’t say how much I have enjoyed meeting and greeting so many of our loyal customers.

While I am excited about the new chapter in my life, it goes without saying that I am going to miss being at the Cassville Democrat office. I’m sure that with the help of my family and friends, I will find opportunities to fill the void.

I wish CherryRoad and everyone at the Cassville Democrat all the very best! And I also want to express my deep appreciation for the compliments and kind words, which I have been receiving. Thank you so very much.

Darlene Wierman is the Office Manager of the Cassville Democrat for the past 52 years.