The heart of Carnation

Published 1:20 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

The most lasting memory former Hopelink Center Manager Tim Lockwood will have of Betty Roberts is seeing her “magically” appear every morning.

“The visual that stands out is you see that reception area and you don’t necessarily see anyone in it until you get up close. You walk in the door and then all of the sudden you see her there.” Lockwood said. “You can always count on her to be there.”

Roberts retired last week after 17 years as the receptionist at the Hopelink office in Carnation. She is retiring for health and family reasons.

“I wanted to retire, not expire,” she said.

Roberts, who has been a Valley resident since 1949, started at Hopelink 17 years ago – then called the SnoValley Community Center – after working for nine years at Echo Glen Children’s Center. She was hired on a temporary basis, but things worked out so well, she stayed.

“Seventeen years is a long part-time job,” Roberts said.

For the complete story, pick up a copy of this weeks Valley Record