Artis Brannon to close out 44 years on the job - Whitman County Gazette

Forty-four years ago Artis Brannon was hired by Bill Munson to work at the Colfax Grange in the grocery department.

Over the years, Brannon has watched the Colfax Grange store turn into the auto center for Four Star Supply Inc., transitioned from grocery to hardware, moved over to the current building for Four Star Supply Inc. and go through seven managers.

Brannon Dec. 31 will be closing out her last day at Four Star Supply Inc. where she is now the farm store manager.

"It was a hard decision to retire, but it is time," Brannon said. "I'm going to miss the people, the customers the most, not the office. It's all the customers. I'll miss the employees as well. It's the people above all."

Brannon said staying at one job wasn't so much as needing a job. She said she felt it a privilege to be hired then and still feels it to be a privilege to be hired and have this job.

"The Grange and Four Star has been very kind to me," Brannon said. "I was over there for many years and then we moved over here. I have just felt it was a privilege to have this job and continue with it. I still do to this day feel it a privilege to have the job."

Brannon said she was surprised that her retirement day was coming so soon. She mentioned how she never thought it was going to come.

"A lot has gone on in 44 years, some good and some not so good," Brannon said.

Moving on wasn't an option for Brannon when changes occurred. The biggest change Brannon has faced during her time at Colfax Grange and Four Star Supply Inc. is when the merge happened between the two.

"It was a big change for me," Brannon said. "I can adapt to most things, but that was a very large adapt. Things change and the world keeps going."

Brannon noted that when she started her job, the mindset was that you were going to stay with the job. She said that we are in different times now not being able to find people that stick with a job as long.

"It is kind of sad ending my time here," she admitted.

With emphasis on the people she has met, Brannon said what she appreciated the most is the experiences she has had with people.

"The people have made all the difference," Brannon said. "I want to thank everybody for doing business with the Colfax Grange and Four Star Supply Inc. and my hopes that they continue to do so."

Along with showing her gratitude for those shopping at Four Star Supply Inc., Brannon expressed her gratitude for those who have shopped locally in Colfax.

"Thank you so much for helping keep the doors open for many years," Brannon said. "It's tough for smaller places to stay open and it's just going to get tougher. It's harder than what people think."

To celebrate Brannon's time, Four Star Supply will have cake both on Dec. 19 and 20, giving people time to come in, eat and visit with Brannon.

"I do hope that people will come to not say goodbye, but to say hi and visit with me," Brannon added.