Patti Hannum is retiring from The Grocery after nearly 40 years.
When you read these words, Big Sandy's beloved Patti Hannum will be less than a week away from retiring from her job at The Grocery Store, a job she has had since 1977.
But, hold on, we are getting ahead of ourselves.
Born and raised in Big Sandy and south-east of Big Sandy, Patti said that her grandfather homesteaded out there. At age 5 the family moved into Big Sandy. The farm was sold after the grandfather passed away and along with Patti's grandmother, her mother and father, Helen and Duane Hannum moved to town too.
Patti's father got a job working maintenance at the high school. Patti's mother started out as a telephone operator.
"Mother would get mad at me; I would pick up the phone and say, 'Hi Mom!' She would scream, get off that phone!"
Patti Hannum is proud that she graduated in 1969 from Big Sandy High School as her class of 49 was the largest class to ever graduate from Big Sandy High School.
After high school Patti went to work first as a waiter at the Vet's Café and at the Y Café. And she worked at the Box Elder School for several years.
When her son Darin got active in sports in Big Sandy, Patti said that she started working in Big Sandy at the Country Store in 1977.
"I have had to train three owners of "The Grocery Store," said Patti, laughing.
First were Tim and Vicki Balazic, whose store was across the street and north from the present Grocery Store. But where the store is now was owned by Wayne Mathis, John Gumhold and Dave and Deb Louvar.
When asked what the biggest change in the grocery business is from 1977 to the present, Patti does not even bat an eye. She just says, "The biggest change has been fast food. We had very little frozen space and now the frozen space takes up half the store.
Patti says that when she retires on the last day of August, she will have no issues on finding things to keep her busy,
"My son Darin is the Superintendent of Schools in Chinook and I have two grandsons, Trajan and Damon. Both are in sports so I will spend a lot of time in Chinook and following their teams," said Patti.
Not only that but when Patti's birthday rolled around on August 13 she spent it in Las Vegas at a Rod Stewart concert. Lucky Patti!
As for retirement Patti said that after working all these years in the Grocery Store she will miss the people.
"I have a lot of good friends, so now I have more time to spend with those friends, so BE PREPARED!" said Patti.
Patti added that she can't go too far away for she has Deb and Dave's two grandchildren to finish raising.
It is always sad when someone retires from a job they have had for a long, long time. It is not sad when that someone stays right here in Big Sandy and spreads the good she does even, more now than she had time to before.
We all hope to see you more than ever, Patti!
