Paxton retires after 31 years

SEELEY LAKE – Jeannie Paxton, a fixture at the Filling Station since 1987, poured her last drink as a full time employee Oct. 19. What she enjoyed the most throughout her career in customer service is the people and being able to efficiently take care of her customers. While she officially calls herself "retired," she will still be working part time until she leaves for Arizona this winter and looks forward to helping out again next summer.

When Paxton moved to Seeley Lake in her early 20s, she started working as a dishwasher at Barney's Café, in what is now the Parts Plus building. She always liked dealing with the public. Since it was a small town and there wasn't anything else to do, "that is what I did."

Paxton worked for 13 years as bartender and cocktail waitress before Barney's closed in 1986. When it was up for sale for $55,000, her husband Frank tried to talk her and her friend Patty Herbert into buying it since they both worked there all the time anyway.

"I told him he was crazy," said Paxton. "We don't want to be tied down that much."

Within a few months she applied to be a waitress at the Filling Station. Owner Don Larson gladly welcomed her.

Paxton worked as a waitress, bartender, cook and took care of the books. She remembers finding checks in the trash and money stuck in strange places around the restaurant when working for Larson. One time she found more than $5,000 behind the mirror.

"He stuck money all over this place and I just had to go behind him and find it," said Paxton laughing. "He always had something going. He would put stuff here and there. It was just a good thing he had me. I was always very honest and would always give it to him."

Once she started working at a place, Paxton wanted nothing more than to be committed to it. She came with the business when Kris Martin bought it more than 20 years ago.

In her tenure Paxton said they have built the casino and completely remodeled the dining room. They updated the bathrooms and the meeting room in the back as well as many other things.

However, when Martin installed the Point of Sale computer system a few years ago, Paxton asked if she could stop working out front.

"I could write out 10 tickets while I stood there and put one order into the computer – I'm old school. The place would fill up and I would be standing up there putting in all that stuff into the computer," said Paxton. "I can't stand people standing there and looking at me while I'm doing that."

The last two years she has been the office manager at the Filling Station but will fill in where needed.

For Paxton, the best part has been the people – the customers, her co-workers and both her bosses. She enjoyed meeting customers from different walks of life and different countries as well as seeing all the regulars and summer people return each year.

"I kind of grew up and grew old with them," said Paxton. "Don and Kris were both very good to me - I couldn't have asked for two better bosses. Kris has been a very good friend for many years."

While she has been gone for the last two winters, Paxton decided this fall it was time to retire. She looks forward to returning to Yuma, Ariz. this winter with her husband Frank and being able to do more traveling and enjoying life while not being tied to a schedule.

"I used to have to work but I don't have to anymore. I enjoy it and I enjoy the people I work with," said Paxton. "Now, when I want to go, I want to be able to go and do a few things and enjoy."

Paxton continued, "It's hard to just walk out the door and say good bye to a place you have been for 31 years. I'm connected to everyone who is here that has been here awhile. You have to keep up on things and it gets me out of the house."

"Jeannie has been by my side, helping me run the Filling Station for 21 years. The two of us have been through the good times and the bad; love and loss; hard work and goofing off," wrote Martin in an email. "I'm proud of everything we have accomplished and happy that she is now taking time to enjoy her life in retirement. I will miss her so very much and wish her wonderful new adventures!"