"We have a motor home and plan on traveling across the country visiting all our kids and grandkids," said Cindy Cooley, former employee of the United States Postal Service.

Cooley recently made the decision to retire after 21 years total service with USPS. Her husband, Vernon, also retired from USPS last July. The couple now reside in Granite.

"He needs the company," Cooley said.

In May of 1983, she took her first postal job with the Gould Post Office. Her supervisor at Altus, Mitsi Bullington, was actually the Post Master at Gould at the time.

"They were giving a test, so I took it to see how good I would do," said Cooley. After having raised all her children, she was searching for something to help fill all of her free time.

"I made a good grade and there just happened to be an opening in the town where I lived (Gould), so I took it," she said.

Cooley has four children: Steven Willoughby of Stillwater, United States Air Force 2nd Lt. Ryan Cooley of Little Rock, Ark., Brenda Williams of Newton, Kan., and Becky Roser of Carmi, Ill. She also has 10 grandchildren with one on the way. Cooley also plans on devoting more time to her crafts and hobbies, which include sewing and painting.

"I've really enjoyed working for the Post Office and I've made a lot of friends," said Cooley. "The people I work with are like family and it will be hard to leave, but I'm ready for a new chapter in my life."