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Photo by Elliot J. Sutherland/The Ottawa Herald
Shirley Gilroy, right, of the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce, greets Karen Johnson, a friend from Lawrence, Monday evening during a retirement reception at the Ottawa Country Club, 1001 E. Logan St., Ottawa. Gilroy worked her last day at the chamber Monday.
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Chamber retiree says she’ll miss people most
By JENALEA MYERS, Herald Staff Writer
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Shirley Gilroy has spent more than a decade meeting people at the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce.
During her career with the chamber, she’s answered phone calls, greeted the public and served as a liaison between different chamber committees while also serving on a few herself.
It’s the people Gilroy, who is retiring after 14 years, said she’d miss the most.
“I’ve just loved getting to meet people and knowing what is going on in the community,” she said. “I’ve learned so much it’s not even funny. The people I’ve come into contact with have been great.”
The same people Gilroy loved meeting are the ones who showed up to her retirement reception Monday evening at the Ottawa Country Club, 1001 E. Logan St.
“She’s more than just someone who works at the chamber,” Kathy Niehoff, who serves on the board of directors, said. “She is a good friend. She’s always so pleasant and sweet.”
Prior to her career at the chamber, Gilroy worked at Franklin Savings for about 10 years.
“She was always so friendly and helpful,” Debbie Sump, former Franklin Savings co-worker, said.
“She was always willing to help whoever she could,” Margie Hinderliter, another former Franklin Savings co-worker, added.
Of all the memories the women, both of Ottawa, have shared with Gilroy, they do remember one particular trait of hers.
“She never wanted to be the center of attention,” Hinderliter said.
“And now, here she is the center of attention,” Sump said, as the women laughed.
During the reception, Gilroy was swarmed with hugs and surrounded with laughter as her friends told her how much they’d miss her presence at the chamber. They wished her luck.
“They didn’t tell me they were going to do all this,” Gilroy said of the reception which included numerous old friends and refreshments.
Gilroy plans to spend her extra time with her significant other of 15 years, four children, seven grandchildren and her great-grandchild.
“I’m going to go get in my flower garden and get some work done outside that I’ve been putting off for several years because I just haven’t had time,” she said.
Looking back, Gilroy said she’s learned a lot about Ottawa that most people wouldn’t know — but she’s not telling.
“I can’t be giving away secrets now,” she said, laughing.
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