When Sherrie Wymetalek retires this June, it will mark six decades of her family’s employment with ODOT.

 

Her father, Ed Gier, started working in the then “Highway Department” in 1955 while living in Silverton. He transferred about 1960 to Detroit and did highway maintenance and snow plowing there and later in Chemult. At one point his family, including Sherrie, even lived at a Civilian Conservation Corps camp.

“He worked on paving crews and snowplows and helped build Mongold State Park,” Wymetalek said.

 

After working out of Silverton again, he worked in Seaside at a weigh station until 1974, when he went to work for the Oregon Department of Justice. He retired in the early 1980s and passed away in 1994.

 

“I am proud of the fact that my father contributed to the care of Oregon’s highways,” Wymetalek said. “I have followed in his steps and started working for DMV in 1971.”

 

She began her first stint with DMV in the accident unit from 1971 to 1974. After living in Reedsport, Newberg and Salem and working various jobs, she rejoined DMV.

 

“In 1997 I got back in the DMV crowd and have been for almost 16 years and am getting ready to retire,” she said.

 

Another “family” chapter complete in Oregon’s progressive transportation history. Thanks for sharing your story, Sherrie!