Sharon Hilley a fair, caring employee

The employees at Vera Water and Power would like to pay tribute to a very special retired employee, Sharon Hilley, who died on Dec. 28, 2008.

We want to highlight her 27 years as credit manager at Vera Water and Power during which time, she helped many people get through tough times when they were having difficulty paying their bill.

Sharon went above and beyond her job description to help find assistance of some kind for those who were truly struggling. She was really in tune with customers who were having difficulties either due to illness in the family or loss of jobs, and more times than we could count, she shared her “Montana common sense and wisdom” helping individuals get not only their power and water bills caught up, but also gave out her two cents worth of solid budgeting advice.

Sharon was fair, and could really appreciate someone who was trying to do the right thing, even when they could only make minimum payments.

Sharon was hired in the office at Vera Water and Power and shortly after that, was asked to set up the credit department which really did not exist at that time. Today, it continues to operate in much the same way as when she set it up only with the help of advances in modern technology.

She was a truly dedicated employee and a loyal friend and co-worker who was taken from us way too soon. Sharon had retired only four years ago when she died after a sudden illness.

Following her retirement from Vera, she had been managing the Fox Court Apartments with the same terrific care that she gave her work at Vera Water and Power. She was eager to stay busy and loved the people contact and problem solving that goes with managing apartments just as she did when employed at Vera.

Sharon was well-known throughout the district by its customers, particularly residents who have lived in Veradale for many, many years. It is important to all of us at Vera Water and Power to honor our friend and retired co-worker for the great standard of quality customer service that she brought to the customers of the district and to express our thanks for her dedication in her work. She will be missed by all of us.