After moving to Cheney in 1984, Susan Beeman has worked in various city positions for the last 30 years. Beeman is also involved with saving the depot, the Sterling Moorman house and is active in her church.
As we go about our days we often do not think of those who work beside us keeping the city of Cheney running smoothly, repairing, renewing and carefully fulfilling administrative duties.
Meet Susan Beeman. She grew up in Soap Lake.
"My dad was a carpenter, my mother a second-grade teacher. I have a younger brother," she said. "We all moved to Cheney in 1984. I started working for the city of Cheney in 1985 as a secretary for the finance director. Then I became secretary of the planning director for building permits, geographic information systems and maps for the light department and public works."
Beeman has been employed by the city for 30 years. She classifies her work as "interesting things to do." She said the people who work for the city care about the citizens of Cheney and want to do their jobs well.
When I mentioned vacation, Beeman said, "What's a vacation?"
On the day we talked, she planned to can pears and green beans when she arrived home.
"My grandmother taught me," she said. In fact, her grandmother taught her many things about gardening, spending hours working together and creating a lasting bond between them.
While mentioning the many events in her busy life, Beeman said, "We're still working on saving the Northern Pacific Depot. It's a historic building that tells a story."
Beeman has spent many an hour, starting in 2005, working with others on the Sterling Moorman house, a Cheney home built in 1884 by Frank Sterling. Beeman said Cheney owns it and it has been listed as a local landmark.
Helpfully, the IRS granted it "non profit status." Of those in the Moorman family who lived in the house, the oldest daughter was the last to call it her home. The group has decided to respect the building as it was and to keep its original design maintaining its 1800 era.
On another topic, Beeman said, "I have three horses, two goats and unnumbered poultry, big dogs and barn cats." And of course, her garden.
She is active in her church, West Plains Christian Fellowship. Twice a month there is Bible study at her home. She spins wool from one goat and has learned to knit socks. A friend in Texas is teaching her to become a lace knitter.
Susan Beeman, friendly, helpful and amicable in any task set before her. God bless, Susan. By the way, how about crocheting a - hey you guys, I was here first. Quit shoving!
Luella Dow is a Cheney-area author. She can be reached at lotsaplots1@aol.com.
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