Salvation Army Thrift Store employees, from left, Izabella Widel, Kitsy Van Nattan, Rocky Newtson, the store manager, Averyal Thomas and Karla Hawthorne reflect Monday, July 17, 2023, on the career of their friend and former coworker Thomas in Pendleton. Thomas retired after working 33 years for the organization.

PENDLETON— The Salvation Army Family Store and Donation Center in Pendleton on Court Avenue will never be the same: Averyal Thomas has retired.

“We have been very blessed with Averyal. She will be missed. She is missed,” store manager Rocky Newtson said.

“A jewel,” is how longtime customer Birchie Westerlund described Thomas.

Thomas devoted 33 years of her life to working with the Salvation Army. Throughout the decades, Thomas has done pretty much everything — from ringing bells to sorting clothing to assisting management.

In 1987, it was Capt. Calvin Prouty of the Salvation Army who recruited Thomas, and then it became official when she was hired Dec. 17 of that same year.

The first store manager she worked under was Donna Hubbard, who Thomas said maintained a relationship with up until Hubbard’s death.

“We kept in touch over all these years,” Thomas said. “We had a really great relationship. We adored each other.”

Thomas mentioned she kept all the letters Hubbard wrote to her.

From 1987 to 2023, there were three years — July 1998 to February 2001 — that Thomas did not work for the Salvation Army, and that was because she lived in Burns. But once Thomas returned to Pendleton in 2001, she did not have to go out searching for a new job. A job came to her.

A former coworker, Bill Good, came knocking at her front door. He told her, “Wanda Hill wants to hire you back.” Wanda Hill was the new manager.

At the time, Thomas said she didn’t know Hill, so her initial response was “Why? She don’t even know me.” But Thomas did not let the opportunity pass. She applied, was rehired and worked there since.

Thomas reflected on three decades-plus of working for the Salvation Army.

“It’s the people, the people keep me going,” she said. “If it weren’t for the people, I wouldn’t be here. I love the people I worked with, and all the customers are fabulous.”

Thomas shared she liked the work and liked helping people, and it also was good for her as well. Thomas said she tends to be shy, but this work helped her come out of her shell.

“My goal in life is to make people smile, to laugh,” she said, “so I try to do that every day.”

Thomas said she would try to say something silly or she would try to give someone a hug.

“If I see someone in a sad mood or a bad mood,” she said, “I want to cheer them up.”

Newtson said Thomas did whatever needed to be done, and she made the store feel like home.

“She knows everyone,” she said. “She knows every customer, and if someone new comes in, no one leaves without her getting to know you.”

Thomas said her favorite memory was about 10 years ago when she and fellow employee, Kitsy Van Nattan — who Thomas has known since she was 5 years old — were in a back room during a blazing summer and it rained. They grabbed each other’s hands and went outside.

“It was so hot, 110 degrees I think,” she said, “and it was a downpour, so we danced.”

Another favorite part of her job were the cakes Newtson made for everyone’s birthday.

“She is the best cook in town,” Thomas said. “Rocky would always make me my favorite, lemon meringue pie.”

Thinking about everyone she has worked with, Thomas said, “There is not one I don’t like. They are like family to me. I try to get along with everybody. It’s in my nature.”

Another longtime customer of over 30 years, Kelly Kennedy, said Thomas is sweet and helpful.

“She is the reason I keep going there, and sometimes it is to just say hello,” Kennedy said.

Thomas does still plan on occasionally volunteering at Salvation Army, but she intends to focus on her family during retirement. Her daughter is Katrina Stahl, and she has two grandchildren, Anjelica Stahl-Thomas and Lucas Stahl.

“I wouldn’t know what to do without them,” Thomas said.