For 13 years, Karen Andrews held the purse strings as the business manager of the Dolores School District and On Dec. 31, Andrews let those strings go and entered the world of retirement.
Nearly everyone at the school district called her "Mamma Bear."
"They just all starting calling me Mom," Andrews said. "And one time when I was at the store, I ran into one employee and she said, 'Oh hi Mom, would you like to meet my real mom?'"
When staff paid tribute to Andrews earlier this month during the holiday staff party, there were a lot of tears and hugs.
"Karen has an amazing work ethic, dedication and love for children," Dolores School District Superintendent Scott Cooper said.
For 13 years, Andrews took her job to heart. She woke up every morning at 3:30 a.m., and after breakfast, prayers and a treadmill workout, was rarely in later 5:30 a.m.
"Except for Mondays and Wednesdays, when I go to the Rec Center at 5:30 a.m.," Andrews said.
Tammy Hooten, who was hired to replace Andrews and has been working with her since Sept. 29, said that she has big shoes to fill.
"She is just always running," Hooten said.
She has never taken a sick day.
Andrews said she is excited to get to spend time with her husband.
"No matter how late I would get home from a board meeting, he would always wait up for me," she said.
They have plans to visit their children and grandchildren.
Cooper said that Andrews has managed the nearly $9 million budget well over the years.
"When you have all of that money, it means the world to me that every penny is accounted for," Andrews said.
In fact, Andrews will track down every penny if she has to. If an employee turned in a receipt and change, if the fund was even a dollar short, she would send out a bill.
At public meetings, external auditors often remarked how the books kept by Andrews would always balance to the penny.
"I took my job really serious to make sure the teachers have money to buy the stuff they needed," Andrews said.
Andrews said the goodbyes have been emotional.
"It's been the best way to end my career. This has been a good job, with good people, a good community," Andrews said.
Hooten said she has been happy to learn from Andrews over the past few months.
"She has shown me how to see the whole big picture and still keep kids first," she said.
Those that worked closest with Andrews will miss her spontaneous song.
"On any given Friday, I love it when I can clearly hear Karen's loud and cheerful voice sing-songing throughout the District Office, showering an employee with boisterous praise for doing such and amazing job, and then telling them to go ahead and take the next couple days off. I've heard her say that a hundred times, and it still makes me smile," Cooper said.
During tough times, Andrews has maintained fiscal stability and is leaving the district with a reserve of $2 million. She was also known to clean and gas up all the district vehicles when it was needed.
Andrews was also well known for writing poems to people when they left the district for jobs elsewhere.
Laurie Arnett, the school district secretary, said coming to work has always been such a positive experience with Andrews in the office.
"I will miss having my best friend at work," she said.
And others will miss the "Mama Bear."
