Our people: Community staple

By her own account, in her own words, Marcy Anaya is an "apple that didn't fall far from the tree" when it comes to her love of and involvement in the Clovis community.

The Citizens Bank trust officer's father is longtime Curry County and Clovis Commissioner Bobby Sandoval.

After she got off work Monday, Anaya took some time to talk with The News about her life.

Q: What is the story of your early life in Clovis and your education?

A: I was born in Clovis.

I've lived here forever, except for one or two years when I was little and the family lived in Roswell.

I graduated from Clovis High School, in fact, I was a charter member of the Wildcadettes.

Q: Tell us about your family.

A: I have my parents, Bobby and Theresa Sandoval.

I have my husband Ray. We met in high school so we've been together forever. He is retired from the railroad.

I have three children who are all married and they each have a son and a daughter.

I have seven siblings. All but three of us are in Clovis.

Q: Tell us about your career.

A: I started working at Citizens Bank of Clovis as a summer job in 1975.

I found it to be an amazing place to work and I stayed.

The jobs I've had there over the years, some are no longer in existence.

I started as a check printer; when someone opened an account I was the person who operated the check-printing machine.

Then I became a proof operator. We would type in the amounts on checks. I had that job because I was really fast on ten-key, an accounting machine. I did that for about seven years.

Then I was asked to be an executive's secretary, which is what I always wanted to be.

I love my job, it's been the best 48 years.

Q: You're involved with the Clovis-Curry County Chamber of Commerce. What do you like about that?

A: I'm an ambassador. I enjoy going to ribbon cuttings and meeting our new business owners.

I'm going to be chamber president next year.

I love this community and anything I can do for it.

I am also on the board of the United Way of Eastern New Mexico.

Thanksgiving Day I was at the Lighthouse Mission helping serve the Thanksgiving meal all morning.

Q: The folks at the Clovis Salvation Army say you're the first bell-ringer of the Christmas season this year. How did that happen?

A: I volunteered to be a bell ringer. They asked chamber ambassadors to ring the bell for the kettle at Albertson's and I volunteered.

When David Shatto of the Salvation Army brought me the kettle, the bell and the apron for the job he told me I was the first bell ringer of the season.

I like getting to talk to all the people.

I enjoy letting the little kids come and ring the bell too.

Q: What is your bell-ringer technique?

A: I say "Merry Christmas" or that day, "Happy Thanksgiving," and "Have a great day."

Q: What are some of the places you've traveled to in your day?

A: My oldest daughter lived in Las Vegas, Nev., so Ray and I would travel there to see our grandchildren. Now they live in northwest Indiana so we go there.

We're hoping to go to New Jersey soon to see our New Jersey grandchildren.

Q: What is your favorite place to travel?

A: Wherever my babies are.

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: New Mexican food.

It's different than Mexican food.

I like New Mexican and Tex-Mex.