Sunset Beach "Postmistress" Missed By Canines & Customers

By Chris MacDonald

Mary Gardner, Sunset Beach's "unofficial Postmistress" recently walked out of the quaint post office for the last time. But she hasn't left the hearts of the tight-knit, 118-year-old community where there's no door-to-door mail delivery. Nor has she left the minds of the town's dogs, who loved her.

Customers and canines are bewildered when they don't see her smiling face behind the counter as they have for many years. Mary, who began her Postal Service career in 1990, retired recently.

"My dog Alice thought going to the PO to see Mary was the highlight of the day. She got so excited, she couldn't stand still," said local resident Maureen Graybeal.

Neighbor Lani Sexton said her dog Bambi also loved going to see Mary. "Upon seeing her, Bambi always went into a dance and was rewarded with a treat from the kind lady," Sexton said.

"It's hard to put into words what Mary meant to this community," said Barry Willis, who hugged Mary at a recent pancake breakfast put on by the Community Association. "She's the nicest lady, so efficient, yet so caring. Mary knew everyone and always put us at ease in this stress-filled world. It was like going back to Mayberry. We're missing her already and so are the dogs!"

"I'll miss all my friends—both two and four-legged," said the Garden Grove resident. "But I'll be back to see Big Rig, Amy, Corky and the rest at the annual Chili Cook-off in September. Today, I'm going down the greenbelt to see some of my canine pals."

"The dogs actually got mail sent to them—reminders for checkups from veterinarians and packages of toys and treats."

"Another neat part of being here was literally seeing the community evolve and seeing children grow up and become parents with kids of their own."

Mary doesn't have any children of her own but she has a town full of them in Sunset Beach. Even the sightless could see where Mary was. Corky, a blind dog, once got loose but found its way to the PO and entered the back door to find Mary.

"She was such an important part of the fabric of what makes living and working here so special," said Mike Van Voorhis, President of the Sunset Beach Community Association.

"There are no classes. Nobody cares if you're rich or poor. Everybody comes to the Post Office and are treated equally," said Carol Adams.

"I've painted all over the World and never met anyone nicer than Mary," said Artist Bill Anderson. "She and Sunset Beach remind me of my mid-western upbringing. People really care about each other."

Mary, who earned a college accounting degree, worked as an accountant at Disneyland. "But I didn't like to sit still so I became a letter carrier in Westminster," she said. "Then I worked in the Seal Beach PO, until I took a position as a Sales and Service Clerk, assisting the 5,000 individuals and businesses, who depend on Sunset Beach's PO."

The "unofficial Postmistress" created "Magic," with her fellow employee, Andy, which helped make Sunset Beach unique and memorable.