вЂњShe taught them practical life skills, she showed them, you know this is the right way to do things,вЂќ Ringer said. вЂњWeвЂ™re family I think the whole community of Ashland is a large, crazy family,вЂќ Trower said.Д¬hristie remembered Trower measuring kids against a wall in the store as they grew up, some of them coming in as employees at their first job. Someone who helped build a sense of family at Ashland Hardware. Someone who went the extra mile and did all she put her hands to with integrity. Trower was there to welcome Pete back home.Д¬o-workers described Trower as someone who brought flowers and balloons to those in the hospital. Ringer remembered the time a customer made it all the way to the California border before realizing there was a stowaway. Pete enjoyed jumping into customersвЂ™ cars without their knowledge. вЂњShe was the savior of all animals, birds that got in the store, lost puppies,вЂќ Ringer said, thinking especially of the storeвЂ™s former cat, a girl named Pete. Tim Ringer, a former manager, now part time as he approaches his own retirement, calls Trower his вЂњwork wifeвЂќ after 17 and a half years together.

Former managers, co-workers and store owners all spoke about TrowerвЂ™s effervescent presence in the store.Д¬hristie called her the matriarch. вЂњSheвЂ™s just kind of the heartbeat of the store,вЂќ said Adam Christie, another store manager who has worked for eight years with Trower, whose husband, former Mail Tribune sports editor Tim Trower, retired last June after 31 years at the paper.Д¬hristie said he and other employees have a running joke that it will take three employees with three different specialties to replace Trower. About 500 people are expected to attend the party, which will be catered by Simple Cafe. Longtime customers at Ashland Hardware are mourning the end of an era as store manager Cathy Trower moves toward retirement after 32 years.ДЄnd for those who want to say goodbye, the store is throwing a going away party from 11 a.m. A big party is planned Wednesday for Cathy Trower, who is retiring from Ashland Hardware this week after 32 years.

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