many times that we still had that cash register, just to
show it off; because people would never believe it.”
Brunson implemented much of the technology in use
today.
Asked if she misses the job, she replied with an
emphatic “yes.”
“I miss it terribly already,” said Brunson. “I miss the
people. When I went in I was married, had no grandchil-
dren, and was the youngest in the office. When I left I
was divorced, had 13 grandchildren, and was the oldest
in the office.”
The decision to retire, Brunson said, was not an easy
one, but she felt it was time to “pass the baton” to the
next generation. “There comes a point in time when you
have to recognize that,” she said. She felt easier about her
decision because Lila Deakle decided to seek the office.
“I was very relieved when she started expressing inter-
est in running when I was going to retire,” Brunson said.
“That was probably the ‘icing on the cake,’ if you will. I
know her to be a good person, an honest person, a lady
of quality and fortitude. I could totally support her.”
And support her she did. Deakle successfully ran against
one opponent for the county clerk’s job and took office
Jan 1, 2019.
“It was one of my great pleasures and my honor to
swear her in,” Brunson said.
Deakle, born in the tiny Alabama coastal town of
St. Elmo, came to Texas in 2002 with her posting to the
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth. She
retired from the Navy as a chief petty officer in 2005.
She lived in Weatherford and after retiring, worked for
Brunson in the Parker County Clerk’s Office for seven
years.
Deakle said Brunson was an exacting boss, but in a
good way. “She demanded a good product,” she said.
“We serve the citizens of Parker County, and she was
demanding as to what she expected and how she expect-
ed us to do it. The goal was serving Parker County.”
The new county clerk appreciated Brunson’s person-
able approach. “I’m retired Navy, and so I went from a
military atmosphere to a county position that I was totally
unaccustomed to, and although she was demanding, she
was also welcoming — she treated us like her family. She
genuinely cared about us and was involved with our day-
to-day routines.” Deakle also admitted to being in awe
of someone who stayed in office as long as Brunson did.
”My hat’s off,” she said.
Asked about her priorities for the office, Deakle said
the big push now is to go paperless in the court system.
“We’re already paperless in our deeds and records
department,” she said, adding, “and just the same as her
[Brunson], I want to serve Parker County to the best of my
ability. I absolutely love what I’m doing.”
As for Brunson, she’s adjusting. “I can’t get over the fact
that I miss my girls,” she said. “All of them had their
quirks and their wonderful, wonderful attitudes … each
individual I miss. They were great. Once I get accus-
tomed to it, I think I’ll be just fine.”
orthington
Go see him at
Worthington CDJR
in Graham Today.
1609 US-380 | Graham, Tx | 940.549.2020 | worthingtoncdjr.net
Brookes Worthington
and grandaughters,
Tatum and Lyla
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