InTucker Magazine

Citizen of the Month – Gaye Auman

She’s never run for office, but she’s been a public servant as much as any elected official. She doesn’t stand and speak before crowds, but her words have accomplished more than I can say. She’s not the one in the spotlight – she’s the one pointing it at others.

She meets difficult times with faith and equanimity, and difficult people with grace and empathy. She has more than her share of things to complain about, but never does. She’s had the most vile and terrible things said about her and the ones she loves, but never repays evil with evil. She’s widely praised for her work and her character, never seeking praise, but accepting it with genuine humility.

She’s served by enabling me to serve, and never complained about the sacrifices she’s made in doing so. She’s encouraged me always, and “prodded” me on occasions when it was needed. She’s stood by me at a thousand events and stood up for me when she felt I was treated unfairly, always insisting we remain positive and take the high road. She’s been subjected to the frustrations of my work, but kept a peaceful place of respite at home. She’s doubled my joy by sharing it, and cut my troubles in half by sharing them.

Since the cityhood effort and during the time I’ve served as Mayor, she’s welcomed two new sons-in-law and become Mae Mae to six grandchildren, for whom she’d drop anything on a moment’s notice. She’s lost her dad and survived an illness that, according to the doctors, should have ended her life. She’s cared for her mom and my dad through it all. She’s been a devoted tennis mom, twice president of the Mountain Mums Garden Club, and devoted countless hours to her church, friends and charitable causes.

For all these reasons and many more, I’d like to nominate Gaye Auman as my Citizen of the Decade.

Thanks for your consideration.

Submitted by Frank Auman